The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2464) Private Clarence Teakel, 30th Battalion, AIF, First World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Craig Berelle, the story for this day was on (2464) Private Clarence Teakel, 30th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

2464 Private Clarence Teakel, 30th Battalion, AIF
DOD 2 October 1918
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 16 August 2015

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Clarence Teakel.

“Clarrie” Teakel was the son of Charles and Elizabeth Teakel of Myrtleford, Victoria. He attended the local school and later moved to Newcastle in New South Wales, possibly to be near one of his sisters who lived in Merewether. There he worked as an engine cleaner for the New South Wales government tramway service.

Teakel enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in September 1915 at the age of 19. He underwent a period of training, first in Australia and then in Egypt, before being sent to England. He arrived at Plymouth in June 1916 to complete his training before being sent to France for active service on the Western Front.

However, in September 1916 a medical examination revealed the Private Teakel had serious heart disease and would be unfit for active service. He was recommended for home service and was sent on a number of postings to training camps in England while awaiting passage back to Australia.

Teakel had already had trouble with military discipline, failing to attend musketry training on at least one occasion while in Australia. After receiving word that he would not be fit for active service, his conduct deteriorated again. In October 1916 he was discovered in Andover with a counterfeit pass, and was sentenced to a period of detention and forfeiture of pay.

In early 1918 Teakel’s misconduct resulted in illness and he underwent a period of further treatment in hospital at Bulford. He then contracted a serious skin disease, which caused him to become severely ill and lose a great deal of weight. By September 1918 he had contracted pneumonia, and he died in hospital at Harefield on 2 October.

Teakel was buried in the nearby St. Mary’s Churchyard Cemetery with full military honours. A friend of his, Miss Manning, was invited to attend the ceremony, but unfortunately she did not receive the telegram advising her that the funeral had been moved from the afternoon to the morning and missed it. It was attended by some staff members of the hospital, along with a firing party and bugler. Clarence Teakel was 23 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 Australians who died during the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Clarence Teakel, and all those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section