The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (17539) Lieutenant Gordon Vincent Oxenham, No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps 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 (17539) Lieutenant Gordon Vincent Oxenham, No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps First World War.

17539 Lieutenant Gordon Vincent Oxenham, No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps
KIA 27 June 1918
Photograph: P00731.005 (seated front row, third from left)

Story delivered 16 December 2015

Today we remember and pay tribute to Lieutenant Gordon Vincent Oxenham, who died during the First World War.

Gordon Oxenham was born in Sydney in 1893, one of nine children to Humphrey and Elizabeth Oxenham. The Oxenhams were a notable family: Humphrey was well-known in Australian horse-racing circles, particularly after one of his horses, Sheet Anchor, won the 1885 Melbourne Cup, while the eldest son represented New South Wales and Australia in Rugby Union. Gordon attended St Ignatius’ College at Riverview, and was working as a grazier when he enlisted in the AIF in February 1916.

Gordon Oxenham was initially assigned to the 53rd Battalion, but was soon transferred to an officers’ training school. He was appointed second lieutenant in the Australian Flying Corps, and left Australia on HMAT Suevic in June 1917. He arrived in England a few months later, but was sent on to Egypt in early 1918. There he received his “wings”, and was taken on strength with No. 1 Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps.

On 27 June 1918 Oxenham and his observer, Lieutenant Laurence Smith, were escorting a reconnaissance plane over Palestine when they were engaged by enemy aircraft. The reconnaissance plane successfully took down its attackers. Oxenham dived on another enemy plane several times in an attempt to destroy it, but came under fire from the ground. According to Smith, Oxenham was shot through the head and died instantly. The plane hit the ground and was badly damaged. Smith survived the crash, was taken prisoner, and spent the rest of the war in Turkish captivity.

Though Smith reported that Oxenham had been buried by the enemy, this grave could not be located after the war. Instead, he is commemorated in the Jerusalem War Cemetery on the Jerusalem Memorial, which commemorates some 3,300 Commonwealth servicemen who died in Egypt and Palestine during the First World War but have no known grave.

Gordon Oxenham was 24. His name is listed on the Roll of Honour to my right, along with those of more than 60,000 other Australians who died fighting in the First World War. His photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection. Oxenham is seated in the front row, third from left.

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

Dr Kate Ariotti
Historian, Military History Section