The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2352) Private David Hope Jeffrey, 40th 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 Troy Clayton, the story for this day was on (2352) Private David Hope Jeffrey, 40th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

2352 Private David Hope Jeffrey, 40th Battalion, AIF
KIA 4 August 1917
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 22 December 2015

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private David Hope Jeffrey.

David Jeffrey was born on 29 February 1892 to William and Janet Jeffrey of Sheffield Tasmania. He was named after his grandfather, David Hope, who was a Scottish migrant and a pioneer of the Kentish district of Tasmania. The young David was brought up in Devonport, where he attended the local state school. Although David had a lifelong love of horses, he went on to complete an apprenticeship to become a carpenter.

David Jeffrey had a son out of wedlock with Ellen Grace Burnie, and the pair married in 1916. In August that same year he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, leaving Devonport with three other young men from the district. He was accepted and posted to the 40th Battalion.

After a period of training in Australia, Jeffrey arrived in England in December 1916 for more of the same. He finally reached the battlefields of northern France in May 1917. The following month the 40th Battalion participated in the battle of Messines in Belgian Flanders. On 7 June the battalion attacked over the River Douve, taking all objectives. During the battle Private Jeffrey was shot in the right arm, and received treatment at a field ambulance post. It was not a serious wound, and he soon re-joined his battalion.

In early August 1917 the 40th Battalion was still in the Messines area providing working parties. On 4 August its men were relieved by the 13th Battalion and withdrew to a bivouacking area in preparation to board a train to France. As he was coming out of the line, Private Jeffrey waited for some of his mates to catch up. The German artillery opened up at that moment, and a high-explosive shell landed right where Private Jeffrey was standing, killing him instantly. He was 25 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among 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 David Hope Jeffrey, and all those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section