The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3256) Private Frederick William Anderson, 12th 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 Jana Johnson, the story for this day was on (3256) Private Frederick William Anderson, 12th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

3256 Private Frederick William Anderson, 12th Battalion, AIF
KIA 23 July 1916
Photograph: DA12028

Story delivered 25 September 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Frederick William Anderson.

Fred Anderson was born on 25 April 1894 to Charles and Mary Ann Anderson. His parents were early settlers of the north-east coast of Tasmania, and Fred grew up in the town of Lottah. He attended the local state school, and went on to become a miner. His father was interested in horse racing, and his eldest brother, Charlie, was a well-known jockey. When Fred was 16 years old Charlie went on a trip to Hobart and died unexpectedly. Three years later, his brother John, who had been ill for some time, died in hospital in Launceston at the age of 32.

Fred Anderson enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in August 1915. His training was interrupted by illness, and he did not leave Australia until December 1915. Private Anderson first went to Egypt, where he again spent time in hospital, this time with the flu, before continuing training with the 12th Battalion. In April he arrived in France with his battalion to fight on the Western Front.

The 12th Battalion’s first major operation on the Western Front came on 23 July 1916 when it participated in the operation to capture the French village of Pozières. The battalion was able to secure part of the objective but came under extremely heavy German artillery and machine-gun fire. Over the next two days the 12th battalion sustained 375 casualties.

Private Fred Anderson was killed on the first day of the operation. His body was not recovered in the confusion of battle. Today he is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial to the missing at Villers-Bretonneux. Fred Anderson was 22 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War. His photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Frederick William Anderson, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section