The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (460) Second Lieutenant William Harold McMullen DCM, 25th 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 (460) Second Lieutenant William Harold McMullen DCM, 25th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

460 Second Lieutenant William Harold McMullen DCM, 25th Battalion, AIF
KIA 5 November 1916
Photograph: P09573.002

Story delivered 5 November 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Second Lieutenant William Harold McMullen.

William McMullen was born in May 1894 in Brushgrove, New South Wales, to Angus and Matilda McMullen. By the time the First World War began he was working as a teacher and living in Casino, New South Wales. He enlisted on 5 February 1915 at Lismore, and after initial training was sent to Enoggera, Queensland, to join the newly raised 25th Battalion.

The 25th Battalion embarked from Brisbane that June aboard the transport ship Aeneas. After training in Egypt, the battalion was sent to Gallipoli in early September, taking over positions from Walker’s Ridge to The Nek. With the last offensive actions concluding in August, it was a relatively quiet time for the battalion.

In November McMullen was promoted to acting sergeant, but his Gallipoli campaign came to an end ten days later when he was evacuated to Egypt with jaundice. He re–joined the battalion in early January 1916, and was promoted to sergeant in February. In March 25th Battalion sailed to France.

After gaining front-line experience in the area near Amentières, the men of the 25th Battalion took part in their first major battle at Pozières in July. Later that month they participated in a failed attack on the OG Lines.

On the night of 4 August the battalion was involved in another attack, this time with some success, though all the officers in McMullen’s company became casualties. McMullen took charge of the men and was prominent in consolidating their newly won positions. He frequently exposed himself to mortal danger while assisting wounded men, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions.

After being relieved at Pozières the 25th Battalion was sent to Belgium to rest and refit, before returning south to Flers in October. McMullen was commissioned as a second lieutenant at the start of November and five days later took part in the first battle of Flers. The 25th Battalion was part of the 7th Brigade’s attack on German positions known as the Maze. The attack became bogged down in heavy mud and the Germans inflicted heavy casualties on the Australians. One of those killed was William McMullen. His body was taken from the front line and laid to rest in Warlencourt British Cemetery. He was 22 years old.

McMullen’s 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. In the group portrait of the Casino Senior Cadets he is positioned in the back row, second from the left.

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

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section