The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2145) Trooper Solas Nassau, 1st Australian Camel 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 Dennis Stockman , the story for this day was on (2145) Trooper Solas Nassau, 1st Australian Camel Battalion, AIF, First World War.

2145 Trooper Solas Nassau, 1st Australian Camel Battalion, AIF
KIA 19 April 1917
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 26 March 2017

Today we remember and pay tribute to Trooper Solas Nassau.

Solas Nassau was born in New Ireland, New Guinea, around 1887. His father was a Frenchman and his mother was a native of New Guinea. He was orphaned at an early age when his father committed suicide. His parents had not married and his mother could not be traced, and Solas was adopted by the Reverend Oldham, who was working on a Methodist mission in the Bismarck Archipelago. When the family returned to Australia a year or so later Solas came with them. The Oldham family wholeheartedly embraced Solas as one of their own.

The family settled in South Australia, where Reverend Oldham worked at the Methodist Church in Naracoorte. Solas was educated at home, and later went to live with Mr Bottral in Yarrowie, where he learned how to farm wheat. He was an enthusiastic member of the Methodist Church, and was well known in Naracoorte and Laura. He was very talented musically, and had what was described as a “winning disposition”. In 1913 Solas Nassau became a naturalised Australian.

When the Oldham family followed the Reverend’s move to a church in Horsham, Nassau entered the employment of a Mr Geust of Kalkee. A short time later, however, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. Having previously been turned down for problems with varicose veins, he was accepted in October 1915.

Nassau had previously served with the light horse in Laura, South Australia, and so was accepted for overseas service with the 8th Light Horse Regiment. In November 1916, not long after his arrival in Egypt,
he was transferred to the 1st Anzac Battalion of the Imperial Camel Corps.

On 19 April 1917 Trooper Nassau took part in an attack against Gaza. The battalion began its operation at 6 am, and met heavy enemy shell-fire and long-range rifle-fire. The men were forced to make a rapid advance with no cover, taking casualties all the way. They were withdrawn later that evening. Trooper Nassau did not return. He was 30 years old.

Flags in Horsham flew at half-mast for Trooper Nassau. He was considered a great favourite with all who knew him, and his family mourned his loss. Solas was the second of their sons to die in war; Company Sergeant Major Frederic Oldham had died of pneumonia a month previously.

In May 1917 Nassau’s body was found in the area over which the advance had taken place. Although he was recorded as having been buried, his grave could not be located, and he is now commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing in Jerusalem War Cemetery.

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 Trooper Solas Nassau, his brother Company Sergeant Major Frederic Oldham, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section