The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3532) Corporal Phillip Dennis Nothrop, 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 Michael Kelly, the story for this day was on (3532) Corporal Phillip Dennis Nothrop, 12th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

3532 Corporal Phillip Dennis Nothrop, 12th Battalion, AIF
DOD 15 January 1916
Photograph: P07556.001

Story delivered 30 April 2017

Today we remember and pay tribute to Corporal Phillip Dennis Nothrop.

Phillip Nothrop was born on 2 February 1897, the eldest son of Walter and Nellie Nothrop of Don, Tasmania. Nothrop was keenly interested in military matters, and was an enthusiastic member of the local cadets, in which he gained the commissioned rank of lieutenant.

Nothrop was too young to enlist on the outbreak of war. But in June 1915 the minimum age was lowered, and in August Nothrop volunteered for service in the Australian Imperial Force at the age of 18 and a half. He was posted to the 12th Battalion with the rank of corporal, and began training with the 11th Reinforcements at Claremont Camp.

After a period of training in Australia, Nothrop was sent to Egypt to complete his training before joining his battalion in the field. His letters home spoke of his enjoyable voyage and his longing to get into the trenches and “do his bit” on active service. However, about a week before Christmas 1915 he fell ill, complaining of pains in his stomach and difficulty in breathing. He was sent to a local hospital on Boxing Day, but his condition deteriorated and he was sent on to the 1st Australian General Hospital in Heliopolis.

Despite the best efforts of staff at the hospital in Heliopolis, Nothrop’s condition continued to deteriorate, and he was eventually diagnosed with acute tuberculosis. One of the nurses caring for him, Sister Emma Cuthbert, wrote that Nothrop “had lots of care and attention and everything possible was done for him, and there was nothing we couldn’t get for him … when his condition became critical we were able to give him a small room to himself where it was nice and quiet for him.” Although the staff encouraged him to write to his family, Nothrop said he preferred not to, thinking it would cause them to worry.

Nothrop’s mates, Corporals Field and Chapman, wrote to his parents to say “we visited him several times during his illness, when he was always in good spirits, and we expected him to recover”. Despite all efforts, Nothrop eventually lapsed into unconsciousness and died on 15 January 1916. Sister Cuthbert wrote, “it is with deep regret I have to write of his death, a lad too young who had volunteered his services for his country … he was a general favourite with everyone”.

Corporal Phillip Nothrop was buried in the Cairo War Cemetery. He died 18 days short of his 19th birthday.

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 by 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 Corporal Phillip Dennis Nothrop, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section