The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (41) Lieutenant Stanley Spencer Reid, 6th Western Australian Mounted Infantry, Boer 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 (41) Lieutenant Stanley Spencer Reid, 6th Western Australian Mounted Infantry, Boer War.


This video recording of this ceremony will not be released to the Public.

41 Lieutenant Stanley Spencer Reid, 6th Western Australian Mounted Infantry
DOW 29 June

Story delivered 28th May 2017

Today we remember and pay tribute to Lieutenant Stanley Spencer Reid.

Stanley Reid was born on 12 July 1872 in Swan, Victoria, and was the oldest of seven children of the Sybil and the Reverend John Bentley Reid, a respected minister of the Presbyterian Church. Stanley was educated at Scotch College in Melbourne and went on to study arts at Melbourne University. During his time there he was voted one of the best all-round athletes of his time. He played football and cricket, as well as competing in running, boxing, shooting, and riding. Following his university education he decided to follow his father by entering the ministry, and went to Ormond College, graduating from his theological course in October 1898. His first church was St George’s Presbyterian Church in Boulder, Western Australia, where he began working in December 1898. He was considered a great favourite with his own congregation, and with people of no denomination.

When the call for Australian contingents to the Boer War went out in 1899 Stanley Reid attempted to enlist as a chaplain. He did not succeed in his attempt, and instead enlisted as a trooper in the 2nd Western Australian Mounted Infantry. At his farewell function in Boulder, he said “he had got over the youthful glamour of war, but he was prepared to take his part in what was in store for him … he hoped they would be able to say they had given a farewell to a man who had taken his part for the British Empire”. He served in South Africa for most of 1900, mostly patrolling for small groups of Boers. A few weeks after he arrived he wrote home to say “the war seems to be nearly over and our work seems to be patrol the country and keep rebels from rising… my face is in a very bad state from sunburn”.

In August the Western Australians participated in a general advance from Pretoria. Trooper Reid and another man went missing for about 16 days, having dropped out of the column and become lost trying to re-join it. According to Reid’s account they stumbled onto a Boer stronghold in a gorge and were nearly trapped, but managed to escape. Reid was noted to be an excellent soldier, and his comrades said that “he simply did not know what fear was … his bravery was of a reckless, dashing kind.” He was mentioned in despatches by Kitchener for his courage.

Reid returned to Australia with his contingent towards the end of 1900. He made a quick visit to Boulder, where he was welcomed by the Mayor and councillors, and a number of prominent residents of the town. Shortly afterwards he was offered a commission and by early 1901 he was back in South Africa, this time with the 6th West Australian Mounted Infantry. His brother Francis, a doctor, had also offered his services and was nearby.

In June of that year the 5th and 6th Western Australian Mounted Infantry left their camp near Middelburg and advanced two and a half miles towards Boer positions. Stanley took some men forward “to see what was over the sky-line”, leaving the bulk of his force about three miles behind. Those left behind heard a heavy burst of continuous fire, and Reid and his men disappeared from view. As the men watched, a group of Boers chased two of Reid’s men back over a ridge. They were driven back, and Reid and his group were found. Two men were dead, and three were wounded, including Lieutenant Stanley Reid, who had been shot through the stomach.

Reid was made as comfortable as possible, and was eventually taken back to camp by an ambulance wagon. His brother stayed near him the whole time, but he and the other surgeons in the camp agreed Stanley’s case was hopeless. He died at 5 am on 29 June 1901 with his brother by his side. Francis later wrote: “The men of the contingent fairly worshipped him, and are very cut up over his death. Poor Stanley’s grave is the best I have seen in South Africa.”

Stanley Spencer Reid was 29 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among 605 Australians who lost their lives in the Boer War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Lieutenant Stanley Spencer Reid, and all those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Unit