The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3879A) Private John Thomas Navin, 49th 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 Troy Clayton, the story for this day was on (3879A) Private John Thomas Navin, 49th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

3879A Private John Thomas Navin, 49th Battalion, AIF
DOW 3 April 1917
Story delivered 4 June 2017

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private John Thomas Navin.

John Navin was born in 1891 in Lismore, New South Wales, to the large family Edward and Bridget Navin.

John Navin grew up in Lismore and attended the local public school, after which he worked as a surveyor’s labourer.

Following the outbreak of the First World War, Navin enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Lismore on 10 September 1915. After his initial training, he was allotted to the 9th reinforcements to the 25th Battalion.

He embarked from Brisbane on 31 January 1916 aboard the transport ship Wandilla, bound for Egypt. In early April, Navin was transferred to the 49th Battalion as part of the expansion and re-organisation of the AIF.

The 49th Battalion departed Egypt in June and sailed to Marseilles, France. After a period of service near Armentières in what was known as the “Nursery Sector” – a relatively quiet area where troops were introduced to trench warfare – the 49th Battalion was sent south to take part in the battle of the Somme.

The 49th’s first major battle was at Mouquet Farm in September. Navin and several other men were detailed as a working party. They carried ammunition, food, and water up the line, often under extremely heavy shell-fire. Even when relieved, Navin and his comrades volunteered to keep going until sheer exhaustion stopped them. Brigadier Thomas
Glasgow awarded each man in the party a Commander in Chief’s congratulatory card for their unstinting efforts.

After Mouquet Farm, the 49th Battalion was sent to the quieter Ypres Sector, but came south again in October and endured the bitter winter of 1916 while rotating in and out of the front line.
When the German army withdrew to their prepared positions known as the Hindenburg Line in February 1917, the 49th Battalion was involved in following them up.

On 2 April, the 49th Battalion took part in the capture of Noreuil. During this action, Navin received a gunshot wound to his head. He was taken to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station where he died the following day. He was laid to rest in the Pozieres British Cemetery. He was 26 years old.

John Navin’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.

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

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section