The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3400376) Private Lionel John “Bomber” Terry 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Korean 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 (3400376) Private Lionel John “Bomber” Terry 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Korean War.

3400376 Private Lionel John “Bomber” Terry 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
Presumed dead 25th January 1953

Today, we remember and pay tribute to Private Lionel John Terry.

Lionel John Terry was born on 29 December 1930 in the harbour-side Sydney suburb of Neutral Bay. His younger sister, Louise, was born several years later.

Terry grew up in the inner west suburb of Five Dock, where he was known for coming to grief after racing his billy cart down the street in front of the family home. According to his sister, he was a bit of a tearaway and was always in trouble.

After completing his third year of college, Terry left school to work as a miner. On 27 August 1951 Terry enlisted for service in the Australian Army. He was still under-age, but his father sent a telegram that day, part of which read “consent granted … good luck son … Dad”.

During his service he acquired the nickname “Bomber”, although none of his mates could recall how he came by it. With his perfect teeth, he was also known as the man with the million dollar smile. His mates cringed when those same teeth were used to open beer bottles.

Terry joined 2RAR briefly before being posted to the special force reinforcements bound for Korea in March 1952.When his reinforcement quota marched through Sydney in early April, his sister Louise was in the crowd waving to her brother. It would be the last time she would see him.

After a brief stop in Japan, Terry joined 3RAR in Korea in early July and was posted to A Company. Here, he became the company commander’s personal signaller.

Though the front line in Korea was static, the patrol war was still active and Terry took part in numerous patrols in no man’s land. By Christmas, the war had taken a toll on, and in a letter to his sister he expressed his desire to come home. He was given leave to Japan at the end of December and returned to 3RAR on 13 January 1953.

Twelve days later, Terry was detailed to be part of a prisoner snatch patrol. After receiving his orders, Terry had a “bird bath” and changed his underwear and uniform. It was the first time he had been clean and in fresh clothing for weeks. When a mate enquired why he had cleaned up, Terry replied “the bastards won’t find me in dirty gear”. He then asked his mate to take photographs of him in full battle gear and post them to his parents.

It was a freezing, moon-lit night when the patrol started out. Two firm base parties stopped at pre-arranged locations while the snatch party, including Terry, went forward. As the Australians entered Chinese positions, the Chinese opened fire, wounding Terry in the abdomen.

The Australians withdrew under heavy fire, but the Chinese counter-attack was swift and relentless. The rear-most firm base party was attacked heavily and all but wiped out. The two remaining parties began to withdraw to Australian lines.

When a Chinese part, in front of Terry and his mates threatened to cut off the other group, Terry charged into the rear of the Chinese, throwing grenades and firing his Owen Machine Carbine. The Chinese attack was dispersed, which allowed his surviving mates to get back to their lines. But the man with the “million dollar smile” was not seen again.

The following morning the Chinese troops opposite played the last post, in what was thought to be a mark of respect for the bravery of those men on the patrol. It was a costly night for 3RAR, with seven men killed or missing, six taken prisoner, and another 12 wounded.

Discussions were held in order to recommend Terry for a Victoria Cross, but there was not enough evidence to proceed. He was posthumously recognised with a Mentioned in Dispatches.
Terry’s family felt his loss keenly. Arthur Terry expected to see his son walk through the door at any minute until the day he died. Louise never got over the death of her brother.

Lionel Terry was 22 years old.

Today his name is listed on the memorial to the missing in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery at Busan. He is one of 43 Australians listed as missing in action from the Korean War.
His name is also listed here on the Roll of Honour on my left, among the 340 soldiers, sailors and airmen who died during the Korean War.

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

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section