The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (7752) Gunner Edwin Henry Stanhope Sautelle, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, 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 (7752) Gunner Edwin Henry Stanhope Sautelle, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, First World War.

7752 Gunner Edwin Henry Stanhope Sautelle, 4th Field Artillery Brigade
KIA 10 August 1917

Story delivered 7 February 2018

Today, we remember and pay tribute to Gunner Edwin Henry Stanhope Sautelle.

Fondly known as “Eddy”, Edwin Sautelle was born in 1897, the eldest son of Edwin Sautelle and his wife Lizzie, who was known as “Pearl”. Born in Watson’s Bay, he grew up in the Vaucluse area of Sydney where his father was a prominent figure, serving on the municipal council for many years, and with a number of terms as mayor. The young Edwin Sautelle attended the Sydney Church of England Grammar School on the North Shore, and went on to an apprenticeship with his uncle, who was a dentist. He served in the senior cadets, and was a member of the local field artillery brigade.

Eighteen-year-old Sautelle enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in September 1915. He was posted to the field artillery and, after a period of training, left Australia for active service overseas in November 1915. Gunner Sautelle was first sent to Egypt, where he continued training and was posted to the 4th Field Artillery Brigade. From there he was sent to France, arriving in March 1916.

Apart from a short period of time in hospital with a fever, Sautelle remained with the 4th Field Artillery Brigade in the field for more than a year. Although a considerable distance behind the front line, the artillery batteries were a constant target for the enemy guns, and the men were always in danger from shell-fire.

In August 1917 the 4th Field Artillery Brigade was in action near Ypres. Gunner Sautelle was in the telephonist’s dugout. Some reports indicate that he was manning the telephone, others that he was asleep. At around 5 pm on 10 August a shell came through the dugout roof, causing the structure to explode. Sautelle and one or two others who were with him were blown to pieces, and a number of others nearby were badly wounded.

Those killed were buried nearby by Chaplain Captain Ashley-Brown. Their graves were later moved to the Perth Cemetery in Belgium, where today Gunner Edwin Sautelle lies under the words, “In memory of the much loved son of E & L Sautelle of Sydney”. Edwin Sautelle was 20 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 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 Gunner Edwin Henry Stanhope Sautelle, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section