The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (344) Private Pierce Patrick Morrissey, 4th 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 Sharon Bown, the story for this day was on (344) Private Pierce Patrick Morrissey, 4th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

344 Private Pierce Patrick Morrissey, 4th Battalion, AIF
KIA 3 May 1915
Story delivered 24 May 2018

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Pierce Patrick Morrissey.

Pierce Morrissey was born on 9 March 1893 in Narrabri, New South Wales. His father was born in Ireland and migrated to Australia, becoming a teacher at the public school in Narrabri and marrying Emily Locke. Pierce was the eldest of their four children. He was educated locally, going on to study at the Boys’ High School in Newcastle, and then attended Teachers’ Training College in Sydney. Despite this, he did not become a teacher like his father, and was instead working as a clerk in the Agricultural Department of the public service in Sydney on the outbreak of war in 1914.

Morrissey enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force within weeks of the outbreak of war in August 1914. He was posted to the 4th Battalion and two months later left Australia for active service overseas. After a brief stop in Albany, Western Australia, the battalion proceeded to Egypt, arriving on 2 December. There they continued training for a number of months.

On 25 April 1915 the men of the 4th Battalion landed on Gallipoli as part of the second and third waves. After a fierce fight they were eventually able to establish their front line, digging in and improving trenches under heavy sniper fire.

In early May Private Morrissey’s platoon was sent to occupy trenches at Courtney’s Post which had been blown in by the Turks. They found that the Turks had occupied part of the destroyed portion of trench and were able to fire on them at will. During the fight, two of Private Morrissey’s mates were hit, and he rushed forward to help them.

Lieutenant Becher of the 4th Battalion later wrote:
Morrissey… rushed forward, and freely exposing himself with great gallantry to the Turkish fire, shot down three Turks in the trench. Shortly afterwards his section … was relieved, and while resting behind the trenches, Morrissey was hit twice and killed by a sniper.

Morrissey’s body was left where it fell for some hours, but the following night his mates returned and buried his body nearby. His grave was lost in subsequent fighting, however, and today he is commemorated on the memorial to the missing at Lone Pine.

Lieutenant Becher held a high opinion of Morrissey, writing “throughout all the operations Morrissey displayed qualities of a very high order… I had no better man under me, [and] it was only his own wish that prevented his rapid promotion.”

Pierce Morrissey was 24 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 Private Pierce Patrick Morrissey, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section