The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (609) Lance Corporal Michael Francis Macoboy, 14th 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 (609) Lance Corporal Michael Francis Macoboy, 14th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

609 Lance Corporal Michael Francis Macoboy, 14th Battalion, AIF
KIA 27 April 1915

Today we remember and pay tribute to Lance Corporal Michael Francis Macoboy.

Michael Macoboy was born in 1895 to Michael and Mary Macoboy of Bendigo, Victoria. His father worked in the Lands Department in Bendigo for many years, but died when Michael was nine years old. Michael was educated at the Marist Brothers’ College in Bendigo, and proved to be a good student. He went on to study electrical engineering at the Bendigo School of Mines and later also studied at the Working Men’s College in Melbourne, now known as RMIT. He was particularly interested in motor cars, and in an era when cars were still an uncommon sight, became “an expert and fearless driver”.

Michael Macoboy left his studies at the Working Men’s College to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force shortly after the outbreak of war in 1914. He was posted to the 14th Battalion, and after a period of training in Australia left for active service overseas with the first contingent. He proved an able soldier and was promoted to lance corporal before leaving Australia. He continued training in Egypt, increasingly in preparation for an assault on Turkish forces on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

The 14th Battalion sailed from Lemnos Harbour for Anzac Cove at around 9.30 am on 25 April 1915. They arrived offshore in the early evening, and almost immediately were met with lighters filled with wounded coming alongside. Wounded men were squeezed on board throughout the night, with many of 14th Battalion staying awake to help.

The battalion began the process of disembarkation at mid-morning of the next day, landing under fire throughout the day. They bivouacked that night on the beach and the next day began establishing a position around Quinn’s and Steele’s Posts on the heights above the beach.

At some point during 27 April 1915, Lance Corporal Michael Macoboy was killed in action. No record remains of the manner of his death, but he was buried by the Reverend Andrew Gillison in a brief service conducted under fire. Macoboy 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 Lance Corporal Michael Francis Macoboy, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section