The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3256) Lance Corporal William Herman Zimmer, 57th 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 Craig Berelle, the story for this day was on (3256) Lance Corporal William Herman Zimmer, 57th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

3256 Lance Corporal William Herman Zimmer, 57th Battalion, AIF
KIA 17 June 1918

Today we remember and pay tribute to Lance Corporal William Herman Zimmer.

William Zimmer, who went by his middle name “Herman”, was born in 1896, the eldest son of William and Elizabeth Zimmer. His father was a serving officer in the Victorian police force, which meant that the family moved around the state. They spent the longest period, 13 years, in Geelong, where Herman’s father was in charge of the local police station. Herman Zimmer was an excellent oarsman and rifle shot, and held a certificate from the Royal Humane Society for attempted life-saving. His father described him as being “possessed of a good literary ability and a cheerful bright disposition”.

Herman Zimmer was indeed a gifted student, and was granted a scholarship to the Central College in Geelong after completing his education at the Ashby State School in Geelong West. He attended the college for three years, passing his junior and senior public exams, and then sat the examination for the state public service, finishing 13th of the 250 who passed. He joined the state law department as a clerk, and went on to work as assistant clerk of courts at Geelong. In 1916, Zimmer was transferred to the courts at Colac, but after arriving he decided to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force.

Herman Zimmer enlisted in the AIF in September 1916, shortly before his 20th birthday. He underwent a period of training in Australia before leaving the following December for active service overseas with reinforcements to the 57th Battalion. He proved an able soldier after arriving in England, and in June 1917 was sent to Tidworth to attend the school of musketry. He qualified from the course with first class honours, and reportedly stayed on as an instructor for some time.

However, Lance Corporal Zimmer felt the need to serve on the battlefield. Although he could have continued as an instructor in England, he chose to be transferred to France. Arriving on the Western Front in October 1917, he spent the following winter rotating in and out of the front line with his battalion. His commanding officer, Captain Keys, described him as “one of our most promising NCOs, who had been noted for further promotion”.

The winter was hard on Herman Zimmer’s health, and he suffered from a number of different problems in the spring, for which he spent time in hospital. In early May 1918 he was well enough to rejoin his battalion, just as the German Spring Offensive was slowing and the allies were about to take up the attack.

On 17 July 1918, the 57th Battalion were in the rear lines at Ribemont. A working party of three officers and 150 other ranks, including Lance Corporal Zimmer, was sent into the front line in the morning, charged with connecting two posts in the front line in preparation for a raid on the Germans opposite. However, as the party neared its position, it came under a heavy German artillery bombardment, and could not continue with the work.

Instead, the men in the party scattered along an embankment, taking what cover they could. Zimmer’s mate, Corporal Bray, later wrote, “I was lying about four yards to the right of Bill (as we called Herman). We had been fighting there about ten minutes with shells bursting all round us, when just in front of Bill there was a blinding flash, and sticks and earth flew in all directions … A few minutes later I went back to the spot only to find that, in the space of a few seconds, I had lost my greatest friend and companion … A more sudden death could not have occurred.”

William and Elizabeth Zimmer, having moved to Casterton since Herman’s enlistment, received many letters of condolence for the loss of their son. Among them, Lieutenant Dickson wrote that Zimmer “was very popular with his comrades, and had the confidence of his officers. His death is a decided loss to the company.” Private McCorkell wrote, “I too feel the loss of your son – my mate, and thus can better realise how great the blow will be to you.” Zimmer touched the lives of more than his fighting comrades. Chaplain Charles Rodgers recalled “at one of my recent communion services your dear boy was present … it is indeed hard to lose so thoughtful and promising a son.” Mrs Clark, with whom Zimmer boarded while in England, wrote “Bill (as he was always called here) was a son to be proud of, for he was as straight, honourable and Godly as any man could be. May God give you comfort and healing.”

William Herman Zimmer was buried in the communal cemetery extension at Ribemont, where he lies today under the words “I fought a good fight, I finished my course, I kept the faith.” He was 21 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 William Herman Zimmer, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section