The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (1021) Private Edward John Cairns, 27th 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 Troy Clayton, the story for this day was on (1021) Private Edward John Cairns, 27th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

1021 Private Edward John Cairns, 27th Battalion, AIF
KIA: 8 October 1915

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Edward John Cairns.

Edward Cairns was born on 17 July 1894 at Birkenhead, South Australia, the son of Solomon and Hannah Cairns. The first of five children, he was the only son born to the couple.

Known as “Eddie”, he attended school at Port Pirie before the family moved to Ardrossan. Here, Eddie became well regarded for his sporting abilities, excelling at tennis, football and cricket.

By the time the First World War began Eddie was working as a clerk for a local manufacturing firm. He was keen to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force, but as he was under 21, he required parental permission which was provided by his mother.

On 14 April 1915 Eddie Cairns enlisted at Keswick Barracks in Adelaide. After his initial training, he was allocated to reinforcements to the 27th Battalion. On joining the battalion, he was allocated to A Company where he became a stretcher bearer.

Cairns embarked with the 27th Battalion Adelaide on 31 May, bound for Egypt. Further training in the desert followed before the battalion sailed for Gallipoli in early September.

In what would likely have been his last letter home, written soon after landing at Gallipoli, Cairns recorded his and feelings on leaving Egypt:

“We left Egypt on September 4 in a 14,000 Cunard transport, and arrived in the magnificent harbour of Lemnos Island after being on the water a couple of days. Our boys cheered when we left camp. We were all getting tired of Egypt, and were anxious to get to the front.”

The battalion landed near where the original landings had taken place in April before moving to front-line positions on Cheshire Ridge.

He described the experience of being under fire along with a comrade for the first time the day after landing: “We were on our way down for a swim, and stopped to talk to a New Zealand gunner, when a Turkish sniper thought he would have a pot at us from the hills, and landed five shots close to us, kicking up the dust near our feet. You may guess we were not too long in getting under cover, but we had our swim.”

On 8 October 1915 the 27th Battalion’s lines were hit by Ottoman artillery fire which wounded several men. Cairns rushed to attend one of the wounded. While he was readying the wounded man to be transported, he was struck in the head by shrapnel and mortally wounded.

Cairns was taken to the 7th Field Ambulance’s aid post where he died shortly after. He was buried in the 7th Field Ambulance Cemetery shortly after. 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 Private Edward John Cairns, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section