The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (VX30407) Private William James Blake, 2/21st Australian Infantry Battalion, Second 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 Chris Widenbar, the story for this day was on (VX30407) Private William James Blake, 2/21st Australian Infantry Battalion, Second World War.

VX30407 Private William James Blake, 2/21st Australian Infantry Battalion
Presumed 20 February 1942

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private William James Blake.

William Blake was born in Greens Creek, Victoria, on 2 February 1914, the son of Katherine and John Thomas Blake.

Known as “Billy”, he went on to work as a rabbit grader.
Blake enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force on 10 June 1940, at Royal Park in Melbourne.

He was posted to the newly raised 2/21st Battalion, and began training at Trawool. In September the battalion began to move to Bonegilla, near Wodonga on the New South Wales–Victoria border, making the 235 km journey on foot. Training soon resumed and occupied the battalion until March 1941, when it moved to Darwin in the Northern Territory. The battalion had been earmarked to reinforce Dutch troops on the island of Ambon in the event of a Japanese attack.

Although military sense dictated the battalion should be deployed as early as possible, to prepare defences and train in the conditions in which it would fight, it was thought a premature deployment might provoke Japanese action. So the men were held in Darwin until Japan's intentions were clear.

The 2/21st began arriving at Darwin in early April. Its nine-month stay was not a happy one and the primitive amenities, isolation, and mundane garrison duties lowered morale. Operational training continued but was impeded by a shortage of equipment, supplies, and ammunition.

On 8 December news of long-expected Japanese attacks arrived, and five days later the battalion was on its way to Ambon to join elements of the 18th Anti-tank Battery, the 2/11th Field Company, the 2/12th Field Ambulance, and other supporting troops to form “Gull Force”. The commanding officer of Blake’s battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Leonard Roach, despaired at the situation: cooperation with the Dutch forces was difficult; transport, air and artillery support, and reserves of rations and ammunition were limited; and the combined Australian and Dutch force, numbering 3,700 troops, was likely to be overwhelmed by the larger Japanese force. After a series of messages urging reinforcement, Roach signalled that the defence of Ambon was untenable. He was removed from command and replaced by Lieutenant Colonel William Scott.

On the eve of the invasion, Scott relocated many of the defensive positions, leaving the battalion even less prepared for the Japanese invasion. Three battalions of Japanese infantry and a battalion of marines landed on the night of 30 January 1942. Within 24 hours the Dutch forces had surrendered, and Roach's dire prediction came to pass. Despite instances of brave, determined resistance, the 2/21st could not hold back the Japanese.

On 2 February, after surrendering to the Japanese, about 300 men defending the airfield at Laha were summarily executed by their captors, and buried in mass graves. The fate of these men was not discovered until after the war, while the remainder of Gull Force endured a captivity so harsh that nearly 75 percent of them died before liberation.

Private Blake was initially listed as missing on 2 February. His sister placed notices in newspapers asking for members of the 2/21st Battalion who might have information about him. But with no news of his fate, William Blake was listed as missing believed deceased, and then officially presumed dead.

He was 28 years old.

Today, he is remembered at Ambon Memorial, which commemorates officers and men of the Australian forces who have no known grave.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 40,000 Australians who died while serving in the Second 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 William James Blake, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Duncan Beard
Editor, Military History Section