The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Captain Mervyn Bournes Higgins, 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment, 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 Meleah Hampton, the story for this day was on Captain Mervyn Bournes Higgins, 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment, First World War.

Captain Mervyn Bournes Higgins, 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment
DOD 23 December 1916

Today we remember and pay tribute to Captain Mervyn Bournes Higgins.

Mervyn Higgins was born on 8 November 1887 in the Melbourne suburb of Malvern, the only child of Justice of the High Court of Australia Henry Bournes Higgins and his wife Mary.

Mervyn received his education at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School where he was a keen sportsman and a member of the school cadet corps. On completion of his schooling, he attended Melbourne University’s Ormonde College, before moving to England in 1906.

He attended Oxford’s Balliol College where he studied a bachelor of arts and honours in legal theory. He was captain of the College Boat Club and a member of the rowing club. Mervyn graduated in 1910 and returned to Australia shortly after. He was admitted to the Bar in 1912 and was working as a barrister and associate to his father in the High Court at the outbreak of the war in 1914.

Mervyn Higgins enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on the 4th of November 1914. He was assigned to the 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment with the rank of private and was sent to Broadmeadows camp. Completing officers training, he received his commission as a 2nd lieutenant on 3 February 1915.

He embarked for active service from Melbourne later that month, travelling on board the troopship Star of Victoria.

Higgins arrived on the Gallipoli Peninsula in May and was promoted to lieutenant. In August, he took part in the Light Horse’s disastrous attack at the Nek and was one of only two officers in his unit to survive the battle, which cost hundreds of Australian casualties.

He was promoted to the rank of temporary captain and adjutant shortly after the bloody August offensive. His unit played a predominantly defensive role on the peninsula from that point until December 1915 when the campaign was abandoned and his unit returned to Egypt.

In January 1916, Higgins promotion to captain was finalised.

Two months later, his unit became part of the Anzac Mounted Division and joined troops defending the vital Suez Canal from Ottoman forces.

By August 1916, the enemy had been turned back at Romani, retreating across the desert followed by Light Horse units.

In October, as allied units continued to push the enemy back, Higgins was Mentioned in Despatches for bravery in the field.

The following month, he was withdrawn from the front and sent to a school of instruction for mounted units. He returned to the lines on 19 December 1916, re-joining his unit on the Palestine frontier. Three days later, allied units received orders to attack the enemy stronghold at Magdhaba.

On the morning of 23 December, members of the Australian Flying Corps bombed Turkish positions at Magdhaba. Mounted units attacked shortly after, attempting to encircle the enemy and force their surrender. Higgins unit attacked via the northern flank, coming under heavy fire from enemy lines. Pushing through, the enemy garrison surrendered that afternoon. Allied units took nearly 1,300 prisoners, but suffered 146 casualties of their own. Among the dead was Captain Mervyn Higgins, who had been shot through the head and killed instantly.

One of his men recalled:
“The regiment were making an attack at Magdhaba when the front-line enemy suddenly threw up their hands as a sign of surrender. Captain Higgins at the head of the regiment at once advanced to take them prisoner as they had apparently surrendered, when they opened up firing again killing the captain outright alongside three or four others.”

Captain Higgins was buried near where he fell. His remains were later moved to Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, where they lie today among more than 2,000 soldiers of the First World War.

His parents received multiple letters of condolence from their son’s comrades and close friends, including Major McLaurin, who wrote:

“Poor Merv was one of the bravest men I have ever known and was absolutely without fear. Had he lived I feel sure he would have risen high, but as it was his fate to be killed I am certain that he would have chosen to die with his face to the enemy, fighting for his King and country. Australia can ill-afford to lose such men.”

Captain Mervyn Bournes Higgins was 29 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 Captain Mervyn Bournes Higgins, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.