The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Lieutenant Herbert Walter Crowle, 10th Battalion (Infantry), First World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial every 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 Charis May, the story for this day was on (1457) Lieutenant Herbert Walter Crowle, 10th Battalion (Infantry), First World War.

2nd Lieutenant Herbert Walter Crowle, 10th Battalion
DOW 25 August 1916
Photograph: P04864.001 (headstone) and from Adelaide Chronicle, 30 September 1916, p. 43

Story delivered 25 August 2013

Today, we remember and pay tribute to Lieutenant Herbert Walter Crowle.

Bert Crowle was born in Melbourne and underwent an apprenticeship to become a master builder before moving to Adelaide. He was married to Beatrice and they had a young son, Bill. He enlisted as a private in the 10th Battalion on 22 December 1914 and saw seven months' service with the battalion on Gallipoli. After a period of training and reorganisation in Egypt, the 10th Battalion moved to the Western Front in France.

In July 1916 the battalion took part in the battle for Pozières village, where Crowle was wounded by a German machine gun. The wound festered and he spent a month in hospital. Hours before he died on 25 August, he wrote the following letter to his wife, Beatrice, and their young son back in Australia:

Dearest Beat and Bill,

Just a line - you must be prepared for the worst to happen any day. It is no use trying to hide things. I am in terrible agony ... I was hit running out to see the other officer who was with me but badly wounded. I ran too far as I was in a hurry and he had passed the word down to return, it kept coming down and there was nothing to do but go up and see what he meant. I got two machine-gun bullets in the thigh another glanced off by my water bottle and another by the periscope I had in my pocket - you will see that they send my things home. It was during the operations around Mouquet Farm - about 20 days I was in the tick of the attack on Pozières as I had just about done my duty. Even if I get over it I will never go back to the war as they have taken pounds of flesh out of my buttock ... The Stretcher Bearers could not get the wounded out any way than over the top and across the open. They had to carry me four miles with a man waving a red cross flag in front and the Germans did not open fire on us. Well dearest I have had a rest, the pain is getting worse and worse. I am very sorry dear, but still you will be well provided for - I am easy on that score. So cheer up dear I could write on a lot but am nearly unconscious. Give my love to Dear Bill and yourself, do take care of yourself and him. Your loving husband, Bert.

Bert Crowle was 32 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with over 60,000 others from the First World War, and his photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.

This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Lieutenant Herbert Walter Crowle, and all those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.