The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (641) Private Mark Holman George Lithgow, 10th 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 Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (641) Private Mark Holman George Lithgow, 10th Battalion AIF, First World War.

641 Private Mark Holman George Lithgow, 10th Battalion AIF
DOW 3 May 1915
Photograph: H06485

Story delivered 25 June 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Mark Holman George Lithgow.

Mark Holman George Lithgow was born in Adelaide on 24 February 1894 to George and Ann Lithgow. The Lithgow family moved to Allandale East, near Mount Gambier, with their infant son soon after.

Lithgow grew up in the Allandale East area and attended MacDonnell Public School. After leaving school, he took a job as a cook.

When the First World War began, Lithgow was among the first South Australians to enlist when he attested for service with the 10th Battalion at Morphettville on 24 August 1914. He was given the regimental number 641 and posted as a private to A Company.

In October he embarked with the 10th Battalion from Outer Harbour aboard the transport ship Ascanius. During the voyage to Egypt, the Ascanius was involved in a collision at sea with the transport ship Shropshire. The men conducted the evacuation drill and made their way up on deck, ready to evacuate. In the end, both ships were found to be still sea-worthy and continued to Egypt.

Following several months of training the 10th Battalion moved to Lemnos in March 1915 in preparation for the landings on Gallipoli.

As part of the 3rd Brigade’s covering force the men of the 10th Battalion were amongst the first troops ashore on Gallipoli on 25 April. Lithgow was part of this initial landing force. The exact day of his wounding is not recorded, but by 29 April he had been evacuated to Lemnos. Due to the severity of his wounds, which were also not recorded, he was further evacuated to Alexandria, Egypt. It was here on 3 May 1915 that he succumbed to his wounds and was laid to rest in the Chatby Military Cemetery.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with around 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 Private Mark Holman George Lithgow, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.