The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Major Thomas Harold Redford, 8th Australian Light Horse, 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 Major Thomas Harold Redford, 8th Australian Light Horse, First World War.

Major Thomas Harold Redford, 8th Australian Light Horse
KIA 7 August 1915
Photograph: P04051.001

Story delivered 24 November 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Major Thomas Harold Redford.

Thomas Redford was born in Warrnambool, Victoria, in 1880, the third son of Thomas and Isabel Redford. He was an active sportsman, and was particularly well known as a talented cricketer. On leaving school he went into business with his brother, Fred. Thomas also enlisted as a bugler for the Victorian Mounted Rifles when he was 16 years old. His service continued when his unit changed to the light horse, and he eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant.

Thomas Redford enlisted for active service shortly after the outbreak of the First World War. After a period of training in Australia he was sent overseas, but not before he married Ruth Cameron in Mosman, Sydney, and was promoted to major in the 8th Australian Light Horse.

The 8th Light Horse did not arrive on Gallipoli until May 1915. Leaving their horses behind, they acted as reinforcements to the infantry battalions already on the peninsula. At 4 am on 7 August the 8th Light Horse took part in an attack on The Nek, a narrow ridge held by the Turks.

Major Redford was a part of the attack’s first wave. As the men left their trench to charge the Turkish position a number of machine-guns opened up and the attack disintegrated. Few, if any, Australians reached the Turkish trenches. The 8th Light Horse suffered 234 casualties, of which 154 were killed.

One of the men who died was Major Thomas Redford. Redford had been keeping a diary of his experiences, and it was finished for him by a friend. The added entry reads:

Our gallant Major whilst lying facing the enemy's trench (ten yards away) in the front of his men received a bullet through his brain as he raised his head slightly to observe. He died with a soft sigh and laid his head on his hands as if tired. A braver and more honourable man never donned uniform. The love not only by his Squadron (I might well say adored), but the all the regiment, he created respect everywhere.

In Warrnambool “all available flags were hoisted half-mast in respect” for “one of the most promising and popular of the town’s young men”. On Anzac Day 1916 the Warrnambool Cricket Club played the East Melbourne Cricket Club. Both clubs were full of friends of Thomas Redford. The president of the Warrnambool Cricket Club said on the occasion that Redford was “one of their most esteemed members … little did they think that their dearly beloved friend would make the supreme sacrifice for them all”. He added that Thomas would be forever “honoured and held in affectionate memory”.

Thomas Redford was 34 years old. He is buried in Walker’s Ridge Cemetery on Gallipoli.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 others from the First World War. 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 Major Thomas Harold Redford, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section