The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (17183) Gunner John Hartnett 5th Field Artillery Brigade, 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 Craig Berelle, the story for this day was on (17183) Gunner John Hartnett 5th Field Artillery Brigade, AIF, First World War.

17183 Gunner John Hartnett 5th Field Artillery Brigade, AIF
KIA 3 May 1917
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 7 April 2015

Today we remember and pay tribute to Gunner John Hartnett.

John Hartnett was born in 1893 in the town of Adelong, New South Wales, to Robert and Mary Hartnett. He grew up in Batlow and attended Bago Public School and continuation schools in Sydney. Later, he gained employment as a railway clerk.

Following the outbreak of the First World War Hartnett attempted to enlist into the AIF. Suffering with rheumatism at the time, he was found medically unfit and was rejected for service. Undeterred, he tried again in January 1916 and was this time successful. He joined the artillery and was posted to the 6th reinforcements to the 5th Brigade.

Hartnett embarked for Egypt aboard the transport ship Borda with his unit on 5 June 1916. After a brief stop he was sent to France, but his service records show that instead of joining a unit he was sent to England at the end of September.

On 1 October Hartnett was taken on strength of the Australian Artillery Training depot at Parkhouse, where he underwent further training prior to being sent to the Western Front. Here he joined the 117th Howitzer Battery, part of the 5th Field Artillery Brigade.

Hartnett was sent to France in March 1917 and, after a brief period at Étaples, joined his unit in early April. Two days later he was transferred to the 105th Howitzer Battery.

On 3 May the 2nd Division attacked the Hindenburg Line at Bullecourt, supported by the divisional artillery, including the 105th. During the attack, the German artillery responded with counter-barrages, and it was during one of these that Hartnett was killed.

Though he was buried by his comrades near the town of Lagnicourt, Hartnett’s grave was lost during the course of the subsequent fighting. He is commemorated today on the Memorial to the Missing at Villers-Bretonneux.

Hartnett’s 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 service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Gunner John Hartnett, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section