The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2783A) Private Edward McLune, 9th 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 (2783A) Private Edward McLune, 9th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

2783A Private Edward McLune, 9th Battalion, AIF
KIA 2 July 1916
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 10 December 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Edward McLune, who died while serving in the First World War.

Edward McLune was born in 1889 in Ipswich, Queensland, to Edward and Elizabeth McLune. By the time the First World War began, both of his parents had passed away and he was living with his eldest brother, James, in the suburb of Corinda in Brisbane, and working as a labourer.

McLune enlisted on 24 July 1915, and after his initial training was allotted to the 6th reinforcements to the 25th Battalion. He embarked for Egypt in October aboard the transport ship Seang Bee. Disembarking in Alexandria, he was sent to the 7th Training Battalion at Zeitoun. In March, he was transferred to the 9th Battalion at Habieta, and sailed with the battalion to France.

The 9th Battalion was sent to the quieter “nursery” sector, and went into the front line near Armentières for the first time in May. Next month McLune volunteered to join a raiding party. They trained for several weeks, making night time forays into no man’s land to familiarise the men with their plan of attack.

The raiding party set off on the night of 1 July. McLune was in the right flank company that entered the German trenches and became involved in hand-to-hand fighting. At some point during this McLune was killed. When the signal to retire was given, his body was carried back to the Australian lines.

The 9th Battalion left the front line in the early hours of 2 July and McLune’s body was taken back for burial. He was laid to rest in the Rue–Du-Bois Military Cemetery along with the other fallen members of the raid whose bodies had been recovered. He was 27 years old.

Edward McClune’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 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 Private Edward McLune, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section