The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Lieutenant Reginald Ernest Forwood, 27th 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 Lieutenant Reginald Ernest Forwood, 27th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

Lieutenant Reginald Ernest Forwood, 27th Battalion, AIF
DOW 20 November 1916

Today we remember and pay tribute to Lieutenant Reginald Ernest Forwood.

Reginald Forwood was born on 13 July 1885, one of eight children born to Walter and Harriet Forwood of Adelaide. Born in the suburb of Mile End, he was educated at Thebarton and Sturt Street Public Schools, later attending St Peter’s College.

His father was a well-known engineer, the founder of the firm Forwood, Downs and Co, and was a representative for a number of councils and trusts. Reginald undertook an apprenticeship in engineering at his father’s firm, and later worked at Broken Hill. On his return to Adelaide he became chief draftsman and quantity surveyor for Forwood, Downs and Co. He also served as a junior warden of the St Peters Collegiate Masonic Lodge.

Reginald Forwood enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in July 1915. He underwent a period of training in Australia and proved an able soldier. By the end of the year he had received his commission, and in March 1916 left Australia in command of a contingent of reinforcements to the 27th Battalion.

Second Lieutenant Forwood was sent to England and from there to France to fight on the Western Front. In July and August 1916 the 27th Battalion fought a number of operations near the French village of Pozieres, notably capturing a fortified windmill on the outskirts of the village. Again Forwood proved his value as a soldier and in September 1916 was promoted to full lieutenant.
In September and October the 27th Battalion spent time in a quieter sector of the front before returning to the Somme. The front line was still a dangerous place to be, however, and in October Forwood is recorded as having been wounded but remaining on duty.

In early November the battalion participated in operations near the French village of Flers. Two attacks ultimately floundered in the mud, and the 27th Battalion suffered heavy casualties.

On 17 November, during the battalion’s second stint in the front line and the day before it was to be relieved, Lieutenant Forwood was wounded. He was probably hit by artillery fire while working in the front lines to improve the 27th’s position. He was evacuated with serious wounds to his head and a shattered left arm, and died of his wounds three days later at a casualty clearing station.

Today Lieutenant Reginald Forwood is buried in Heilly Station Cemetery in France under the Latin inscription, “pro deo et patria”, meaning “for God and country”. He was 31 years old.
His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 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 Lieutenant Reginald Ernest Forwood, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section