The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (DX945) Private William Jack Scully, 29 Employment Company, Second 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 Thomas Rogers, the story for this day was on (DX945) Private William Jack Scully, 29 Employment Company, Second World War.

DX945 Private William Jack Scully, 29 Employment Company
DOW 20 June 1943

Story delivered 21 June 2018

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private William Jack Scully.

Commonly known by his middle name “Jack”, William Scully was born in Darwin on 14 March 1919, the second of eight children born to James and Sarah Scully. James and Sarah worked on Willeroo Station in the Northern Territory.

Jack Scully grew up on the station with Bill Muir, a boy similar in age who had been taken on by the Scullys.

In late 1920s, the Scully family was advised by the police to move to Darwin so that the Jack and Bill could go to school. As James and Sarah both had Aboriginal heritage, they were fearful of losing their children to the notorious Kahlin Compound and Half Caste Home. Well known for its appalling living conditions, the children at Kahlin had been removed from their parents in order to integrate them into the white community. In order to avoid this, the family moved into a house in Daly Street in Darwin.

As Scully and Muir grew up, they began playing football for the Buffaloes Football Club. During the 1930s, the Buffaloes were the standout team and their rivalry with the nearby Waratah Football Club was legendary. Jack also played Australian Rules Football for the Vesteys team.

On 19 February 1942, Darwin was bombed by Japanese aircraft and 252 people were killed. The Scully family was evacuated inland to Pine Creek. Some family members, including Jack’s mother and two brothers, Edward and James, travelled to Brisbane. While in Brisbane, Edward and James enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force.

Jack Scully travelled to the small town of Adelaide River, where, on 28 February, he was mobilised for full-time service with the militia. After initial training, he was posted to 39 Defence and Employment Platoon in Darwin where he and his unit were responsible for building defensive positions to protect against further Japanese attacks, as well as being engaged in construction and maintenance tasks in and around Darwin.

In mid-August he was transferred to 28 Employment Company and continued to work on new buildings and repairing existing infrastructure as the attacks on Darwin persisted.

Returning from two weeks leave in early January 1943, Scully was transferred to 29 Employment Company, based at Shady Glen Camp near Winnellie.

Shortly afterwards, on 28 April, Scully enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force. By this time he had a misdemeanour on his service record: he had been discovered asleep during sentry duty on the evening of 8 March, and had been fined as punishment.

On the morning of 20 June, 21 Japanese bombers and a similar number of fighter escorts began the 55th bombing raid in the Darwin area. At around 10.45 am, after running a gauntlet of heavy flak and 46 Spitfire fighters, the Japanese bombed Winnellie and surrounding bases, causing heavy damage.

Scully was hit by shrapnel in multiple locations. He was rushed to Fortress Camp Hospital, but died from his wounds the same day. He was 24 years old.

His body was laid to rest in the Berrimah War Cemetery the following day. His remains were later re-interred in the Adelaide River War Cemetery.

Scully’s brothers, Edward and James both survived the war and returned home in 1945.

Jack Scully’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, among almost 40,000 Australians who died while serving in the Second 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 William Jack Scully, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section