The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (4475) Private William Stewart McGhee, 6th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery, 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 Troy Clayton, the story for this day was on (4475) Private William Stewart McGhee, 6th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery, First World War.

4475 Private William Stewart McGhee, 6th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery
KIA 15 June 1918

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private William Stewart McGhee.

William McGhee was born in 1896 in South Melbourne. Affectionately known as “Bill”, he was one of three sons born to plumber John McGhee and his wife Isabella. Bill received his education at Dorcas Street State School in South Melbourne before gaining employment as a storeman. This was his job at the outbreak of the war in 1914.

Bill McGhee enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on the 11th of January 1916. He was assigned to the 11th Reinforcements of the 24th Battalion, and began a short period of training in Australia. On 21 March 1916 he embarked for active service from Melbourne, on board the troopship Malwa.

Private McGhee arrived in England in June, where he undertook further training with his battalion. Ever the larrikin, he missed parade multiple times in England and was fined for being absent without leave. He was later given 168 hours detention for continuous absence from parade and training. On 22 September 1916 he and his comrades embarked for France, joining their unit on the Western Front just a few days later.

October 1916 was spent in the trenches around Ypres in Belgium before the battalion returned to the Somme in November, spending the bitterly cold winter in the front-line trenches. During this time, it was engaged in labouring tasks, training and patrolling no man’s land. Owing to the wet and cold conditions in the front line, McGhee developed trench foot and spent the remainder of the year recovering at the 18th General Hospital in Camiers.

McGhee re-joined his unit in January 1917. His battalion spent the early part of the year in France as German forces retreated to the Hindenburg Line. In April 1917, Allied forces attacked German positions near the French village of Bullecourt. The battle was a costly failure for Australian units who were unable to take the village, and suffered more than 3,000 casualties in the process.

McGhee’s battalion fought during the second attempt to take the village of Bullecourt in May. Though all objectives were taken, it proved even more costly as Australian units suffered over 7,000 men killed, missing or wounded. The 24th Battalion alone sustained over 80 per cent casualties in just one day.

In the latter part of 1917, the focus of allied operations on the Western Front turned to the Ypres sector in Belgium.

McGhee took part in his next major battle when his unit fought to capture Broodseinde Ridge in October. Advancing troops were tasked with capturing the heavily defended high ground, which had been fortified by German forces. Before the attack began, the enemy began shelling allied lines, killing and wounding the men who were waiting for the orders to attack. When the allied barrage opened and the troops began their advance, they were met by German troops who had pre-empted the attack and had advanced under their own barrage.

A bitter and costly battle ensued as the allied units fought to secure the high ground. By the end of the attack, Australian units had taken their objectives, but at enormous cost, suffering more than 6,000 casualties. Despite these losses, McGhee survived the attack and continued serving in the front lines with his unit.

In April 1918, McGhee was transferred to the 6th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery. Equipped with the 3-Inch Stokes Mortar, McGhee became part of a two-man crew responsible for operating the mortar from behind the lines, firing bombs at the enemy. McGhee was serving in this capacity with his unit as the German Spring Offensive threatened to push the allies back.

On 15 June 1918, the 6th Brigade was involved in an attack on the French village Ville-sur-Ancre. McGhee and his comrade, Private James Ashton, were operating a trench mortar behind the lines when they loaded a bomb which prematurely exploded. The bomb tore through the mortar and both Ashton and McGhee were instantly killed by the blast.

McGhee was hastily buried alongside his comrade on Morlancourt Track, near where they were killed. After the war, he was reinterred at Beacon Cemetery, Sailly-Laurette, France.

His mother later posted a simple memorial notice to her son in the local newspaper which read:

“My dear son. Hope on.”

Private William McGhee was 22 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 Private William Stewart McGhee, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meghan Adams
Researcher, Military History Section