The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (100) Sergeant Albert Leslie King, 8th Australian Light Horse, 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 Joanne Smedley, the story for this day was on (100) Sergeant Albert Leslie King, 8th Australian Light Horse, First World War.

100 Sergeant Albert Leslie King, 8th Light Horse Regiment.
DOW 13 November 1917
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 23 November 2013

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sergeant Albert Leslie King.

Albert King, a 33-year-old fitter from Clunes, Victoria, had enlisted early in the First World War and, after proving himself as a horseman, was accepted as an original member of "A" Squadron of the 8th Light Horse Regiment. He sailed from Australia on the Star of Victoria on 25 February 1915.

Six months later on Gallipoli, at dawn on 7 August 1915, in one of the famous actions of the war the 8th Light Horse made an ill-fated bayonet charge against Turkish positions at the Nek. In only a few minutes almost 250 men of the proud Victorian regiment were killed or wounded. The charge at the Nek is still remembered as one of the bravest and most costly of the Australian actions on Gallipoli.

The following year, while serving in Egypt and the Sinai, Albert King was promoted to corporal and was Mentioned in Despatches "for valuable services rendered" in recent fighting. At home, the Clunes Guardian and Gazette proudly carried the news of his award.

By late 1917, after operations had extended into Palestine, King had developed into an experienced and respected sergeant. It is recorded that he was very popular in his troop.

On 12 November 1917 near Burkusie, 20 kilometres north of Gaza, Sergeant King's squadron was sent forward to meet a major enemy attack and soon came under heavy fire. During the ensuing battle he was shot in the head, falling only 50 metres from the enemy. The Turks kept up their fire and the Australians were forced to withdraw. King was one of a number of men who had to be left behind.

At that point, another sergeant and a comrade of King's from his Gallipoli days, Sergeant James Bowman, volunteered to go out to him. It took more than half an hour under constant fire to reach King and drag him to a safe place. Bowman then rescued another man: later he was recommended for the Victoria Cross for his bravery, receiving instead the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

However, Albert King's wound was fatal and he died at the field ambulance the following day. He was given a proper burial with a chaplain in attendance.

Albert King was a single man; his next of kin was his widowed mother. Unfortunately, after the war his grave could not be located and today Sergeant Albert King is remembered on the Jerusalem War Memorial and on his home town memorial in Clunes.

Here at the Australian War Memorial, his name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 others from the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Sergeant Albert Leslie King, and all those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.