The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Captain Ronald Rayden Bingle, 4th Pioneer 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 Jana Johnson, the story for this day was on Captain Ronald Rayden Bingle, 4th Pioneer Battalion, AIF, First World War.

Captain Ronald Rayden Bingle, 4th Pioneer Battalion, AIF
DOW 8 August 1918
Story delivered 4 August 2018

Today we remember and pay tribute to Captain Ronald Rayden Bingle.

Ronald Bingle was born in the Sydney suburb of Marrickville in 1887 to John and Hessie Bingle. His father was a banker and by 1892, the family had moved to Melbourne where John had taken a position with the Commercial Bank in the city.

Bingle attended Footscray State School and went on to higher education, gaining qualifications as an engineer. He also served for 18 months with the Victorian Rifles.

Following the outbreak of the First World War, Bingle enlisted for service on 4 March 1915, joining the newly raised 21st Battalion. He underwent his initial training at Broadmeadows and Seymour before leaving Melbourne with his battalion on the 8th of May aboard the transport ship Ulysses, bound for Egypt. During the voyage he was promoted to corporal and, shortly after arriving in Egypt, to lance sergeant.

At the beginning of August, Bingle was transferred to the 5th Field Company Engineers – a natural fit given his engineering background –and was promoted to sergeant. In early September he was sent to Gallipoli. Bingle would have seen service in the front line in the area between Quinn’s Post and Pope’s Hill and he served there until his unit was withdrawn from Gallipoli in December.

In early January Bingle arrived back in Egypt where the AIF was reorganising and expanding in anticipation of joining the fighting on the Western Front. He was transferred to the newly raised 4th Pioneer Battalion on the 24th of March and was commissioned with the rank of second lieutenant.

The 4th Pioneer Battalion sailed to France in early June and by the end of the month, the battalion was employed near Amentieres on works such as digging trenches, repairing roads, and filling in shell holes. Towards the end of the month, Bingle was promoted to lieutenant.

The 4th Pioneers were sent to the Somme area in late July where they worked around the shattered town of Albert, mainly on road construction tasks.

The 4th Pioneers were involved in the 4th Division’s efforts at Pozieres and later at Mouquet Farm. The rest of the year was spent largely on works and construction tasks.

On 4 February 1917 Bingle was posted to the 4th Army Infantry School in France. While on the course, he was promoted to captain.

He returned to his unit in late March, but in mid-May was seconded for duty with the Pioneer Training Battalion at Fovant in England. He remained in England until December, when he returned to France. On re-joining the 4th Pioneers, he was given command of D Company. During the German spring offensive in March and April 1918, the 4th Pioneers took part in several key actions at Hebuterne and Dernancourt.

In the lead up to the August Offensive, D Company was attached to the 4th Australian Infantry Brigade and the men were employed as infantry. In the initial advance on the 8th of August, D Company, advancing behind the infantry near Chipilly, came under German artillery fire. Bingle was hit by shell splinters in the chest and one of his legs. He was immediately carried back to the main dressing station of the 13th Australian Field Ambulance where his wounds were tended to. His wounds were too severe, and despite best efforts, he died soon afterwards.

Bingle was laid to rest in the Fouilloy Communal Cemetery. He was 30 years old.

His 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 Captain Ronald Rayden Bingle, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section