The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (250641) Squadron Leader Daryl Maxwell Sproule DFC, No. 77 Squadron, RAAF, 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 Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on

250641 Squadron Leader Daryl Maxwell Sproule DFC, No. 77 Squadron, RAAF
Murdered 16 August 1943
Story delivered 15 August 2018

Today we remember and pay tribute to Squadron Leader Daryl Maxwell Sproule DFC.

Daryl Sproule was born on 3 October 1917 in Hobart, the son of Albert and Irene Sproule.

He grew up in the Hobart suburb of Sandy Bay where he attended Hobart High School. On leaving school, he became an apprentice law clerk with Gatenby, Johnson and Walker solicitors, eventually becoming an articled law clerk.

Sproule also served for three years in the militia with 12 Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War, he enlisted for service in the Royal Australian Air Force. He was selected for pilot training, was awarded his flying badge on 4 May 1940 and at the end of the month was posted to No. 21 Squadron RAAF, which was then equipped with Wirraway aircraft. In August 1940, the squadron was dispatched to Singapore before being re-designated as a fighter squadron and re-equipped with Brewster Buffalo fighters in early January 1941.

Following the Japanese invasion of Malaya, No. 21 Squadron was kept busy escorting bomber raids and conducting fighter sweeps against enemy aircraft.

On 18 January 1942, Sproule’s flight was returning to base after escorting bombers on a raid. Encountering Japanese fighters, a dogfight ensued, during which Sproule shot down his first enemy aircraft.

At the end of January No. 21 Squadron was evacuated to Australia and in March the squadron was disbanded in March 1942. Sproule then became one of the formative members of No. 77 Squadron which formed in Perth under the command of Squadron Leader Dick Creswell. Equipped with Curtis Kittyhawk fighters, it saw active service in the defence of Darwin during the rest of the year.

Sproule had a brief posting to No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit, but was back with No. 77 Squadron when it was sent to Milne Bay in February 1943. During a raid by approximately 100 Japanese aircraft, Sproule brought down his second Japanese aircraft.

The squadron moved to Goodenough, Island in May 1943 and over the following months conducted operations against Japanese ground targets in New Britain.

Before his departure Squadron Leader Dick Cresswell nominated Sproule as his successor, and on 1 August Sproule was promoted to squadron leader and took command of No. 77 Squadron.

The next morning, he led his squadron escorting bombers attacking targets at Gasmata. On the return trip, he was leading his fighters in a bombing attack against Japanese shipping on the coast when shrapnel from his own exploding bomb damaged his low-flying aircraft.

Just after 7am, Sproule crash-landed his damaged Kittyhawk into the water just off the beach, around 400 metres from the jetty at Lindenhafen.

Leaving his aircraft, he made his way into the nearby jungle where he stopped to rest. He was soon found by several local native youths, who disarmed him and took him to their village. One of the boys who had found him informed the Japanese of his presence, and Sproule had no choice but to surrender.

After being bound and beaten with fists and wooden poles, he was taken to the Japanese base at Gasmata where he was questioned and subjected to more mistreatment.

One of the local witnesses later reported that Sproule was taken to a nearby location called Ring Ring where he was made to dig his own grave; completing his task, he was forced to kneel, and was beheaded.

His remains were recovered in June 1944, but it was not until early December 1946 when they were positively identified. His remains were re-interred in the Lae War Cemetery in Papua New Guinea.

Daryl Sproule was 25 years old.

Posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 15 August 1947, the medal was presented by the Governor of Tasmania to his mother Irene.

His citation reads, in part:

Squadron Leader SPROULE started operational flying at the commencement of Japanese operations in Malaya and participated in many fighter engagements in Malaya and Sumatra before being evacuated from Java. He consistently displayed exceptional skill and courage against greatly superior forces and was credited with shooting down one enemy fighter aircraft.

On his return to Australia he continued operational flying in newly formed squadrons ... Throughout his long period of active operations against the enemy, Squadron Leader Sproule’s sustained gallantry and devotion to duty have been a most valuable asset to his squadron.

His death was late investigated as a war crime; the officer responsible was tried and found guilty of his murder and was executed in 1949.

Daryl Sproule’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 Squadron Leader Daryl Maxwell Sproule DFC, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section