The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (327) Trooper John Waddell, NSW Citizens Bushmen, Boer War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial every 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 (327) Trooper John Waddell, NSW Citizens Bushmen, Boer War.

327 Trooper John Waddell, New South Wales Citizens' Bushmen
KIA 4 August 1900
Photograph: A04430

Story delivered 31 May 2013

Today, we remember and pay tribute to Trooper John Waddell, who was a member of the New South Wales Citizens' Bushmen contingent in South Africa during the Boer War.

Australia was not yet a nation when the Boer War broke out in 1899. Prior to Federation in 1901, each of the six states was a colony of Britain and each sent troops to fight as part of the British forces against the Boers in South Africa - over 16,000 in all.

When the New South Wales Citizens' Bushmen contingent was raised by public subscription in early 1900, Trooper Waddell, aged 28, was among the 495 men to join. Like the other men in his contingent, Waddell was selected for his 'bush' skills & horsemanship and a strong physique. As a horse-breaker on a property near Forbes in rural New South Wales, Waddell was used to living in a harsh environment, and he was a strong rider and a good shot.

He departed Sydney with his contingent on 28 February 1900, arriving in Rhodesia, South Africa, in April. In August 1900 Waddell was with a force of fewer than 500 colonial troops defending a stores depot on the Eland's River. A force of 2,500 to 3,000 Boers attacked this post, but the small group of defenders managed to hold them off until reinforcements arrived. This was too late for Trooper Waddell. He was one of five killed on the first day of the siege. The battle raged on for another 13 days until the British arrived and the besieging force was broken.

Details of the death and burial of the men killed at the Eland's River Post were sent in a letter to Waddell's brother, James, by one of the men in his contingent. He wrote:
We lay them side by side ... in one grave. We spread a bed of veldt grass beneath them, and a blanket over them. It was a sad duty for us, for we are none of us such hardened soldiers as not to feel the keen grief at the loss of such brave comrades.

A single piece of slate served as a headstone for the Bushmen. Eventually, the headstone was replaced with four metal crosses; the original slate is now a part of the Memorial's collection.

In June 1902 Waddell was posthumously mentioned in Despatches for his service during the Boer War.

Trooper John Waddell is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with 605 others who lost their lives in the Boer War, and his photograph is displayed today beside the Pool
of Reflection.

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