The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Lieutenant Cyril Cutcliffe Ward, 26th Battalion (Infantry), First World 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 Lieutenant Cyril Cutcliffe Ward, 26th Battalion (Infantry), First World War.

Lieutenant Cyril Cutcliffe Ward, 26th Battalion
DOW 8 March 1917
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 7 June 2013

Today, we remember and pay tribute to Lieutenant Cyril Cutcliffe Ward.

At the outbreak of the First World War, Cyril Ward was a sugar farmer in Queensland. He enlisted in April 1915, aged 29, and joined the 26th Battalion. Arriving in Egypt shortly after the Australian withdrawal from Gallipoli, Ward contracted meningitis and spent a month in hospital. Following his recovery, Ward was sent to France, and after a series of promotions was promoted to Lieutenant in February 1917.

At this point in the war the German Army were withdrawing to the Hindenburg Line. Multiple lines of trenches and deep dugouts were protected by heavy belts of barbed wire, outlying trenches, and machine gun posts. It was to one of these outlying trenches near Warlencourt that Ward's battalion was sent to attack in early March 1917.

Ward was placed as second in command of a company of the 26th Battalion. Artillery had been used against the masses of barbed wire protecting the German defences in this area, but with limited success. Ward's company commander, Captain Woods, found a gap in the thick belts of barbed wire, but was wounded and had to be evacuated. Ward took command and led the company through the gap.

The German defenders stood their ground and staunchly defended their position. It took ten minutes of fierce fighting with hand-thrown bombs before Ward's company were able to oust the enemy from their position. By this time Ward was the only officer left in the entire company, and the Germans counter-attacked shortly after.

Ward's preparations were so good that they prevented the Germans from turning the right flank of the Australian line. However, Ward and his company remained under heavy fire, and sometime later he was struck by pieces of an artillery shell. He suffered severe wounds to his head and spine, and died in hospital on 8 March 1917. For his 'conspicuous gallantry' and bravery, Cyril Ward was posthumously awarded the Military Cross. He was 31.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with approximately 60,000 others from the First World War.

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