The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3405) Sergeant Gomer Maslin, 50th 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 Richard Cruise the story for this day was on (3405) Sergeant Gomer Maslin, 50th Battalion (Infantry), First World War.

3405 Sergeant Gomer Maslin, 50th Battalion
DOW 4 February 1917
Photograph: P09291.087

Story delivered 21 June 2013

Today, we remember and pay tribute to Sergeant Gomer Maslin.

Gomer Maslin was born in Victor Harbor, South Australia, and worked with the accounts branch of the South Australian Railways prior to the outbreak of the First World War. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in July 1915, and was sent to Egypt two months later with the 10th Battalion.

Here Maslin was transferred to the 50th Battalion as a part of the reorganisation of the AIF and sent to France. Maslin's role in the battalion was that of a bomb thrower. He was steadily promoted, and spent the winter of 1916-17 in the trenches as a sergeant. One of the men in his charge recalled that "he was always so gay and cheerful, always so good to all of us, his men, when he was made sergeant of our platoon". This was a particularly hard winter, and the 50th Battalion recorded at least two other ranks sent to hospital each day as a result of the bitter cold.

It was a particularly cold day in February 1917 when Gomer Maslin was killed. The men in his platoon were working in the snow on a bright sunny day when a shell burst among them. Second Lieutenant Davis and one other man were killed instantly, but Maslin was evacuated with several serious wounds. As a friend of his wrote home, he "was given time to show his grit before he died in hospital".

Sergeant Maslin died on 4 February 1917, aged just 23. He was buried in an extension of the Dernancourt Communal Cemetery, the resting place of many Australian soldiers. In 1920 South Australia adopted Dernancourt, sending money, clothing, and other forms of practical help to rebuild the town. Today the town still remembers and honours the efforts of Australians like Maslin.

Gomer Maslin's name is listed on the Roll of Honour on your left, along with around 60,000 others from the First World War, and his photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.

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