The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3743) Gunner Sam Robinson, 24th Brigade Australian Field Artillery, 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 Andrew Smith the story for this day was on (3743) Gunner Sam Robinson, 24th Brigade Australian Field Artillery, First World War.

3743 Gunner Sam Robinson, 24th Brigade Australian Field Artillery
KIA 26 November 1916
Photograph: P08236.001

Story delivered 14 July 2013

Today, we remember and pay tribute to Gunner Sam Robinson.

Sam Robinson was born in Shropshire, England, and as a very young man immigrated to South Australia, where he worked as an engineer on the railways. He had been in Australia for just 18 months when he enlisted to join the first AIF in 1915. Soon after enlistment he was posted to the 24th Brigade Australian Field Artillery and sent to Egypt, where the brigade spent a period training before heading for the Western Front.

At this time the art of long-range artillery fire was becoming increasingly sophisticated, so Australian artillery batteries had to undergo an extended period of training and development. Much of this could be conducted in the field, and the 24th Brigade Australian Field Artillery spent a number of months behind the front line trenches around Armentières developing their craft. Among their tasks on the battlefield were shooting harassing fire into the German back lines to disrupt their supply lines; retaliating against German artillery barrages; and working on the registration of their guns for the most accurate firing possible.

Gunner Sam Robinson did not take any leave at all during his First World War service, remaining with his brigade the whole time. In July 1916 the 24th Brigade, usually part of the 4th Australian Divisional Artillery, was attached to the 5th Australian Divisional Artillery for the attack on the French village of Fromelles. There they fired a lifting barrage of bursting shells that preceded the infantry attack on German positions. But though the 24th Field Artillery Brigade could report a successful barrage, with all the trenches in their allotted field of operations apparently "pulverised", the accompanying infantry operations were not a success.

The 5th Australian Division suffered more than 5,500 casualties and was incapable of offensive action for many months as a result.

Robinson's artillery brigade remained in action on various fronts, some quieter than others. In November 1916 they were emplacing and registering guns around the French village of Gueudecourt when Gunner Sam Robinson was killed. The exact manner of his death is not recorded, although it was likely to be through German artillery fire. He was the only man from his brigade to be killed that day. Gunner Sam Robinson was buried where he fell, in a grave marked with a simple wooden cross. His grave was subsequently lost and he is remembered on the Australian memorial at Villers-Bretonneux and here.

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

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