The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (741) Sergeant John Edward Kenyon, 9th 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 Craig Blanch, the story for this day was on (741) Sergeant John Edward Kenyon, 9th Battalion (Infantry), First World War.

741 Sergeant John Edward "Darky" Kenyon DCM MM, 9th Battalion
KIA: 23 July 1916
No photograph in collection (Pictured on front of The Gallipoli letter by Keith Murdoch)

Story delivered 23 July 2013

Today, we remember and pay tribute to Sergeant John Edward Kenyon DCM MM.

Kenyon was born at Otterbourne, near Southampton, England in 1878. As a young man, he joined the Rifle Brigade of the British Army. He served in India, where he learned to speak Hindustani fluently, and was in South Africa during the Second Boer War. He left the army when his time had expired, and in 1909 immigrated to Australia, settling in Kyogle, New South Wales.

He was working in Queensland as a timber cutter when the First World War began, and enlisted in Brisbane for service with the 9th Battalion on the 19th of August 1914. His previous military experience and leadership potential gained him promotion to lance corporal the following month.

Kenyon was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal for his bravery during the Gallipoli landing. He was among the first wave of men ashore in the early hours of the morning and during the day "in the face of heavy shrapnel and rifle fire & returned from the firing line to collect reinforcements and assisted in leading a successful bayonet charge to the top of a hill which was eventually held against great odds". Only days after the landing, he was promoted to sergeant.

In May, he took part in a trench raid near Gaba Tepe, where he was the first man into the Turkish trench. He and his fellow raiders routed the Turkish garrison, taking one prisoner in the process, before returning to their positions without suffering a casualty.

The 9th Battalion left Gallipoli in November and returned to Egypt. Kenyon, with his knowledge of Hindustani, accompanied one of his officers on a patrol with members of the Bikaner Camel Corps. He was not only able to relay much of the conversation to his officer, but was instumental in the capture of a bedouin, who provided authorities with valuable intelligence.

After the 9th Battalion arrived in France, they moved to the Nursery Sector, taking up positions near the Sugar Loaf position near Fromelles. The battalion was tasked with a raid on the night of 1 July and Kenyon took his place in the ranks. The raid was a resounding successs. Kenyon assisted in taking a number of prisoners and capturing a German machine gun.

On 23 July, the 9th Battalion took part in the attack on Pozières. Kenyon led his men from the front but during the advance he was severely wounded in the stomach by shrapnel. When a comrade tried to assist him, Kenyon told him in no uncertain terms to continue with the attack. He was never seen again. Kenyon was posthumously awarded a Military Medal for his actions during the raid and after the war, his name was added to the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial in France.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, 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 John Edward Kenyon DCM MM, and all those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.