The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (5402) Private John Charles Mayo, 54th Battalion (Infantry), First World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each 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 Berelle, the story for this day was on (5402) Private John Charles Mayo, 54th Battalion (Infantry), First World War.

5402 Private John Charles Mayo, 54th Battalion AIF
KIA 15 May 1917
Photograph: H05999

Story delivered 30 September 2013

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private John Charles Mayo.

Born in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Mayo was the grandson of a teenage convict who had been transported to Australia in 1839 and resettled in the Canberra region after earning his ticket of leave.

Mayo had married and moved to Lake Cargelligo in New South Wales, where he was working as a station hand when he enlisted in December 1915. The 35-year-old father of two went to Egypt for training before he joined the 54th Battalion in France.

After a freezing winter manning trenches in the Somme Valley, in early 1917 the 54th Battalion took part in the advance that followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. The 54th was spared the assault but defended gains made during the second battle of Bullecourt. It was during this battle that Mayo was killed, on 15 May 1917. His younger brother Ernie, who had enlisted with the 13th Battalion in October 1914 and been part of the landing on Gallipoli, had been killed in action a month earlier at the first battle of Bullecourt.

An article appeared in the Queanbeyan Age newspaper following John Mayo's death, lamenting the loss of the two brothers. It read: "This double fatality in the one family is naturally calling forth the deepest sympathy for the Mayo family, and especially so for the young widow and orphaned little ones." Mayo's widow had returned to Queanbeyan after her husband enlisted, and in 1919 she moved into a house in the town that had been built for her and her children from funds donated by residents of Lake Cargelligo and Queanbeyan.

The name of Private John Mayo is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with around 60,000 others from the First World War. His photograph is displayed by the Pool of Reflection. The Mayo brothers' story is also featured in the Memorial's new exhibition Salute: Canberra's military heritage, which has been produced as part of this year's Centenary of Canberra celebrations.

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