The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3849) Private Alfred Thomas Howe, 27th 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 Charis May, the story for this day was on (3849) Private Alfred Thomas Howe, 27th Battalion (Infantry), First World War.

3849 Private Alfred Thomas Howe 27 Battalion, AIF
KIA 5 November 1916
Photograph: P11199.001

Story delivered 6 November 2013

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Alfred Thomas Howe. Alfred Thomas Howe was born in Adelaide, South Australia, on 11 March 1886. He attended school at Scott Creek, south of Adelaide. He moved to the city as a young man, where he met Bessie Maud Michell, and the pair was married at Stirling on 10 January 1907. They moved to West Thebarton and began a family. Two daughters and a son were born into the Howe household in the ensuing years.

Howe was working as a coachman in the Adelaide area when the First World War began. He enlisted for service with the AIF in September 1915 and was posted to the ninth reinforcements to the 27th Battalion.

He embarked from Outer Harbour aboard the transport Militiades in February 1916, and upon arriving in Egypt was transferred to the 2nd Australian Division cyclist corps. Barely a week later, Howe sailed with his unit from Alexandria for service on the Western Front.

After disembarking in Marseilles, he was taken on strength of the ANZAC kit depot located there. In May he was transferred to 2nd Australian Division Base Details, where he was promoted to acting corporal.

Howe transferred to the 27th Battalion on 25 August. At that time the battalion was sending working parties to assist with bringing up supplies and digging support trenches near Mouquet Farm. At the end of the month, the battalion returned to Albert for rest and reinforcement following heavy losses at Pozières.

On 5 November, 27th Battalion took part in an attack on Bayonet Trench, near Flers. The attack succeeded in gaining part of the trench, but as the morning wore on the German counter-attacks grew heavier and finally drove the Australians out. Howe was killed sometime during the day and his body was not recovered.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 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 Private Alfred Thomas Howe, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.