The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2544) Private William Thomas Shufflebotham, 58th 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 Gerard Pratt, the story for this day was on (2544) Private William Thomas Shufflebotham, 58th Battalion (Infantry), First World War.

2544 Private William Thomas Shufflebotham, 58th Battalion
KIA 25 September 1917
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 11 December 2013

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private William Thomas Shufflebotham of the 58th Battalion.

William Shufflebotham was the son of John and Jane Shufflebotham of Eaglehawk in Victoria. Born in Bendigo in 1884, Shufflebotham seems to have grown up there, although little is known of his early life. He was well-known in Eaglehawk, and was for a time a member of the local rowing club. On the outbreak of the First World War he was working as a storeman in Fitzroy, and was married to Amy.

Shufflebotham tried to enlist in the Australian Force at least twice, but on his first occasion was rejected because of a medical condition. In June 1916, however, he was accepted, and went into Broadmeadows Camp for training. He left Australia in September 1916 on HMT Shropshire, arriving in England roughly two months later. After arriving in France on the first day of 1917, he was posted to the 58th Battalion.

Shufflebotham had arrived during one of France's harshest winters on record. His battalion spent the next couple of months holding the front line for short periods, and supplying carrying and working parties at other times. They also underwent more training when behind the lines, particularly working on skills such as conducting raiding parties. After two months of this, Private Shufflebotham fell ill and had to be sent to England to recover, which took several months. He returned to his battalion in September 1917.

On 23 September, 12 days after Shufflebotham had rejoined his battalion, the 58th entered the front line at Polygon Wood. Two days later the Germans attacked. Their advance was stopped, and some of the 58th Battalion were sent forward to make sure their attack had been broken up. Somewhere in this action, Private William Shufflebotham was reported missing.

In February 1918 a court of inquiry determined that "there is insufficient evidence available to indicate the fate of this man". It took another four months to confirm that Shufflebotham had been killed on 25 September during those hectic attacks and counter-attacks. The question of how he was killed was never resolved. One report stated that while a section of the battalion paused in its advance Shufflebotham started off on his own and was never seen again. Another said that he was in the front line in an observation post when he was killed by a high explosive shell. Unlike so many Australian soldiers, Shufflebotham's body was recovered, and he is now buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery in Belgium.

Amy Shufflebotham eventually moved to Tasmania, where she died in 1931. She never remarried.

William Shufflebotham's name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 others from the First World War. There is no photograph in the collection to display 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 William Thomas Shufflebotham, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.