The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (7721) Sapper Albert John Woolcock, 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company, 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 Meredith Duncan, the story for this day was on (7721) Sapper Albert John Woolcock, 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company, First World War.

7721 Sapper Albert John Woolcock, 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company
DOW 28 March, 1918 No photograph in collection

Story delivered 17 December 2013

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sapper Albert John Woolcock.

Albert John Woolcock was born at Ballarat, Victoria, in 1872. As a young man, he moved to Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, where he gained work as a miner.

Woolcock enlisted for service at Kalgoorlie on 16 February 1917. Following his initial training at Blackboy Camp, he was transferred to Seymour Camp in Victoria to join the reinforcements for the 2nd Tunnelling Company. He embarked from Sydney in early August, disembarking in England at the beginning of October and reporting to Parkhouse Camp for further training. At the end of the month, he absented himself without leave, but returned after one day away. He was admonished by his commanding officer and fined one day's pay.

In November, he was transferred to France, where he briefly joined the 3rd Pioneer Battalion at Warneton, He remained with this unit until mid-December, when he was transferred to the I ANZAC Depot. Woolcock finally joined the 2nd Tunnelling Company on 12 February. He was soon put to work on improving artillery positions, trenches and other defensive works.

In March, with intelligence reports pointing to a major German spring offensive, the 2nd Tunnelling Company was kept busy building new defensive works. The Germans kept up a constant bombardment, including the use of gas, which cost the unit a number of casualties.

On 21 March 1918 the Germans launched their long-anticipated Spring Offensive. During the initial bombardment, which included the use of mustard gas shells, Woolcock was severely gassed. Following his evacuation, he was admitted to the 5th General Hospital, where his condition was assessed as mortal. Efforts were made by the nursing staff to make him as comfortable as possible. His condition deteriorated over the ensuing days and he died at 2 am on 28 March. Two days later, he was buried at St Sever Cemetery, Rouen.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with around 60,000 others from the First World War. There is no photograph in the Memorial's 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 Sapper Albert John Woolcock, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.