The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3973A) Lance Corporal Hector Edward Williams, 20 Battalion, 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 Troy Clayton, the story for this day was on (3973A) Lance Corporal Hector Edward Williams, 20 Battalion, First World War.

3973A Lance Corporal Hector Edward Williams, 20th Battalion
KIA 3 May 1917
Photograph: P10226.001

Story delivered 18 December 2013

Today we remember and pay tribute to Lance Corporal Hector Edward Williams.

Hector Williams, known as "Teck" to his family and friends, was born in Gallymont, New South Wales, one of four sons of Mr and Mrs John Williams. Following his schooling he became a baker, learning his trade while employed by two bakers in Orange, Mr Ogston and Mr Bartle. Williams enlisted in September 1915 and, after a period of training in Australia, was sent to Egypt with the 9th reinforcements to the 18th Battalion. There he found the Australian Imperial Force was undergoing a period of training and reorganisation, recently having withdrawn from Gallipoli. As a part of this process, he was transferred to the 20th Battalion and sent to France.

The battalion's first major action occurred late in July 1916. It had been part of the reserve for the attack on Pozières on 23 July. One company of the battalion was called into the front line that evening, and in the early hours of the following morning they attacked the OG lines, strongly defended German trenches bordering the village. They encountered unbroken barbed wire and heavy rifle and machine-gun fire that "cut up" the company and caused their attack to fail. During this operation Lance Corporal Williams was shot through the right thigh, and was evacuated to England to recover.

After some months in hospital in Birmingham, Williams returned to France and rejoined his battalion. He arrived in time for one of the most severe winters northern France had seen for many years. As the Western Front quietened in the cold conditions, the 20th Battalion spent most of its time rotating between defending the front line, training behind the lines, and resting. A number were sent to hospital suffering illness related to the extreme cold, but Teck Williams came through without serious complaint. In March 1917 he was promoted to lance corporal in recognition of his abilities as a soldier.

On 3 May the 20th Battalion went into action against the Hindenburg Line near Bullecourt. They advanced into heavy machine-gun fire from a determined German defence and the attack ultimately failed, with heavy casualties. One of those casualties was Lance Corporal Teck Williams. He was in command of a platoon section and sometime after daylight was near the German front line when he was killed by machine-gun fire. In the confusion of the battle his body was not recovered when he fell, and although there was word of his being buried later, no grave was found after the war. He is now commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial in France.

The tall, red-haired young man left his community in Australia "deploring the death of a fine young fellow and a good soldier". He was 22 years old.

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 Lance Corporal Hector Edward Williams, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.