The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (759) Private Allen Patrick Yeatman, 9th 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 Nicholas Schmidt, the story for this day was on (759) Private Allen Patrick Yeatman, 9th Battalion (Infantry), First World War.

759 Private Allen Patrick Yeatman, 9th Battalion
KIA 24 April 1915
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 20 January 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Allen Patrick Yeatman.

Allen Yeatman was born in October 1877 in the district of Chislehurst in Kent, England. As a young man he lived in Southampton before immigrating to Sydney in March 1910. He eventually settled in Townsville, Queensland, and seems to have lost contact with his family in England.

Yeatman was a journalist, and worked for the Townsville Bulletin. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force within weeks of the outbreak of the First World War at the age of 36. Instead of going straight to Europe to fight the war on the Western Front, however, the AIF was diverted to Egypt in preparation for an operation in Turkey.

Yeatman kept contact with his friends in Queensland, who sent him copies of the newspapers. Days before he left to participate in the dawn landing on Gallipoli, he wrote to them: "Lord, what a fresh breeze of dear old North Queensland it conveys. It would do the publisher's heart good to note the bewildering demand for it in the lines." He added that the men "even read the ladies' column with extreme enjoyment".

Allen Yeatman's true home was Far North Queensland. He longed to be "back in the dear old North again. And once there among the old pals and under the genial sun ... I shan't leave it again in a hurry".

He would not get that chance. At some time during the chaos and confusion of the landing at ANZAC Cove Yeatman was killed in action. It was reported that he had gone out to rescue a corporal who was wounded in the leg and couldn't move. Yeatman carried him to what he thought was a place of safety, but instead was hit by a burst from a shrapnel shell and died instantly. The corporal he had been carrying escaped further injury.

Yeatman's friend Alex Lang recounted that story to the Townsville Bulletin in a letter, "that Yeatman's many friends in Townsville will hear of the gallant way in which he died". This they did, recording it for us today as well.

Allen Yeatman was buried at Plugge's Plateau Cemetery above ANZAC Cove on Gallipoli. He was 37 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. 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 Allen Patrick Yeatman, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.