The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (10755) Gunner Leonard Clifford Borchers, 6th AFA Brigade Australian Field Artillery, 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 Andrew Smith, the story for this day was on (10755) Gunner Leonard Clifford Borchers, 6th AFA Brigade Australian Field Artillery, First World War.

10755, Gunner Leonard Clifford Borchers, 6th Field Artillery Brigade, AIF
DOW 27 November 1916
Photograph: P09066.001

Story delivered 25 January 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Gunner Leonard "Len" Clifford Borchers.

Borchers was born on 19 January 1897 in Marylands, South Australia, to George and Elizabeth Borchers. He grew up in the Minlaton area and during his school years he served as a senior cadet. After leaving school to take up a carpentry apprenticeship he continued to serve in the citizens' forces. He was still undergoing his apprenticeship when the First World War began.

He enlisted for service in the AIF on 9 September 1915 in Adelaide. Though aged 18, Borchers put his age up to 21 years and four months; his youthful looks and modest height of five-feet-six-inches would likely have raised the recruiter's eyebrows, but he was accepted for service.

Borchers was initially a reinforcement for an infantry battalion, but was transferred to the artillery where he joined the 2nd reinforcements to the 6th Field Artillery Brigade. He embarked from Melbourne with his unit aboard the transport ship Afric in early January 1916.

Following his arrival in Egypt, Borchers spent several weeks in a reinforcement camp in Zeitoun before he was taken on strength of the 13th Battery of the 6th Field Artillery Brigade.

He became one of the first Australians to leave Egypt for France when he embarked with his unit from Alexandria in March 1916, reaching Marseilles five days later.

The 6th Field Artillery Brigade went into action in the Bois Grenier area the following month, providing artillery support to front-line units. Borchers transferred to the 17th Battery during May and in July moved south with his unit to the Somme.

Borchers' unit saw constant service in the Pozières area until early September, when it was sent to the quiet Ypres sector in Belgium to rest and take on reinforcements. In October, the men of the 6th travelled once more to the Somme, where they provided fire support for the attacks toward Flers in November 1916.

During a German counter-barrage of the Australian artillery positions on 27 November, Borchers was severely wounded by shrapnel. He was carried to the 14th Field Ambulance near Montauban, where he died. He was laid to rest in Bernafay Wood British Cemetery.

On 25 March 1917 Len's father died suddenly at the family home in Minlaton. His death was a bitter blow to a family still grieving Len's death.

Borchers' name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 others from the First World War. 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 Gunner Leonard Clifford Borchers, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.