The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (218) Corporal James Arthur Harding, 14th 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 Craig Berelle, the story for this day was on (218) Corporal James Arthur Harding, 14th Battalion, First World War.

218 Corporal James Arthur Harding, 14th Battalion
KIA 27 April 1915
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 9 March 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Corporal James Arthur Harding.

James Harding was born near Dubbo and worked as a labourer before enlisting shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, at the age of 28. On 15 September 1915 he sailed to Egypt, where the AIF underwent a period of training and preparation for the landing on Gallipoli.

The 14th Battalion began to disembark on Gallipoli at midnight after the dawn landing. They had spent the day in their troop ship off Gaba Tepe collecting wounded coming off the beach in lighters, and so were well aware of the dangerous situation into which they were heading. The battalion left the boats in small groups and had not arrived in numbers until after midday of 26 April.

Although not there for the landing, the 14th Battalion went on to participate in heavy fighting around Courtney's and Quinn's posts in the days that followed. They were under continual rifle and shrapnel fire and repulsed several Turkish counter-attacks. Communications were almost completely cut at times, with messengers regularly sniped at while trying to get word through to headquarters. At some point in the attempt to hold and consolidate this precarious post Corporal Harding was killed. His grave, if he ever had one, was lost in the confusion, but he is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial.

Harding's wife, Eva, never really knew about his death; in fact, she was ever under the impression that he died on 25 May. She had the sad distinction of being the "first Dubbo lady widowed through the war", and her four children grew up without their father.

Harding's name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with around more than 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 Corporal James Arthur Harding, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.