The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (WX8818) Sapper Edward "Teddy" James Keating, 2/6th Field Park Company, Royal Australian Engineers, Second 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 (WX8818) Sapper Edward "Teddy" James Keating, 2/6th Field Park Company, Royal Australian Engineers, Second World War.

WX8818 Sapper Edward "Teddy" James Keating, 2/6th Field Park Company, Royal Australian Engineers
KIA 11 February 1944
Photograph: P02468.721

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sapper Edward James Keating.

Edward James Keating was born on 25 November 1907 to Walter Richard and Mary Anne Keating of Fremantle, Western Australia. He was a keen sportsman, with Australian Rules football his main passion. At six-foot, six-inches, and weighing 16 stone, he played as a ruckman and was nicknamed "Tiny". He was awarded the fairest and best award in his league in 1930.

He married Olive Vera Counsel at St George's Cathedral on 5 December 1931. Having worked as a clerk for a number of years and seeking a new challenge, Keating joined the Western Australian police force in July 1933.

A daughter, Steffoni, was born into the family in May 1935. Keating continued with the police before leaving in September to work in the mining area of Kalgoorlie. The family grew again in June 1937 with the addition of a baby boy, Alan. The family moved to Norseman, where Keating worked as a truck driver in a local mine. A gregarious and popular man, when Keating met his mates for a drink at the local pub Olive would send their daughter along as well so her husband would be home in time for dinner.

Keating enlisted for service on 23 October 1940, and with his mining experience soon found himself posted to 2/6th Field Park Company, Royal Australian Engineers. Keating quickly became friends with two other Western Australians, and the men were virtually inseparable. Their unit was soon deployed to Singapore as part of the 8th Division.

Following a short, brutal Malayan campaign in January 1942, 15,000 Australians were taken prisoner when the Japanese captured the island of Singapore. Keating and his mates were sent to repair an oil depot, which they instead sabotaged. The men also tried to escape, but their boat ran aground, forcing them to return to captivity undetected.

In March 1943 Keating and his friends were sent to Borneo as part of E Force. Initially interned at Kuching, Keating and his mates went under the wire and made contact with locals, who supplied them with maps and other materials with which to escape. E Force was then transferred to Berhala Island, but before Keating's party could escape another group obtained the information and left him and his mates behind. All but one member of that group made it back to Australia.

Following a transfer to Sandakan, the friends' plans for escape were again thwarted when their network was compromised. The Japanese Kempeitai arrested many of those involved, including Keating and his mates.

The men endured repeated beatings and torture at Sandakan before being sent back to Kuching for trial. During this period, Keating contracted dysentery and developed a tropical ulcer on one of his legs. After enduring further savage beatings and torture, Keating succumbed on 11 February. He was initially laid to rest in the camp cemetery, but after the war's end was reinterred at Labuan Cemetery.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, along with the names of nearly 8,000 Australians who died as prisoners of war during the Second 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 Sapper Edward James Keating, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.