The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3198) Private William Ewart Murnane, 46th 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 Charis May, the story for this day was on (3198) Private William Ewart Murnane, 46th Battalion, First World War.

3198 Private William Ewart Murnane, 46th Battalion
DOW 1 October 1917
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 5 June 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private William Ewart Murnane.

Ewart Murnane was born in Panmure, Victoria, a small town in the south-west of Victoria. He was a very talented musician, and known “far and wide” as a first-class violinist and cornet player.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in September 1916 at the age of 22. After ten or 12 days in camp in Australia he sailed for England, but on the way he contracted measles and was put off the ship in Adelaide, where he spent some months recovering in hospital.

After a week’s leave at home he set off again, and successfully arrived in England in early 1917. After a period of training there he was posted to the 46th Battalion and sent to France to fight on the Western Front. He finally joined his battalion in Belgium, where the battle of Third Ypres was raging. Ewart’s brother, Michael Alfred Murnane – known as Alf – was also on the Western Front at this time. Although seriously gassed in 1917, he would return to Australia in 1919.

Sadly, Ewart Murnane would not. In late September the 46th Battalion was holding the line on Westhoek Ridge. On 1 October half of the battalion was relieved, but Murnane’s half was still in the front line waiting its turn.

That morning a shell landed near Murnane and badly wounded him. His mates took him to a dressing station where a doctor worked on him for a quarter of an hour. His wounds were serious, and he was sent to the next station on a stretcher for more help. He died from his wounds before he reached the regimental aid post. Although he was buried near the aid post, his grave was lost in subsequent fighting and he now has no known resting place.

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 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 Private William Ewart Murnane, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.