The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2216) Private Edgar Albert Maxwell, 50th 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 Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (2216) Private Edgar Albert Maxwell, 50th Battalion, First World War.

2216 Private Edgar Albert Maxwell, 50th Battalion
KIA 2 April 1917
Photograph: P07739.002

Story delivered 8 September 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Edgar Albert Maxwell, whose photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.

Edgar Maxwell was the son of John and Sarah Maxwell and was born in Manoora, South Australia, in 1891. Most of his childhood was spent in Manoora, where he attended the Manoora State School. He later went to the Glenelg Grammar School in Adelaide. After finishing his schooling he returned to the Manoora district and joined his brother Norman and their father in farming near Saddleworth. Maxwell was one of the most prominent members of the Saddleworth Football Club and acted as assistant secretary to the club when required. He was also a skilful tennis player.

Norman Maxwell enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in August 1915 with family friend William Dullea. Edgar went into the artillery, while William was posted to the 50th Battalion in the infantry. On 1 May 1916 Edgar also joined the AIF and was sent to England to continue his training. There he met up with his old friend William Dullea, and in February 1917 was posted to William’s battalion. By this stage both Edgar and William had received the news that Norman had died of appendicitis in hospital in December 1916.

Maxwell’s first experience of operations on the Western Front was to be his last. On 2 April 1917 the 50th Battalion attacked the fortified village of Noreuil, an outpost to the Hindenburg Line. As the battalion moved through the village it encountered heavy opposition from enemy machine-guns. Although Noreuil was taken and between 70 and 80 prisoners captured, the battalion suffered nearly 300 casualties.

Private Edgar Maxwell died some time during the battle, although the details of his death have not survived. His identification disc and personal effects were gathered up by Private Gerry Bannon and were eventually returned to Maxwell’s mother, Sarah. Edgar’s good friend William was also killed on 2 April during the attack on Noreuil. They were both buried in a battlefield cemetery near the village. This cemetery was destroyed by subsequent fighting, and Edgar Maxwell and William Dullea are now commemorated on special memorials in the Noreuil Australian Cemetery in France with more than 80 of their comrades from the 50th Battalion.

Edgar Maxwell, once described as “a fine specimen of Australian manhood, and of exceptionally fine physique”, was 25 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.
This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Edgar Albert Maxwell, his brother Bombardier Norman Basil Maxwell, and their good friend Private William Edward Dullea, together with all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.