The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3752) Private Harry Rees, 48th 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 Robyn Siers, the story for this day was on (3752) Private Harry Rees, 48th Battalion, First World War.

3752 Private Harry Rees, 48th Battalion
KIA 6 August 1916
Photograph: H05522

Story delivered 17 September 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Harry Rees.
Harry Rees was born in Broken Hill on 4 December 1892, one of three sons born to William and Elizabeth Rees. He was educated at the local public school, and spent the entirety of his life in Broken Hill until he enlisted. His father left the family in 1909 and took no further interest in them, and so Harry and his siblings were raised solely by his mother. After leaving school Harry took up work in the Broken Hill Proprietary works, and was driving trucks in their silver mine when he left to join the Australian Imperial Force in August 1915.

Rees was posted to the 16th Battalion and sent to Egypt. He arrived as the AIF was undergoing a period of reorganisation and training, and as a part of this process was transferred to the 48th Battalion. In his letters home he “always inquired if any of his mates had enlisted, as he said they were all wanted”. His younger brother Jack enlisted in May 1916 and was posted to the 32nd Battalion. He would survive the war.

Harry Rees arrived in France in June 1916 with the rest of the 48th Battalion. They were soon put into the front line around Fleurbaix, a relatively quiet sector, to get as much experience of what warfare on the Western Front was like before being called on to participate in a major operation.

On 4 August 1916 the 48th Battalion entered the trenches in the French village of Pozières. This village had been captured by the 1st Australian Division a week or so earlier, and preparations were underway to continue the advance. Under some of the heaviest shelling experienced by Australian's in the war, the battalion moved into the trench known as OG1, near the Windmill, relieving the 27th Battalion. They suffered heavy casualties just in taking the line, and although “constant efforts were made to dig trenches, they were almost immediately blown in by enemy shellfire”.

As well as the constant shell-fire, the 48th Battalion were exposed to German counter-attacks on 6 and 7 August which succeeded in penetrating their lines, but this was driven off after a desperate fight.

Throughout this period, although not conducting any major offensive action, the 48th Battalion suffered heavy casualties. One of those casualties was Private Harry Rees, killed during the German counter-attack on 6 August. No record is left of how he died, if any one ever knew, and in the confusion of the battlefield, his body was lost. He was 24 when he died.

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