The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2110) Private Henry Herbert Bartrop, 3rd 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 Joanne Smedley, the story for this day was on (2110) Private Henry Herbert Bartrop, 3rd Battalion, First World War.

2110 Private Henry Herbert Bartrop, 3rd Battalion
KIA 7 August 1915
Photograph: H06676

Story delivered 19 September 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Henry Herbert Bartrop, whose photograph is today displayed beside the Pool of Reflection.

Henry “Bert” Bartrop was born on 5 December 1886 in Balmain, New South Wales, one of six children of Herbert and Mary Bartrop. A clerk by trade, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 11 May 1915. Aged 28, he embarked from Sydney in June as acting corporal with the 6th reinforcements to the 3rd Battalion.

Upon arriving at Anzac Cove in early August Henry reverted to the rank of private and with his battalion took part in the attack on Lone Pine. Initially intended as a diversion, the attack called on Anzac forces to charge deeply entrenched Turkish positions. The main trench was taken, but there followed four days of intense fighting, resulting in heavy casualties. Private Henry Bartrop was one of them.

He was reported missing in action following the charge, and one witness mentioned having seen Henry shot through the heart during the attack. His family back in Australia wrote repeatedly to the AIF for confirmation of what had happened, and even interviewed men of the same battalion who had returned home. One, Private Oswald Lambkin, insisted that he had buried Henry behind the trench in which he fell.

Over a year later a court of inquiry concluded that Private Bartrop had been killed on 7 August 1915, just two months after leaving Australia. The AIF was unable to locate Henry’s body, and he has no known resting place. He is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial on Gallipoli.

Henry’s brothers Harold and William both served in and survived the First World War, and Harold was awarded the Military Medal for his service with the 13th Field Company Engineers.

Henry Baltrop’s 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 Henry Herbert Bartrop, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.