The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (1079) Private John Bernard Conrad Aminde, 6th Battalion, AIF, 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 Craig Berelle, the story for this day was on (1079) Private John Bernard Conrad Aminde, 6th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

1079 Private John Bernard Conrad Aminde, 6th Battalion, AIF
KIA 25 April 1915
P06424.001 (back row, 3rd from left)

Story delivered 1 March 2015

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private John Bernard Conrad Aminde, who died during the First World War.

John Aminde was born in the Melbourne suburb of Preston in 1887, the eldest son of parents Louis and Alwine Aminde. The family later moved to Albury, where John was active in the Cadets and worked for a large storekeeper and importer. John also had a reputation for athletic prowess. Over the years he had participated in competitions as a professional pedestrian, including the prestigious Stawell Gift.

John was a few months shy of his 28th birthday when he enlisted in the AIF in August 1914, just a few weeks after the declaration of war. He was first assigned to the Army Service Corps, before re-enlisting and joining the 6th Battalion in September. One month later, he left Melbourne aboard HMAT Hororata.

The 6th Battalion arrived in Egypt in December 1915 and, after several months of training, was sent to the Dardanelles to take part in the Gallipoli campaign. The battalion reached Gallipoli in the morning of 25 April as part of the second wave of landings. Under shrapnel fire, they moved inland from the beach to take part in an advance on Bolton’s Ridge.

John was killed at some point between the landing and during the advance. The exact particulars of his death are not known, and confused reports were provided to the Red Cross by fellow soldiers. He was initially reported as missing, but it was later confirmed that he had been killed in action on the 25th. One report stated that he had been buried by a Chaplain Green.

After the war, John was commemorated at Embarkation Pier Cemetery on Gallipoli. This cemetery was created by consolidating isolated graves and other graves from specific areas on the peninsula. Today there are over 900 Commonwealth servicemen buried at Embarkation Pier Cemetery, including more than 660 who, like John, remain unidentified.

John Aminde’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour to my right, along with more than 60,000 other Australians who died fighting in the First World War. His photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection, standing third from the left.

This is one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private John Bernard Conrad Aminde and all those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.

Dr Kate Ariotti
Historian, Military History Section

Sources:
Aminde family history: www.ancestry.com.

Roll of Honour circular, Australian War Memorial.

Embarkation Roll, Australian War Memorial.

National Archives of Australia, J.B.C. Aminde attestation papers.

National Archives of Australia, J.B.C. Aminde field service – report of death of a soldier.

National Archives of Australia, J.B.C. Aminde casualty form – active service.

Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing file of John Bernard Conrad Aminde: AWM1DRL/0428.

“Missing: Pte JBC Aminde”, Rutherglen Sun and Chiltern Valley Advertiser, 25 June 1915, p. 2.

“Pedestrianism”, Wodonga and Towong Sentinel, 30 March 1906, p. 3.

“Athletics”, Sunday Times, 7 April 1912, p. 9.

Chris Roberts, The landing at Anzac, Big Sky Publishing, Newport, New South Wales, 2013, p. 108.
http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/66802/EMBARKATION%20PIER%20CEMETERY.