The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (1358) Lance Corporal George Reginald Mounsey, 5th 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 (1358) Lance Corporal George Reginald Mounsey, 5th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

1358 Lance Corporal George Reginald Mounsey, 5th Battalion, AIF
DOW 9 May1915
Photograph: H06284

Story delivered 2 July 2015

Today we pay tribute to Lance Corporal George Reginald Mounsey, who was killed on active service with the Australian Imperial Force in 1915.

Reg Mounsey was born in 1896 in Ballarat, Victoria, the only son of Elizabeth and George Mounsey.

As a young boy Mounsey attended the local state school at Alfredton, now a suburb of Ballarat. He completed all his schooling there, other than a brief period spent in Menzies, Western Australia. He was a school monitor, and Mr Browne, the head teacher, would often call on Mounsey for help in training teachers new to country schools. He later attended the Ballarat School of Mines, where he learned his trade as a brass finisher and polisher.

It was in this profession that he was working when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in November 1914, at 18 years old. He had previously served within a local battalion of the Militia. Posted to the 7th Battalion, Mounsey held the rank of lance corporal.

Following a period of training, Mounsey embarked in Melbourne on 2 February 1915 aboard HMAT Clan McGillivray. On arrival in Egypt he undertook further training and transferred to the 5th Battalion in early April 1915.

On 25 April 1915 Mounsey landed with his battalion on Gallipoli. Ten days after the landing the battalion was transferred south to Cape Helles, joining the British attack on Kritihia. It was during the second battle of Krithia on 8 May that Mounsey was seriously wounded with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Evacuated aboard the hospital ship HS Braemer Castle, Mounsey died of wounds that night and was buried at sea off Cape Helles on 9 May 1915. He was 18 years old.

Mounsey’s name is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial on Gallipoli, alongside others with no known grave, and his name is also featured in the Ballarat Avenue of Honour.

In April 1918 some of Reg’s mates presented a photograph of him to the Alfredton State School in memory of their late friend. The photograph was unveiled by Major Baird, who addressed the children. He spoke of Mounsey’s bravery in leaving home to fight for his country, giving up all he held dear in doing so.

Reg Mounsey’s name is listed here on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with around 60,000 others from the First World War. His photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Lance Corporal George Reginald Mounsey, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.

Dr Lachlan Grant
Historian, Military History Section