The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (NX81144) Private Leslie William De Mamiel, 2/12th Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, Second 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 (NX81144) Private Leslie William De Mamiel, 2/12th Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, Second World War.

NX81144 Private Leslie William De Mamiel, 2/12th Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force
KIA 21 January 1944
No photograph in collection – provided by family

Story delivered 23 July 2015

Today we remember and pay tribute to Leslie William De Mamiel, who was killed on active service during the Second World War.

Born in Jerilderie, New South Wales, on 17 September 1912, Leslie De Mamiel was the son of Frederick and Ellen De Mamiel. Leslie, known to his friends as “Lanky”, excelled in cycling, once winning a 70-mile road race from Queanbeyan to Goulburn. He was also a keen golfer.

De Mamiel was married to Mary, and they had a daughter, Dorothy. He was working as a banker before his enlistment in the Second AIF on 1 January 1941 at the age of 29.

De Mamiel trained as a gunner in the 2nd Australian Artillery Training Regiment before being posted in July 1943 to the 2/12th Battalion as part of the 18th Brigade, 7th Australian Division. He joined the battalion in time for its embarkation for New Guinea, where it took part in the Markham and Ramu Valleys campaign in late 1943 and early 1944.

The major battle of this campaign was for a steep mountain the Australians had named “Shaggy Ridge”. On 21 January, the 2/12th Battalion was advancing on a hilly feature known as Prothero. They were moving against a Japanese artillery position that was firing upon another Australian advance on nearby Shaggy Ridge. As the 2/12th battalion climbed the steep ridgeline of Prothero and neared the Japanese gun position, the Japanese gunners spotted them and turned the gun, firing on the Australians from close range. Within a matter of minutes, 11 men of the 2/12th Battalion were killed and more than 44 were wounded. Among those killed was Leslie De Mamiel. He was 31.

This action is remembered as one of the darkest days in the history of the 2/12th Battalion.

Leslie De Mamiel’s grave lies in the Lae War Cemetery in Papua New Guinea. His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, along with some 40,000 other Australians who died in the Second 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 Leslie William De Mamiel, and all those Australians who gave their lives for their nation.

Dr Lachlan Grant
Historian, Military History Section