The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (50) Private Leyton Henry Loggin, 29th 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 Joanne Smedley, the story for this day was on (50) Private Leyton Henry Loggin, 29th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

50 Private Leyton Henry Loggin, 29th Battalion, AIF
KIA 7 May 1918
Photograph: DA11083

Story delivered 14 August 2015

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Leyton Henry Loggin.

Leyton Loggin, known as Harry, was born in Williamstown, Victoria, to Henry and Annie Loggin. He was educated at school in Warrnambool and, when his family moved to Casterton, at the Casterton State School. He was first employed by Mr Illingworth in Casterton, and learned the trade of coach-painting. He was also a prominent member of the Casterton brass band. Sometime around 1905 he moved to Camperdown to work for Thomas and O’Mullane as their head coach painter. There he also became involved with the Camperdown brass band, and was a member of the local fire brigade.

Loggin enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in July 1915. He underwent a period of training at Seymour and Broadmeadows camps before being sent overseas. He was posted to the 29th Battalion and joined them in Egypt before heading to France to fight on the Western Front.

In November 1916 Private Loggin was wounded by a gunshot to his left arm. His forearm and fingers were fractured, and he spent some time in hospital in England. In Australia it was reported that he had been killed, but this was soon retracted. Loggin spent a long time on light duties in England, as well as some time in hospital for other health issues, before finally re-joining his unit in France in December 1917.

The 29th Battalion had a relatively quiet time during the German Spring Offensive of early 1918. In early May 1918 the battalion was in the front line near Sailly-le-Sec in France. There it carried out a number of small operations against German positions. On 7 May a minor operation was carried out to advance the left of the 29th Battalion’s line. A German strongpoint was bombed and attacked with bayonets, and the line was advanced several hundred yards. The battalion’s war diary records its casualties as “slight”.

Among the few men killed in this operation was Private Harry Loggin. Little is known of the exact manner of his death. His body was recovered, and today he is buried in the Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension.

In Casterton a memorial service was held for Loggins and three other local men killed around the same time, including a fellow member of the Casterton brass band. Flags were hung at half-mast in Camperdown, and the loss of Harry Loggins was felt by his last employers, who thought very highly of him. Harry Loggin had died four days before his 29th birthday.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 Australians who died during 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 Private Leyton Henry Loggin, and all those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section