The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (578) Corporal Edgar Charles Millward, 24th 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 Troy Clayton, the story for this day was on (578) Corporal Edgar Charles Millward, 24th Battalion, First World War.

578 Corporal Edgar Charles Millward, 24th Battalion
KIA 3 May 1917
Photograph: DA09018

Story delivered 27 August 2015

Today we remember and pay tribute to Corporal Edgar Charles Millward.

Edgar Millward was born in 1896 to Charles and Alice Millward of Bendigo, Victoria. He was their only son, and had one sister. His father was a well-known builder and contractor in Bendigo, and his mother was the principal of Girton College boarding school. His mother died in 1912. Edgar was a playing member of the South Bendigo Football Club, and a member of the Sandhurst Rowing Club, and attended St Andrew’s College and Camberwell Grammar School. On leaving school he became a bank clerk for the Union Bank, and worked at branches in Bendigo and Collingwood.

Millward enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in March 1915. He underwent a short period of training in Australia and in Egypt, before being sent to Gallipoli to join the 24th Battalion. In September he was shot in the right ankle and evacuated for medical treatment. He spent some time in hospital in Malta before being sent to England.

Millward spent a long time recovering in England, and was seconded to the Australian Staff at Woodcote Park convalescent centre in Epsom. In his spare time he motorcycled around the country, but pined for Bendigo. On Anzac Day 1916 he borrowed a car and drove to London with some mates, arriving halfway through the great procession of Australian soldiers to Westminster Abbey. They got inside the Abbey for the service, snagging the last three seats by the door, and saw the King and Queen, Lord Kitchener, and Generals Sir Ian Hamilton and William Birdwood.

Later, Millward wrote home to say:

When one goes into London now he sees dozens of Australians on leave from the trenches in France, where they have been for the last six weeks. They all say it is a lot better than Gallipoli, and I don’t doubt it.

The Australians in France would realise that the Western Front was much worse than Gallipoli when they were drawn into the fighting at Fromelles, Pozières, Mouquet Farm, and Flers. Millward did not reach France until January 1917, and after treatment for a brief illness was allowed to return to his battalion.

Six weeks later the 24th Battalion took part in the Second Battle of Bullecourt, spearheading the attack on 3 May. Although the battle was successful, the 24th Battalion suffered an estimated 80 per cent casualties, and was withdrawn after one day. One of those casualties was Corporal Edgar Millward. He was shot in the stomach by machinegun fire, and was left in a shell hole by one of his mates. He died before help could reach him. His grave was later lost and he is now
commemorated on the Australian Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. He was 21 years old.

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 to 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 Corporal Edgar Charles Millward, and all those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section