The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (306) Able Bodied Driver Charles Schenke, 1st Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train, 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 Gerard Pratt, the story for this day was on (306) Able Bodied Driver Charles Schenke, 1st Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train, First World War.

306 Able Bodied Driver Charles Schenke, 1st Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train
DOW 8 September 1915
No photograph in collection

Today we remember and pay tribute to Able Bodied Driver Charles Schenke.

Charles Schenke was the second son of ten children born to Charles and Martha Schenke. He was born on 8 May 1896 in Sydney but spent almost all of his life in Spotswood, near Williamstown in Victoria. He attended the Spotswood State School, and went on to undertake an apprenticeship to become a fitter and turner. Schenke was also interested in the navy, and from the age of 14 was a member of the Australian Naval Reserve. His father died in 1911, and Martha became largely dependent on her son for an income.

On 19 April 1915, a few weeks before his 19th birthday and with his mother’s permission, Charles enlisted for active service with the Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train. Just over a month later, on his last leave home, Charles and three other young men were celebrated at a send-off given to them by the residents of Spotswood. Charles gave a short speech to the 200 guests, thanking them on behalf of himself and his widowed mother, assuring them that “he would do his best when the time came to uphold the honour of Spotswood and Australia”.

The 1st Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train was intended to be an engineering unit attached to the British Royal Naval Division, which was serving as an infantry unit in France. The unit was largely made up of men from the Australian Naval Reserve. The bridging train sailed from Melbourne in June 1915, but instead of being sent to France it was diverted to Egypt. From there it would be sent for service on the Gallipoli peninsula.

On 7 August 1915 the Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train landed at Suvla Bay as a part of the combined August Offensive. While fierce battles were being fought by Anzac units to the south at The Nek, Lone
Pine, and Chunuk Bair, the contingent at Suvla Bay encountered little opposition. Nevertheless, the advance stalled. In the meantime the men of the Naval Bridging Train began constructing piers, unloading stores, and building a light railway.

Although not in a combat role, the men of the Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train were targets for Turkish artillery and sniper fire. On 6 September 1915 Charles Schenke was hit by fragments from an artillery round which wounded him badly in the head. He was evacuated to a hospital ship but died of his wounds two days later. He was buried at sea.

After hearing news of her son’s death, Martha put a notice in the Melbourne newspapers which included the line: “Gone; what sorrow in that one word”. Charles Schenke was 19 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 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 Able Bodied Driver Charles Schenke and all those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section