The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2013) Private William Claude Whimpey, 23rd 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 (2013) Private William Claude Whimpey, 23rd Battalion, AIF, First World War.

2013 Private William Claude Whimpey, 23rd Battalion, AIF
KIA 3 May 1917
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 21 September 2015

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private William Claude Whimpey.

Claude Whimpey was born in 1895 to Joseph and Sarah Whimpey of Tarnagulla, Victoria. His father was the mail contractor, and Claude grew up in the small gold-mining town in central Victoria. After completing his education he worked as a grocer. He was also a member of the Tarnagulla Rifle Club, where he was known as a “very steady, reliable and trustworthy young man” and a first-class rifle shot.

Claude Whimpey was one of five sons of Joseph Whimpey to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force during the course of the First World War. He enlisted in July 1915 and was posted to the 23rd Battalion. After a period of training in Australia he was sent to England, but was somewhat delayed in joining his battalion in France by a period in hospital with appendicitis. He finally reached the Western Front in February 1917.

At that time the 23rd Battalion was just coming out of one of the coldest winters on record. Private Whimpey’s first experience of battle came in May 1917 at the Second Battle of Bullecourt. At 3.45 am on 3 May the battalion attacked the Hindenburg Line, a strong German defensive line behind which the enemy had withdrawn. As the attack went ahead the officers and NCOs of the battalion had difficulty in restraining their men, so eager were they to get forward. However, by 11 am they were forced to withdraw from their objectives owing to the heavy shell-fire.

At some point during this attack Private Claude Whimpey was killed. Little is known of the manner of his death, although it was probably in the heavy artillery barrage. His body was never recovered, and today he
is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial to the Missing in France. He was 21 years old.

All four of Claude’s brothers returned to Australia. At least two of them were severely wounded during their service.

Claude Whimpey’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 Australians who died during the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private William Claude Whimpey, and all those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section