The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2034) Private Lawrence Beauregarde Whittaker, 48th 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 Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (2034) Private Lawrence Beauregarde Whittaker, 48th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

2034 Private Lawrence Beauregarde Whittaker, 48th Battalion, AIF
KIA 11 August 1917
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 7 October 2015

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Lawrence Beauregarde Whittaker.

Whittaker was born on 25 January 1893 to John Thomas and Sarah Ann Whittaker in Dowlingville, South Australia. The eighth of 12 children, Whittaker grew up in the region, and after leaving school went to work on his parents’ farm. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 7 February 1916 and was posted to the 3rd reinforcements to the 48th Battalion. After several months of training he embarked with his unit from Outer Harbour, Adelaide, on 12 July aboard the transport Seang Bee.

Arriving at Plymouth, England, that September, he and his unit reported to the 12th Training Battalion. Here they were brought up to date with the latest training and information in preparation for their deployment to the Western Front.

Whittaker sailed for France towards the end of November, and after a further period of training at the infamous “Bull Ring” at Étaples he joined the 48th Battalion at the beginning of December, just in time for one of the worst winters in recorded European history.

Whittaker saw his first major battle in April 1917 at Bullecourt, where the battalion suffered heavy casualties and was forced to withdraw. In July Whittaker was promoted to lance corporal.

In August the 48th Battalion moved into positions near Wytschaete Ridge in Belgium in preparation for the forthcoming Third Battle of Ypres. On 11 August, during a German bombardment, Lance Corporal Whittaker was killed in action. His body was laid to rest in the nearby Cabin Hill cemetery.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with around 60,000 others from 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 Lawrence Beauregarde Whittaker, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section