The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2716) Private Albert William Mancer, 60th 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 (2716) Private Albert William Mancer, 60th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

2716 Private Albert William Mancer, 60th Battalion, AIF
KIA 12 May 1917
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 17 January 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Albert William Mancer.

Albert Mancer was born in 1892 to Albert and Susan Waters of Rochester, Victoria. He was raised in Rochester, and upon finishing school he was employed at a timberyard owned by the Moore brothers, where he took on the trade of plumber. He was also very interested in the cinema, and regularly worked the projector for Mr Armstrong’s picture show. He was a prominent member of the Rochester Brass Band, and a member of the Order of Rechabites, a society that promoted sobriety and clean living.

On the outbreak of war Albert became convinced that it was his duty to enlist and fight for King and country. He tried to enlist a number of times, but was turned down because he had a malformed toe. This defect, although minor, had the potential to severely restrict how much marching he could do – an important aspect of a soldier’s life in those days.

In 1915 Mancer married Florence Lamb, the sister of a serving soldier. His desire to enlist never lessened, however, and he eventually underwent an operation to fix the problem with his toe. Once healed, he tried to enlist again, and was finally accepted by the Australian Imperial Force in August 1916. He was posted to the 60th Battalion and sent to England for further training in October 1916.

Private Mancer joined his battalion in France in February 1917. The battalion was not involved in the heavy fighting at Bullecourt that followed, but shortly afterwards was called on to defend the gains made. On 12 May 1917 two companies of the 60th Battalion moved into the front line near Bullecourt, and in the early hours of the morning the Germans began a heavy artillery barrage on the Australian line. During
this barrage, Private Albert Mancer was sitting on top of a dug-out when a shell landed nearby, killing him instantly. He was 25 years old.

Albert Mancer left behind a widow and an infant daughter. His wife’s brother, Vic Lamb, was also killed in action, as was his own brother, Ernest, in 1918.

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.

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

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section