The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (61) Sergeant Harold Williamson, 22nd 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 (61) Sergeant Harold Williamson, 22nd Battalion, AIF, First World War.

61 Sergeant Harold Williamson, 22nd Battalion, AIF
DOW 6 August 1916
Photograph: P11189.003

Story delivered 2 February 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sergeant Harold Williamson.

Harold Williamson was born in Warracknabeal, Victoria, the eldest son of Edwin and Mary Williamson. He grew up in Willaura, where he attended the Willaura State School. He was considered “a fine stamp of an athlete” in the district, where he “took a prominent part in the Young Men’s Club and gymnasium”. He was an active member of the order of Rechabites, a society that promoted sobriety and clean living. He became a grocer’s assistant, working for the Hopkins brothers of Willaura.

Williamson enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in January 1915, and was posted to the 22nd Battalion. He underwent a period of training in Australia before being sent for overseas service. He reported to a friend in Australia that he spent three months in Egypt before being sent to serve on Gallipoli in September, after the major offensives of August had finished. He added in his letter to his friend that he had “a bonza summer residence” in his dug-out, which he called the “Palace de Shrapnel”:

We are just two miles from the beach, and until lately we used to go down to swim every other day… I’ve been swimming when [the Turkish artillery] landed a few pebbles [of shrapnel] quite close to me. You can guess I did not wait to see where they came from. I spent my twentieth birthday in Egypt and it was not a very pleasant one. I hope when I am a man (my 21st birthday) I’ll be back in dear old Australia.

This “bonza summer residence” provided little shelter when winter closed in, and Williamson was evacuated in mid-December suffering from frostbite and tonsillitis. He spent nearly two months in hospital before re-joining his battalion in time to be shipped to France. Shortly after his arrival he was promoted to corporal.

On 29 July the 22nd Battalion participated in its first major battle on the Western Front, providing close support to the 6th Brigade’s attack on the French village of Pozières. Although the 6th Brigade saw some success, failure to capture the OG Lines to its right meant that it was forced to withdraw. The day after the operation Williamson was promoted to sergeant, the man he was replacing having been killed in action the day before.

The attack was renewed just under a week later. The 22nd Battalion came under heavy shell-fire as it moved into position, suffering many casualties. One of those wounded was Sergeant Harold Williamson. He was evacuated to a nearby casualty clearing station, and the following day he died from his wounds. Harold Williamson, who had hoped to return to Australia when he was 21, instead died in France before his 22nd birthday. He was buried nearby in the Puchevillers Military Cemetery.

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 Sergeant Harold Williamson, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section