The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (4155) Sergeant Henry Alexander Black, 11th 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 Charis May, the story for this day was on (4155) Sergeant Henry Alexander Black, 11th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

4155 Sergeant Henry Alexander Black, 11th Battalion, AIF
KIA 31 October 1917
No photograph in collection – Family supplied

Story delivered 5 February 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sergeant Henry Alexander Black.

Born in Forbes, New South Wales, Black had served as a trooper in the Boer War with the 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles. He was working as a miner in Western Australia when he enlisted for service in the First World War in September 1915, and was assigned to the 11th Battalion.

Black sailed for Egypt on HMAT Borda, arriving in mid-March 1916. Within two weeks he was sailing for France and the Western Front.

The 11th Battalion took part in bloody trench warfare from its arrival in France until 1918. Its first major action in France was at Pozières in the Somme valley in July. Around 23 July Black received a gunshot wound to the arm during the fighting, and was sent to England to recuperate.

Black returned to his battalion in France at the beginning of October 1916. He was appointed lance corporal in December and corporal the following February. A few weeks later, on the night of 26 February, Black distinguished himself by carrying out “some excellent patrol work”. The following morning he assisted in locating three enemy machine-guns near Thilloy, the German-held village that his battalion was about to attack.

Black was said to have shown “conspicuous ability” during the attack and in reorganising the men after the village was taken. For this he was awarded the Military Medal. The recommendation noted that “his coolness inspired confidence in those about him”.

Black spent some time ill in hospital in March and April 1917 before joining his battalion near Bullecourt for the allied attacks on the
indenburg Line. In May he was in charge of a post in the front line when a bombardment buried the men in the bays around him. While digging out the others he was buried after an enemy shell struck nearby. One of his own men rescued him, and Black went straight back to rescuing the other men; he successfully rescued ten men. Later in the day he was wounded by shell-fire but remained on duty until his battalion was relieved.

For his actions that day Black was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. His citation noted, “The example set by Corporal Black to his men undoubtedly helped in the holding of the line against the heavy attacks by the enemy.” A few weeks later Black was promoted to sergeant.

The 11th battalion was sent to Belgium to participate in the offensive that became known as the Third Battle of Ypres. It was during this intense fighting that Black was killed in action on 31 October 1917. His body was never recovered, and he is listed on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing at Ypres. He was 35 years old.

Black was reported as “a splendid type of Australian, admired and respected by all who knew him”. His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among the more 60,000 Australians who died while serving in 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 Henry Alexander Black, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Emma Campbell
Writer, Military History Section