The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2752a) Private Eric Reuben Wheaton, 50th 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 (2752a) Private Eric Reuben Wheaton, 50th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

2752a Private Eric Reuben Wheaton, 50th Battalion, AIF
DOW 11 June 1917
Photograph: P09291.029

Story delivered 29 February 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Eric Reuben Wheaton.

Eric Wheaton was born on 20 September 1881 to Thomas and Eliza Wheaton of Adelaide. He attended the Plympton Public School, and was a regular attendee of the Plympton Sunday School and a member of the local rifle club. When he was 21 he worked in Western Australia for about four years, probably as a farmer. However, his health suffered and he returned home.

Wheaton enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in August 1916, and was accepted for active service with the 50th Battalion. He underwent a period of training in Australia before leaving in October 1916 for active service overseas. He arrived in England in late December and began training on the Salisbury Plain. Although the winter was bitterly cold, Wheaton’s health held up, and he spent only a short time in hospital with the flu in March 1917.

Private Wheaton joined the 50th Battalion on the battlefields of northern France in May 1917. The following month the battalion took part in the battle of Messines. From 9 to 11 June the 50th repeatedly attacked German positions with some success, but it came at a heavy price. By the time the battalion was relieved it had suffered some 150 casualties.

One of those wounded was Private Eric Wheaton, who had been hit on 11 June. He was evacuated to a casualty clearing station where he died of his wounds later that day. In Australia he was remembered as a cheerful man whose “unassuming nature won him admiration that will ever last in the memory of those who knew him”, with newspapers reporting that “a life that was lived for others was nobly laid down for his country”.

Eric Wheaton was buried in the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension in France. He was 35 years old.

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 where he can be seen standing on the left.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Eric Reuben Wheaton, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section