The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2841A) Private Albert Henry Reid, 9th 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 Troy Clayton, the story for this day was on (2841A) Private Albert Henry Reid, 9th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

2841A Private Albert Henry Reid, 9th Battalion, AIF
KIA 20 April 1916
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 10 March 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Albert Henry Reid.

Albert Reid was born in 1869 to William and Lucy Reid in Morang, Victoria. He grew up in Doreen, Victoria, and later attended Carlton College. After leaving school, he moved to Narrandera, New South Wales, where he worked as a drover.

In 1901, aged 32, Reid enlisted for service in South Africa, and when he reached Klerksdorp he joined the 3rd New South Wales Imperial Bushmen. Over the following year, he saw active service in both the east and west Transvaal and was promoted to sergeant.

By 1914 Reid was back in Australia and working in Leongatha as a clerk, but soon relocated to Charters Towers, Queensland, where he worked as a bushman. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 22 July 1915, joining the 25th Battalion. Aged 46 at the time, he put his age down to 44. After some initial training, he embarked that October with the 6th reinforcements to the 25th Battalion aboard the transport ship Seang Bee.

Reid disembarked in Egypt in December and underwent several months of training in the desert sands. At the end of February 1916 he was transferred to the 9th Battalion and posted to C Company. The battalion sailed for France at the end of March.

By 20 April Reid’s battalion was in reserve billets near Rouge-de-Bout, one mile behind the front line in the Armentières or “nursery” sector. Intermittent artillery fire was landing nearby. Early in the afternoon tragedy struck when the battalion’s C Company billets were heavily shelled. One shell landed outside a canvas tent, wounding four soldiers.

As men went to assist, another shell landed among them, killing several and wounding others. A further shell hit a brick wall of a nearby billet, causing a further 47 casualties.

Reid, who had survived the initial shelling, had gone back to rescue a wounded comrade when another shell struck, killing him instantly. C Company was decimated, with 25 men killed and a further 50 wounded. Several other men would die from their wounds over the ensuing days. The fallen were laid to rest in the Rue-Du-Bacquerot (13th London) Graveyard at Laventie.

Albert Reid was 47 years old. His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 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 Albert Henry Reid, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section