The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2224) Private Thomas Huntley Ashley, 24th 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 Joanne Smedley, the story for this day was on (2224) Private Thomas Huntley Ashley, 24th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

2224 Private Thomas Huntley Ashley, 24th Battalion, AIF
KIA 5 August 1916
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 9 April 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Thomas Huntly Ashley.

Tom Ashley was the son of William and Marie Ashley of Ballarat, Victoria. His father was a draper, and became the manager of the clothing depart ment Snow’s. Tom attended the local state school and was a member of the state school cadets. He was also a member of the local rifle club, and went on to become a draper and commission agent like his father.

Red-haired and blue-eyed, Ashley enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in August 1915. He was posted to the 24th Battalion and underwent a brief period of training before leaving Australia in September for service overseas. During his training in Egypt he became good mates with Tom Mummery from Myrtleford and Conrad Wild from Bendigo. All three were in the 24th Battalion, and arrived in France in March 1916.

In August 1916 the 24th Battalion entered the front line near the French village of Pozières. The village was under constant heavy shell-fire from both sides. The men in the front were constantly in need of water, food, and ammunition, while carrying parties were put in constant danger each time they tried to bring supplies forward.

On 5 August 1916 Private Ashley volunteered as a member of a carrying party for his battalion. The men successfully carried water and rations forward to the front line and were on their way back with a captured machine-gun when a shell burst in the middle of the party. Ashley was badly wounded in the blast and placed on a stretcher.

Ashley’s family was notified first that he had been wounded and then that he was missing. In February 1917 Captain Stan Savage of the 24th Battalion reported that Ashley had been so badly wounded that in all probability he had died on the way to the dressing station. His family would not have confirmation of his death until midway through 1917.

His body was later recovered from the battlefield, and in the 1920s he was laid to rest in the Pozières British Cemetery under the words “We long for the one we loved so well and the smile of one that is gone.” Private Ashley was 25 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.

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

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section