The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2903A) Private Cecil William Whitney 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 Charis May, the story for this day was on (2903A) Private Cecil William Whitney 9th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

2903A Private Cecil William Whitney 9th Battalion, AIF
KIA 20 April 1916
Photograph: P08624.127

Story delivered 11 July 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Cecil William Whitney.

Cecil Whitney was born in 1886 to William and Lydia Whitney in Seven Hills, New South Wales. He attended school in the Parramatta area, and later became a farmer. He was working on a farm in Nimbin when the First World War began.

He enlisted in Brisbane on 16 August 1915, joining the 25th Battalion. After some initial training he embarked that October with the 6th reinforcements for the 25th Battalion aboard the transport ship Seang Bee.

Arriving in Egypt in December, Whitney underwent several months of training in the desert sands. At the end of February 1916 he was transferred to the 9th Battalion, and sailed for France at the end of March.

By 19 April the 9th 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 the following afternoon, tragedy struck when the battalion’s C Company billets were heavily shelled.

One shell landed outside a canvas tent, wounding four, and 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 another 47 casualties. C Company was decimated, suffering 50 men wounded and 25 killed, one of whom was Whitney. Several others would die from their wounds over the ensuing days.

Whitney and the other fallen men of C Company were laid to rest in the Rue-Du-Bacquerot (13th London) Graveyard at Laventie. He was 30 years old.

Whitney’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 others from 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 Private Cecil William Whitney, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section