The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (4501) Private Charles Henry Gadd, 13th 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 (4501) Private Charles Henry Gadd, 13th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

4501 Private Charles Henry Gadd, 13th Battalion, AIF
KIA 14 August 1916
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 14 August 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Charles Henry Gadd.

Charles Gadd was born on 31 May 1896 in Helensburgh, New South Wales. He was the son of Edward Gadd of Tasmania, and his wife, Mary Ann. His father was an active member of the local workman’s club, but had suffered for years with a heart condition. Edward Gadd died in 1903, leaving Mary Ann to raise their seven children. Charles attended the local Helensburgh public school, and went on to become a labourer. He was also a member of the local senior cadets.

Gadd enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in September 1915 at the age of 19. Because he was under the age of 21 he needed his mother’s consent, which she gave. He underwent a period of training in Australia before being sent to Egypt. In March 1916 he was allotted to the 13th Battalion, which was sent to fight in France the following June.

In August 1916 the 13th Battalion fought its first major engagement on the Western Front near the French village of Pozières. Under heavy shell-fire the battalion repeatedly attacked German positions to the north of the village, suffering heavy casualties.

On 14 August, after several days’ of intense fighting, the battalion was again called upon to attack. The first wave of infantry moved out into no man’s land around 10 pm, and after encountering heavy resistance the battalion made a small territorial gain. Afterwards, ten men were confirmed as killed, with a further 100 wounded or missing. One of the ten was Private Charles Henry Gadd.

Little is known of the manner of his death. Some men were killed in the artillery barrage, others in heavy hand-to-hand fighting in the trenches. Private Gadd’s body was recovered, and he was buried in Puchevillers British Cemetery. He was 20 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 Charles Henry Gadd, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section