The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2089) Private John Justin O’Leary, 32nd 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 (2089) Private John Justin O’Leary, 32nd Battalion, AIF, First World War.

2089 Private John Justin O’Leary, 32nd Battalion, AIF
KIA 13 February 1918
Photograph: P09291.402

Story delivered 18 September 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private John Justin O’Leary.

Popularly known as “Jack”, John O’Leary was the fourth son of Daniel and Sarah O’Leary. He was born in Petersburg, South Australia, on 31 July 1892. His father served as the head teacher at the Petersburg State School for nine years before moving his family to Crystal Brook, where he was appointed head teacher at the government school. He died two years later, when Jack was ten years old, after going out in the cold to get the results of the state election.

As a young man O’Leary went to Broken Hill, where he worked in the post office for several years. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in October 1915, a year after his elder brother Emmet, and was posted to the 32nd Battalion. He underwent a period of training in Australia before being sent for overseas service, arriving in Egypt in March 1916. He continued his training there and was sent with his battalion to France in June 1916 to fight on the Western Front.

Shortly after its arrival the 32nd Battalion was in billets near the front line in the Fleurbaix sector. Parties from the battalion were sent to gain valuable experience of the front line. They were away from the heaviest fighting, but it was still dangerous, and O’Leary was shot in the right side, back, and arm. He was evacuated to hospital in England, and served on staff there for over a year after his recovery.

Private O’Leary did not return to the Western Front until early 1918, re-joining his battalion in the field in January. Two weeks later the battalion was in the front line near Warneton in Belgium. Although it was a quiet sector of the line, O’Leary was killed in action on 13 February 1918. He was buried at the Messines Ridge British Cemetery, aged 25.

O’Leary’s mother eagerly awaited the return of her son’s personal belongings and was disappointed to not get back the chain and cross he wore. She had placed them around his neck on the last morning she saw him.

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.

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

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section