The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (1516) Driver Roy Edward Francis Sadler, 110th Australian Howitzer Battery, 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 Jana Johnson, the story for this day was on (1516) Driver Roy Edward Francis Sadler, 110th Australian Howitzer Battery, First World War.

1516 Driver Roy Edward Francis Sadler, 110th Australian Howitzer Battery
KIA 14 June 1917
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 30 October 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Driver Roy Edward Francis Sadler.

Roy Sadler was born in 1896 in Pilliga, New South Wales, to Edward and Jane Sadler. His father owned a property on the Pilliga Road called Cardonis, and Roy grew up around Wee Waa, where he attended the local public school. He went on to become a labourer.

Sadler enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in August 1915, two months short of his 19th birthday. He began training with the light horse, first in Australia, and then in Egypt. He spent some time in hospital with the mumps, and a few months after his return he transferred from the light horse to the artillery. He arrived in England in June 1916 and a few weeks later was sent to fight on the Western Front.

Sadler saw service in a number of different units before transferring to the 10th Field Artillery Brigade, joining the 110th Australian Howitzer Battery as a driver to complete its establishment. Life in the artillery was dangerous. The enemy’s artillery constantly searched for Australian guns, hoping to put them out of action, and the men were handling explosives and other dangerous material on a daily basis.

On 14 June 1917 Sadler’s battery were stationed near Messines in Belgium. A dump of ammunition stood nearby in order to supply the guns as they were fired. A German shell hit the ammunition and it went up in a massive explosion. Sixteen men were killed outright, and another three died of their wounds.

Driver Sadler was killed in the blast. His name appears on a nearby monument erected by his comrades, and he was buried in Kandahar Farm Cemetery in Belgium.

Sadler’s parents wanted his headstone to include a reference to John 14:2: “In my father’s house there are many mansions. Son, I go to prepare a place for you”. Unfortunately, there were too many letters, and in the end they settled on the simple words, “May his soul rest in peace.” Their son was just 20 years old.

Roy Sadler’s 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 Driver Roy Edward Francis Sadler, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section