The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3583) Private William Charles Frederick Penna, 57th 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 Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (3583) Private William Charles Frederick Penna, 57th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

3583 Private William Charles Frederick Penna, 57th Battalion, AIF
KIA 19 August 1916
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 8 February 2017

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private William Charles Frederick Penna.

Popularly known as “Will”, William Penna was born in Eaglehawk, Victoria on 14 September 1896, the only son of William and Mary Penna. His father worked in the mines for many years, becoming the manager of the Clarence United Mine. Will attended the local state school at Eaglehawk before following in his father’s footsteps at the Clarence United Mine, and became a braceman – looking after the kibble, skip, or cage at the mouth of the mineshaft. He also became closely associated with the Sunday School of the Sailor’s Gully Mission, and was known as “an industrious and reliable workman” with “a genial disposition [that] won for him the respect and esteem of all with whom he came in contact”.

William Penna enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in July 1915. As he was only 18 years old at the time, he did so with his father’s consent. He underwent a period of training in Australia before leaving for active service overseas on board the troopship Demosthenes in December 1915.

Private Penna left Australia with reinforcements to the 21st Battalion but arrived in Egypt as the AIF was undergoing a period of reorganisation and training. As part of this process he was transferred to the 57th Battalion. He continued training in Egypt until June 1916, when his battalion left for France.

Shortly after arriving in France, Private Penna wrote a letter to his father, saying he was “in good health, and at the time of writing was within hearing of the big guns”. The 57th Battalion entered the front line in a
quieter part of the front line in an area known as Rue du Bois. Although not active, the area was still subject to heavy artillery duels between the two sides. On 19 August 1916 the 57th Battalion came under heavy bombardment. Penna was standing at his post as the fire was easing, when a shell fell into the trench just behind him. He was killed instantly.

His mate Private Albert Kirkham wrote to Penna’s family:
it is with the greatest sympathy that I write this short note on behalf of the boys of C Co. and myself, who were mates with Will ever since we first went into camp. It was an awful shock to me when some of Will’s mates came round to me and told me of the sad news of his death … I am Will’s mate, and more than that … we were more like brothers.
William Penna was buried in the Rue-du-Bois Cemetery in Fleurbaix, France. He was 19 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 Australians who died while serving in 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 William Charles Frederick Penna, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Unit