The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Private Arthur Allan Harvey, 17th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

Place Oceania: Australia, New South Wales, Sydney
Accession Number AWM2017.1.72
Collection type Film
Object type Last Post film
Physical description 16:9
Maker Australian War Memorial
Place made Australia: Australian Capital Territory, Canberra, Campbell
Date made 13 March 2017
Access Open
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial
Creative Commons License This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
Copying Provisions Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction.
Description

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 Private Arthur Allan Harvey, 17th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

Film order form
Speech transcript

Private Arthur Allan Harvey, 17th Battalion, AIF
DOD 21 August 1915
Photograph: P04082.006

Story delivered 13 March 2017

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Arthur Allan Harvey.

Arthur Harvey was born on 15 March 1894 to Edmund and Georgina Harvey, on a property in Nevertire New South Wales. His father went on to become a grazier and property owner on the Macquarie River near Wellington. Arthur was schooled at home before attending the Manly Church of England Grammar School. He went on to work as a grazier, owning Koonaburra Station, near Cobar, with his brother Vere.

In July 1915 Arthur and Vere enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force together. They were accepted for active service and entered camp to begin training. However, less than a week later Arthur fell ill. Over the next three weeks his condition worsened, and on 21 August 1915 he died of bronchopneumonia and an associated heart condition.

Two days after his death, Arthur’s remains were returned to his family for burial. The local Militia and cadets formed an honour guard, and fired three volleys over the grave. A few weeks later an inscribed memorial was unveiled, again with members of the local Militia, senior cadets, rifle club, and the local recruiting association present.

Arthur’s brother Vere continued training and was eventually sent to France to fight on the Western Front. He was killed roughly two months after his arrival. The newspapers in Wellington reported:
Mr and Mrs Harvey … have thus given two sons to the Empire, and they will have the genuine sympathy of the whole community in the bereavement they have sustained.

Private Arthur Allan Harvey, who had served for less than one month, died aged 21. His brother, Vere Nelson Harvey, was 24.

Private Arthur Harvey’s 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. 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 Vere Nelson Harvey, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section

  • Video of The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Private Arthur Allan Harvey, 17th Battalion, AIF, First World War. (video)