The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (253) Lieutenant Frank Raymond Massie, 12th Light Horse Regiment, 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 Greg Kimball, the story for this day was on (253) Lieutenant Frank Raymond Massie, 12th Light Horse Regiment, AIF, First World War.

253 Lieutenant Frank Raymond Massie, 12th Light Horse Regiment, AIF
DOD 15 October 1918
Photograph: P07058.001

Story delivered 28 March 2017

Today we remember and pay tribute to Lieutenant Frank Raymond Massie.

Frank Massie was born in 1885 in Lilydale, Victoria, to Frank and Mary Massie, the second of eight children born to the couple.

In 1907 he married Jean Rebecca Johnstone, and a son, Frank Henry Massie, was born the following year. When the First World War began, Massie was a station manager on a property known as “Ytham”, at Illabo, New South Wales.

He enlisted for service with the Light Horse Reserve at Holsworthy Camp in November 1914. When the 12th Light Horse Regiment was formed in March 1915 Massie was transferred to the unit and promoted from trooper to squadron quartermaster sergeant.

After several months of training, he embarked with his regiment from Sydney in June aboard the transport ship Suevic. The 12th Light Horse remained in Egypt, training and patrolling in the Suez Canal Zone, until August.

After the Australians on Gallipoli had suffered heavy casualties during the August Offensive, the 4th Light Horse Brigade, including the 12th Light Horse Regiment, was sent to Gallipoli as reinforcements.

Unbeknownst to the men, the 4th Light Horse Brigade was to be broken up and distributed to the other light horse brigades. As a result, Massie and his squadron were transferred to the 7th Light Horse Regiment. He
and his comrades were involved in defensive duties for the remainder of the campaign.

After the end of the Gallipoli campaign, the Australians returned to Egypt and the 12th Light Horse Regiment was brought back together at Heliopolis in February. Though the Sinai–Palestine campaign began in April, the regiment was mainly involved in flank protection and security duties.

On 1 January 1917 Massie was commissioned with the rank of second lieutenant and was sent to a school of instruction at Zeitoun. He was promoted to lieutenant in early April and returned to his regiment later in the month to take up duties as the adjutant before attending an instructional course and a topographical course.

On 8 March, while he was away from the field, his brother Lieutenant Hugh Massie died as a prisoner of the Germans.

After Massie returned to his regiment, the Egyptian Expeditionary Force once again went on the offensive and, in an attempt to outflank Gaza, an attack was launched on Beersheba on 31 October. Late in the day, with the situation deteriorating, the 4th Light Horse Regiment and 12th Light Horse Regiment, including Massie, attacked Beersheba at the gallop and captured the town.

In the days following the action, Massie, a meticulous recorder of events and detail in the regimental war diary, produced a sketch map of the Australian formations as they were formed for the attack on the town. Massie’s good work was noticed, and he was seconded to the 4th Light Horse Brigade’s Headquarters in February 1918.

On 1 May Massie was instrumental in organising and leading elements of the 4th Light Horse Brigade as they withdrew from positions near Es–Salt. Although often under heavy fire, he was able to commit troops to the places they were most needed, and his actions assisted the brigade in
being able to withdraw in good order. Shortly afterwards, his name was promulgated in Sir Edmund Allenby’s despatches for his bravery and leadership during the action.

The end of the month saw the 4th Light Horse Brigade in defensive positions at Musallabeh. With soaring temperatures and an infestation of flies, scorpions, spiders, and snakes, many men became ill, including Massie. He returned to headquarters in June, but his health was still not good, and in August he was sent to a rest camp for a week.

Throughout early September, Massie was kept busy as the 4th Light Horse Brigade was in constant motion. On 1 October elements of the brigade were the first to enter Damascus. Massie told his batman he was not feeling well and took himself to hospital. He was suffering malignant tertian malaria, and though he tried to rally, he developed pneumonia and his health deteriorated. He died on 15 October. He was laid to rest in the Damascus British War Cemetery the following day. He was 31 years old.

Frank Massie’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 Lieutenant Frank Raymond Massie, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section