The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (367) Private Charles Victor Radnell, 38th Battalion, 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 (367) Private Charles Victor Radnell, 38th Battalion, First World War.

367 Private Charles Victor Radnell, 38th Battalion
KIA 27 February 1917

Story delivered 5 June 2017

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Charles Radnell.

Known to friends and family as “Charlie”, Charles Victor Radnell was born around 1887 in Tarnagulla, Victoria, to William and Annie Radnell. His father was a miner in the district, and in the year Charles was born, he found a gold nugget that weighed more than a kilo and a half. Charles was schooled locally before going on to work as a grocer. In the years before the outbreak of war he worked for Thomson and Comrie’s at Tarnagulla.

Charles Radnell tried a number of times to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force, and was turned down at least twice. In January 1915 his younger brother George was successful in enlisting at the age of 16, having put his age up to get in. Charles Radnell was finally accepted for service at the end of January 1916, and was posted to the 38th Battalion.

After a period of training in Australia, Radnell left for active service overseas on board the troopship Runic in June 1916. He first went to England where he continued his training and spent nearly a month in Bulford Military Hospital. By November he was well enough to join his battalion on the Western Front, and spent the bitterly cold winter of 1916 rotating in and out of the front line.

On 27 February 1917 a raiding party of the 38th Battalion attacked the German line near the French village of Bois Grenier. Private Radnell had been on scout duty for the previous week, and his “courage and coolness in tight corners” saw him included in the raiding party. The raid went ahead just after midnight, pushing through to a rear German trench and capturing a machine-gun, a searchlight, and 17 prisoners. After the first wave launched their attack, Private Radnell stayed behind to lay out a tape to guide stretcher bearers bringing in the wounded. As he was doing so, he was killed by German fire.

Radnell’s mate, Private John Chivers, write to William Radnell in Tarnagulla, saying:

I have always found him a clean-living man, and a mate whose example I was glad to follow. He was very popular with all who knew him, and will be missed by many in his company. It is terribly hard for you, I know, in losing him, but I wanted you to know he died bravely, and died helping others.

Private Charles Radnell is buried in Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery at Armientieres, under the words “Lord, grant him a reward worthy of his sacrifice”. He was 29 years old.

Six months after his old brother’s death, Private George Radnell displayed such courage and initiative at Zonnebeke that he was awarded the Military Medal. He died of wounds the following year, aged 19.

Charles Radnell’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.

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

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section