The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3013) Private William Younger Grubb Black, 4th 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 Gerard Pratt , the story for this day was on (3013) Private William Younger Grubb Black, 4th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

3013 Private William Younger Grubb Black, 4th Battalion, AIF

KIA 22 July 1916

Story delivered 3 July 2017

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private William Younger Grubb Black.

William Black was born in 1895 to James and Marjory Black of Minmi, New South Wales. Black was reportedly from an old “fighting family” with his grandfather and other family members having served in the 42nd Black Watch Regiment. He was educated at the local public school before becoming a miner. He was a member of the local Citizens’ Militia, as well as an active member of the local Oddfellows Lodge. He also became a prominent member of the Minmi Presbyterian Church choir.

William Black enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in July 1915. He underwent a period of training in Australia before leaving for active service overseas with reinforcements to the 4th Battalion in October 1915.

Black was first sent to Egypt, where the AIF was undergoing a period of reorganisation and training following the evacuation from Gallipoli. In January 1916 he fell ill and was sent to hospital in Abassia, where he spent nearly two months undergoing treatment. He did not rejoin his battalion until late May 1916, after being sent to France.

The 4th Battalion conducted its first major operation on the Western Front on 23 July 1916, when it participated in the attack that captured the French village of Pozières. Private William Black never returned from that operation. In fact, official enquiries determined that his death was on 22 July, although no specific details are recorded.

However, Black’s parents received a letter from his company commander, Captain McDonald, who wrote that, “during the first attack by our troops on Pozières your son did excellent service, and by his untimely death you have not only lost a son, but we a good soldier and a cheerful comrade”. Private Black’s good mate Bede Kennedy wrote that
he saw Will only a few hours before the attack was launched, saying “he was in the best of spirits with all the other boys, and only too anxious to have the opportunity to get some of his own back from the enemy … he came through the charge all right, but his fate came in the evening of the 25th, Tuesday.”

All who wrote of Black’s death said that it was sudden. Bede Kennedy wrote, “he died an easy death as far as I can hear, about 2.30 pm, and as glorious a death as any man could die”. And Captain McDonald wrote that “we were all thankful to know that he died without having to suffer any pain”.

Private Black was greatly missed among his mates in B Company. Kennedy wrote, “he proved one of the bravest of the brave. He was ever ready to do whatever was asked of him, and [was] a good and true friend to me. No doubt we all feel it, but … we shall not all pull through.”

Private William Black was buried in the nearby Gordon Dump Cemetery, where today he lies under the words, “for ever with the Lord”. He was 20 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 Younger Grubb Black, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section