The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (437) Sergeant Frank Alfred Tibbey, 1st Battalion, Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force, 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 Sharon Bown, the story for this day was on (437) Sergeant Frank Alfred Tibbey, 1st Battalion, Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force, First World War.

437 Sergeant Frank Alfred Tibbey, 1st Battalion, Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force
Died of injuries: 29 December 1914

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sergeant Frank Tibbey.

Born in the Sydney suburb of Leichardt on 20 October 1890, Frank Tibbey was the eldest son of Jack and Ada Tibbey. He attended Erskineville Superior Public School and afterwards became a fitter and turner by trade.

As a young man Tibbey also served in the militia for six years, with the 24th Infantry in Sydney. There he honed his skills and became an excellent marksman, winning four medals in local shield competitions in the years prior to the war.

With the outbreak of war in Europe in 1914, Australia was immediately asked to seize the German colony in New Guinea and destroy their wireless networks in the region. Enlistments opened on 11 August and the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force was hastily formed. One of those accepted that day was Frank Tibbey. With his prior militia service and evident leadership qualities, he was promoted to sergeant within a week and assigned to E Company of the 1st Infantry Battalion.

The expeditionary force departed Sydney on 19 August aboard the troopship Berrima and steamed up the east coast of Australia, supported by ships of the Royal Australian Navy. Three weeks later they landed at Rabaul. After brief fighting, the small German force surrendered, and terms were signed soon after. Now under Australian military administration, the task at hand was to search the colony for remaining resistance and occupy the key areas.

In early December Tibbey and around 60 men were assigned to continue westwards along the northern coast of mainland New Guinea to occupy the settlement of Eitape. They set off from Friedrich-Wilhelmshafen (now known as Madang), on a little mission steamer named the SS Gabriel. Arriving a few days later on 4 December, they took possession of Eitape without incident.

There was little to do in this isolated place, except routine military duties and trying to stay cool in the oppressive humidity. The beach, known for its big surf, became a popular place to spend free time.

On the afternoon of 21 December 1914 Tibbey and several comrades were enjoying a swim. Tibbey was learning to “shoot breakers” in the surf when he was unexpectedly dumped by a big wave. He initially seemed okay, but complained of a sore back which he hoped to shake off.

The next day he went out for a walk with Private Crisp, hoping to catch some exotic butterflies, but Tibbey soon felt ill again, this time a severe headache adding to his painful back. Hopeful he would soon recover, Tibbey tried to tough it out. But the following day he was laid low, and late that afternoon was brought to the hospital by Company Sergeant Gordon.

Tibbey remained in hospital where the medic did what little he could. The headaches got worse over the next few days until on the afternoon of 29 December, he slipped into unconsciousness and died. It was eventually discovered that Tibbey had died from a brain haemorrhage caused by a depressed fracture at the base of his skull. He was 24 years old.

Tibbey was buried at Eitape, but his remains were later moved to Lae War Cemetery.

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 Sergeant Frank Tibbey, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Craig Tibbitts
Historian, Military History Section