The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (244) Lance Corporal Eric Ray Pullen, 20th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

Places
Accession Number AWM2018.1.1.217
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 5 August 2018
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 Craig Berelle, the story for this day was on (244) Lance Corporal Eric Ray Pullen, 20th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

Film order form
Speech transcript

244 Lance Corporal Eric Ray Pullen, 20th Battalion, AIF
KIA 5 August 1916, aged 19
Story delivered 5 August 2018

Today we remember and pay tribute to Lance Corporal Eric Ray Pullen.

Eric Pullen, commonly known by his middle name “Ray”, was born on the Lower Clarence on 23 February 1897. The son of Edwin and Adeline Pullen, his father was a store manager at Brushgrove and Ulmarra, where Ray attended the local state school. His family were active members of the Church of England. Eric went on to work as an electrical engineer in the district.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in March 1915 with an older cousin, William Pullen. They were posted to the newly formed 20th Battalion and underwent a period of training in Australia before being sent for overseas service in June 1915. They first went to Egypt and then on to the Gallipoli peninsula.

The 20th Battalion arrived on Gallipoli as the August Offensive was ending, and played a largely defensive roll. William later wrote home recalling the evacuation, writing, “It was the week before Xmas when we were told that we were to evacuate Gallipoli. Well, they picked out 45 of us to hold our position until all was clear. I was one of that number, as was Ray … we took up our posts in the firing line at 4pm on the Saturday, and I never left my post until 3.30am the next morning. Of course I was glad when the officer came along and touched me on the leg and said ‘all’s clear, get out into the rear trenches’.”

After another period of training in Australia, the 20th Battalion was sent to France to fight on the Western Front. In August 1916 it became involved in the heavy fighting around the French village of Pozieres. On 4 August the 20th Battalion was involved in the capture of two important German trenches known as the OG lines to the north-east of Pozieres. Lance Corporal Pullen advanced over the top and into the first trench, and once it was secured went on to the second trench and helped to capture it. He then took some men to dig a trench a little way beyond the second German trench to defend it from counter attack. As he worked there, an artillery shell landed near his position, killing him instantly.

Pullen’s platoon commander, Frank Hall, wrote to Ray’s parents in Australia to say, “I am sure he suffered no pain… I wish to express our deepest sympathy in your sad loss. He was a great favourite in the company, and during that night did great work in cheering the men up. I cannot speak too strongly in his praise.”

Lance Corporal Ray Pullen’s body was never recovered from the battlefield, and today he is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. He was 19 years old.
His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 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 Lance Corporal Eric Ray Pullen, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section

  • Video of The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (244) Lance Corporal Eric Ray Pullen, 20th Battalion, AIF, First World War. (video)