The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (VX94421) Private Ian Harold Hayes, 2/33rd Battalion, Second AIF, Second World War.

Place Asia: Borneo, Balikpapan
Accession Number AWM2018.1.1.222
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 10 August 2018
Access Open
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
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 Chris Widenbar, the story for this day was on (VX94421) Private Ian Harold Hayes, 2/33rd Battalion, Second AIF, Second World War.

Film order form
Speech transcript

VX94421 Private Ian Harold Hayes, 2/33rd Battalion, Second AIF
KIA 18 July 1945
Story delivered 10 August 2018

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Ian Harold Hayes.

Born on 27 August 1923 in Bendigo, Victoria, Ian Hayes was the youngest son and fourth of six children of Harold and Edith Hayes.

His early years were spent on the family farm, north of Heathcote. He attended Muskerry East and Malvern East State Schools, and then Melbourne High School. A bright student, Hayes won a full scholarship to Melbourne University, and a non-resident scholarship to Ormond College. He joined the Militia a month after his 18th birthday, becoming a member of the Melbourne University Rifles. Towards the end of his degree he became a resident of Queen’s College after winning a bursary, and graduated with a bachelor of commerce degree with honours in 1942, becoming the youngest student to gain his degree at the age of 19.

Finishing his studies, Hayes moved to Canberra in order to work at the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics.

During his last Christmas at home, Ian explained to his family that he was going to enlist. There were three men in his generation, two of whom could not enlist because they were primary producers, and he wanted to represent the family. The family had a history of service, with Ian’s father, Harold, having served with the 13th Light Horse Regiment, and seeing action at Gallipoli and the Western Front.

Hayes enlisted on 28 February 1944 at Royal Park in Melbourne. He joined the 2/33rd Battalion, and was training in Townsville when he turned 21.

Here he met his sweetheart, Janette, and in letters home he told his family that he would marry her upon his return. Sadly, this was not to be.

The 2/33rd Battalion left Australia on 9 June 1945 for its last operation. It landed in south-east Borneo on 1 July and began the campaign to secure Balikpapan.

On 18 July, Private Hayes and two other Australia soldiers were killed in action. The battalion was withdrawn a week later, and shortly afterwards Japanese forces surrendered.
Hayes was buried in Balikpapan War Cemetery, about a month short of his 22nd birthday.

Back in Australia, the Hayes family were dealt a particularly cruel blow, receiving notice of Ian’s death on the same day that his grandmother, who had cared for him during many of his schooling years, died.

Ian Hayes’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, among almost 40,000 Australians who died while serving in the Second 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 Ian Harold Hayes, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Duncan Beard
Historian, Military History Unit

  • Video of The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (VX94421) Private Ian Harold Hayes, 2/33rd Battalion, Second AIF, Second World War. (video)