The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (6844) Private James Patrick Sammon, 9th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

Places
Accession Number AWM2018.1.1.290
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 17 October 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 Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (6844) Private James Patrick Sammon, 9th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

Film order form
Speech transcript

6844 Private James Patrick Sammon, 9th Battalion, AIF
KIA 5 October 1917
Story delivered 17 October 2018

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private James Patrick Sammon.

James Patrick Sammon was born on 16 July 1886 to Patrick and Alice Sammon of Queensland. He grew up on the family property at Iron Hut Farm in the Clermont district of Queensland, one of five daughters and six sons. Gold had been discovered at Clermont in 1861, and the family was involved in gold prospecting and mining in the region.

James Sammon enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in September 1916 at nearby Emerald, giving his trade as “selector”. The 30-year-old was posted to the 22nd reinforcements to the 9th Battalion, and on 27 October 1916 left Brisbane on the troopship Marathon.

During the long voyage to England, Sammon contracted measles and then influenza, and after a period of training in England spent some time at Fargo Military Hospital with bronchitis.
He regained his health in time to join the 9th Battalion in France at the end of May 1917, shortly after it had withdrawn from the front line after operations near the French village of Bullecourt.

The 9th Battalion did not participate in another major operation for some months, instead undergoing extensive training and holding the front line in quieter sectors.

In early October 1917 the 9th Battalion took up reserve positions on the Westhoek Ridge in Belgium. Not far from their location, Australian forces launched an attack that became known as the battle of Broodseinde Ridge. The 9th was not called on to support the operation, but their position close to the front line left the men in danger from German artillery. At some point on 5 October, Private James Sammon was killed in action.

Little is known of the manner of his death, although it was likely the result of artillery fire. If he was buried, his grave was never found. Today he is commemorated at the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres alongside some 6,000 Australians who were killed in Belgium but have no known grave. He was 31 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 James Patrick Sammon, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Duncan Beard
Editor, Military History Section

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