The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2741) Private Sylvester William James McLaughlan, 19th 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 Chris Widenbar, the story for this day was on (2741) Private Sylvester William James McLaughlan, 19th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

2741 Private Sylvester William James McLaughlan, 19th Battalion, AIF
KIA 30 July 1916
Story delivered 22 October 2018

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Sylvester William James McLaughlan.

Sylvester McLaughlan – known as “Willie” – was born in Molong, New South Wales, in 1897. He attended the Lithgow public school, and went on to work in the local ironworks while still a teenager.

McLaughlan enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in June 1915. He underwent a period of training in Australia before embarking for active service overseas on board the troopship Euripides on 2 November of the same year. He first went to Egypt, joining the 19th Battalion, before being sent to fight on the Western Front in France.

In late July 1916 the 19th Battalion moved into forward positions near the French village of Pozieres, which had been captured by the 1st Australian Division days before. On 30 July Private McLaughlan was taking the chance to get some sleep in a spot with his best mate Private Wright and another man. An artillery shell burst nearby, killing McLaughlan and the other man instantly. Private Wright survived, although, as he later wrote, he “was knocked about a good deal”.

Private Wright wrote to Willie McLaughlan’s mother, saying “I find it my duty to write to you concerning your son’s death, which came as a great shock to me … if ever a lad did his duty well, it was Willie.”

McLaughlan’s comrades ensured he was given a proper burial and a cross was erected over his grave. After the war he was moved to Pozieres British Cemetery, where he lies today under the words “Too dearly loved ever to be forgotten”. Sylvester McLaughlan 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 Private Sylvester William James McLaughlan, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section