The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (NX205951) Sapper Kevin Alexander Hurst, 1 Engineer Training Battalion, Second 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 Gerard Pratt, the story for this day was on (NX205951) Sapper Kevin Alexander Hurst, 1 Engineer Training Battalion, Second World War.

NX205951 Sapper Kevin Alexander Hurst, 1 Engineer Training Battalion
Died of injuries 21 May 1945

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sapper Kevin Alexander Hurst.

Born in Narranderah in the Riverina region of southern New South Wales, Kevin Alexander Hurst was the son of Richard and Jessie Hurst. One of seven children – four brothers and three sisters – his father was a veteran of the First World War who later served as a warrant officer stationed at the prisoner of war camp in Hay. His mother was in the Australian Women’s Army Service.

Redheaded like his mother, Kevin was known as “Bricky” from his school days. He milked the cows and collected firewood for his family each day before delivering goods for local storekeepers in Carathool.

He decided to enlist in the Second Australian Imperial Force in February 1945. As he was under 18 years old, he was turned away. Rather than be dissuaded, he walked around the block before returning and lying about his age.

In May 1945 he was to the 1st Training Battalion, Royal Australian Engineers, at the large Australian Army training base at Kapooka. However, on the afternoon of 21 May 1945, tragedy struck.

Crowded within a dugout, during a routine demolition training exercise on the preparation of hand charges, were two groups. One of 22 trainees and two instructors, and a smaller squad of three men and one instructor. Inside the dugout 110 pounds of explosives were stored for the day’s training exercise. In circumstances that remain unknown to this day, the explosives ignited. In the explosion, 24 men were killed instantly, two died of injuries shortly afterwards, and two more were severely injured.

Hurst was one of those killed in the accident.

A mass funeral was held for the men in Wagga Wagga on 24 May. Thousands of people lined the route of the funeral parade. The 26 flag-draped coffins were carried on four army trucks. The cortege included over 100 military vehicles carrying members of the Army and Air Force. The dead were buried in the Wagga Wagga War Cemetery.

Kevin Hurst’s father attended the funeral, but his mother was so deeply affected by his death that she went into shock and had to be hospitalised.

Hurst’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 Sapper Kevin Alexander Hurst, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Lachlan Grant
Historian, Military History Section