The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (5049) Private Henry Thomas Lyde, 33rd 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 Craig Berelle, the story for this day was on (5049) Private Henry Thomas Lyde, 33rd Battalion, AIF, First World War.

5049 Private Henry Thomas Lyde, 33rd Battalion, AIF
DOW 14 April 1918

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Henry Thomas Lyde, who died while fighting in France during the First World War.

Henry Lyde was born in the Sydney suburb of Campsie in June 1900, the son of Jessie and Henry Lyde. He grew up in Campsie and attended Canterbury Superior Public School. Having taken night school classes in carpentry, he began an apprenticeship as a railway carriage builder when he left school. He was also a member of the local senior cadets.

After war was announced Henry was keen to join the army, so keen that he lied about his age in order to enlist. When he enlisted in March 1917, he gave his age as 18 years and one month, when in fact he was only 16 years old. Initially allotted to the 30th Battalion, he was transferred to the 33rd Battalion before setting sail from Sydney aboard the transport ship Marathon.
Arriving in England in July 1917, Henry spent six months training at camps on the Salisbury Plain before embarking for France in February 1918. He joined the 33rd Battalion, which was stationed at Kortepyp Camp in Belgium on the French border.

At this time the battalion was engaged in training, as well as carrying out camp maintenance and repairs. Time was also set aside for recreational activities. The day after Henry arrived, his battalion’s football team played a team from the 35th Battalion, losing 6-nil.

At the end of February, Henry and the 33rd Battalion moved to the front lines at St Yves. Here the men worked repairing posts and trenches, sometimes coming under German artillery fire. Henry was attached to battalion headquarters as a scout, and during this time he patrolled the area in order to keep an eye on enemy movements. The weather was cold, and snowfalls occasionally reduced visibility.

After two weeks at the front, the 33rd Battalion was relieved and returned to Kortepyp Camp. There they spent two weeks in training and preparing to return to the front. At the end of March, the battalion travelled by train to the French village of Villers-Bretonneux.

At this time, the Germans were preparing what would be their final large-scale attack of the war, which became known as the German Spring Offensive. At Villers-Bretonneux in early April, the Germans began a heavy bombardment of the village and Australian lines. The men of the 33rd Battalion stationed themselves in the cellars of the ruined buildings and waited out the barrage. The Australian troops could see the German soldiers massing, and expected an infantry charge any day.

On the afternoon of 14 April 1918, Henry was on duty in a scouting party when a high explosive shell landed amongst the group. One man was killed and Henry was badly wounded. He was evacuated to the Casualty Clearing Station, where he died of his wounds. He was 17 years old.

His body was buried at Aubigny British Cemetery, a small cemetery on the Somme River in France.
His grieving parents and seven siblings had the following poem printed in their local newspaper:
Though dark my path and sad my lot.
Let me be still and murmur not,
Or breathe the prayer divinely taught
Thy will be done.

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 Henry Thomas Lyde, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.