The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (V104462) Private Roy John Schmidt, 39th Battalion (Infantry) att New Guinea Force Signals, 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 , the story for this day was on (V104462) Private Roy John Schmidt, 39th Battalion (Infantry) att New Guinea Force Signals, Second World War.

V104462 Private Roy John Schmidt, 39th Battalion (Infantry) att New Guinea Force Signals
KIA 4 January 1943


Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Roy John Schmidt.

Roy Schmidt was born on 6 December 1917 in Culcairn, New South Wales, the son of Alfred and Elsie Schmidt.

He grew up nearby at Walla Walla where he worked as a chaff mill labourer for his father, and on weekends played for the Walla Walla football team, being a noted goal scorer.

In February 1941, Schmidt enrolled for military service for home defence at Walla Walla, and the following month was mobilised. In August he was posted to the 20th Light Horse Brigade, but in October that year was transferred to the 39th Battalion, which had been raised to garrison Port Moresby after Japan's entry into the war.

On 8 November 1941, Roy Schmidt married Rita Batson, who was from the nearby town of Howlong. A reception was held at the home of the bride’s parents, attended by a large group of guests.

Towards end of the month, the newly-married Schmidt was found absent without leave overnight. For this perhaps understandable infraction, he received a small fine.

On 27 December 1941, Schmidt sailed from Sydney, bound for New Guinea. He arrived with the 39th Battalion at the start of January 1942, with little military training.

The battalion was initially used for garrison duties and working parties, but soon became victim to inhospitable conditions and the prevalence of disease.

In early February Schmidt was diagnosed as suffering from dermatitis. This was a recurring malady that would also see him removed from duty later in the year.

In June, when the 39th Battalion was ordered to proceed up the Kokoda Trail to block any possible Japanese overland advance, Schmidt was diagnosed as suffering from dermatitis artefacta, the deliberate and conscious production of self-inflicted skin lesions as a manifestation and reaction to distress. After some time at a convalescent depot, Schmidt returned to duty in late July.

After the 39th Battalion’s clash with Japanese forces, the Australians fell back to Kokoda, and on 29 July were again forced to withdraw, this time to Deniki. On 8 August the 39th launched a counter-attack at Kokoda but, outnumbered and short of ammunition, fell back after two days of fighting. The Australians eventually managed to repel the ongoing Japanese attack and the 39th returned to Port Moresby in mid-October.

The interlude from fighting was brief. Australian forces began pushing the Japanese back toward the beachheads of Buna, Gona, and Sanananda. As the retreat of the Japanese forces quickly became a rout, in early November, Schmidt was detached to the New Guinea Force signals. New Guinea Force was the military command unit for Australian, territory of Papua and territory of New Guinea troops serving in the New Guinea campaign, responsible for planning and directing all operations in the territory.

Fierce fighting was continuing along the coast and on 21 December the 39th moved to the Sanananda Track. The next morning it moved into a forward position called Huggins’ Road Block, defending the area and attacking nearby Japanese positions.

The battalion suffered mightily, and by the time it was flown back to Port Moresby, it mustered a mere handful of soldiers: seven officers and 25 men.
Private Roy Schmidt was not among the survivors. He had been killed on 4 January 1943.

Initially buried near Gona, his remains were later reburied at Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, where they lie today, under the inscription chosen by his grieving family, “Too dearly loved to ever be forgotten”.

Roy Schmidt was 25 years old.

His 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 Roy John Schmidt, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Duncan Beard
Editor, Military History Section