The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Warrant Officer Edwin Dinner, AIF Canteens, 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 Widembar, the story for this day was on Warrant Officer Edwin Dinner, AIF Canteens, First World War.

Warrant Officer Edwin Dinner, AIF Canteens
Died of Illness 19 October 1918

Today we remember and pay tribute to Warrant Officer Edwin Dinner.

Edwin Dinner was born in the village of Marong, near Bendigo in Victoria. He attended the Marong State School and afterwards became a journalist. At the time of the outbreak of war, Dinner was working at the Yea Chronicle as a reporter and printer. He was active in the local community: as the vice president of the Yea Brass Band, and as a member of the Yea Swimming Club, the Yea Progress Association and the Yea Amateur Dramatic Society, with whom he performed in local theatre productions. Edwin was married to Ada, and they had three children.

Dinner enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in November 1915 and was assigned to the 1st Australian Remount Unit, which was raised to maintain the mounts of the Light Horse regiments. However, Dinner transferred to the AIF Canteens unit shortly after his arrival in Egypt and was promoted to corporal.

The AIF Canteens were established in Egypt in early 1916 by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Wilson in response to soldiers’ complaints about the cost and quality of items and food supplied by local traders. Over the years the AIF Canteens developed into a broad network of mobile and stationary canteens that operated throughout England, France, Belgium, Egypt, Palestine and Australia, as well as on troop ships. By the end of the war the total profit from the canteens amounted to 500,000 pounds. The money was later distributed to severely disabled returned soldiers, or to widows, orphans, and other dependants of lost soldiers.

Dinner became ill with gastritis in July 1916, and on release from hospital was promoted to sergeant. In January 1917 he was promoted to warrant officer, but long hours of work and anxiety in managing his duties led to his hospitalization in March 1917.

After his release, Dinner was attached briefly to the Remounts Depot to manage rations, and then went back to the Canteens unit. He was in charge of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade canteen when he became ill again, and on 11 October 1918, Warrant Officer Dinner was admitted to the 76th Casualty Clearing Station. He died of pneumonia on 19 October, and was buried the following day at the Ramleh Military Cemetery in Israel. He was 39 years old.

Warrant Officer Dinner’s 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 Warrant Officer Edwin Dinner, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Emma Campbell
Researcher, Military History Section