The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (1734) Corporal James Anderson Ligertwood, 27th 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 Gerard Pratt, the story for this day was on (1734) Corporal James Anderson Ligertwood, 27th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

1734 Corporal James Anderson Ligertwood, 27th Battalion, AIF
KIA 3 November 1916

Today we remember and pay tribute to Corporal James Anderson Ligertwood.

James Ligertwood was born on 25 July 1887, the second son of William and Margaret Ligertwood of Adelaide. He grew up in the suburb of St Peters, and attended the Norwood and Wellington Road Public Schools. His mother died when James was ten years old, and five years later his father remarried. James later attended the School of Mines and Industries and went on to open his own business as a builder and contractor.

James Ligertwood was an active member of St Giles’ Presbyterian Church in Norwood where, it was reported “for years, in a modest, unassuming way he rendered faithful service to the various church organisations”. He was a keen sports man who excelled at football, cricket and tennis, and was also a skilful gymnast. Described as a “strong manly spirit with a remarkably easy and genial disposition, [James was a man who] always recognised the duties as well as the privileges of friendship.”

Ligertwood’s father died in March 1915. After sorting out his affairs, James enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. He underwent a period of training in Australia before leaving for active service overseas in June 1915 with reinforcements to the 27th Battalion. He landed on Gallipoli in September 1915, and was there for a number of relatively uneventful months before the evacuation at the end of the year.

The 27th Battalion was sent to France after a period of further training in Egypt, and in July and August participated in the fighting around the French village of Pozières, notably capturing a fortified windmill on the edge of the village. Ligertwood proved an able soldier and by this time had been promoted to corporal, even acting as temporary sergeant on occasion.

In November 1916 the 27th Battalion was back on the Somme and on 3 November entered the front line in preparation to attack a German-held trench near the French village of Flers. On that day, Corporal James Anderson Ligertwood was killed in action. While little is known of the manner of his death, it probably occurred at the hands of a stray artillery shell or bullet. If he was buried, his grave was never recovered, and today he is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. James Ligertwood was 29 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 Corporal James Anderson Ligertwood, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section