The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (456) Sergeant Lewis McGee, 40th 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 Troy Clayton, the story for this day was on (456) Sergeant Lewis McGee, 40th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

456 Sergeant Lewis McGee, 40th Battalion, AIF
KIA 12 October 1917

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sergeant Lewis McGee.

Lewis McGee was born on 13 May 1888 at “Verwood”, near Ross in central Tasmania, the youngest of 11 children born to John and Mary McGee. McGee’s mother passed away when he was only seven years old, and soon after her death the family moved from to Avoca further to the north. Known as “Lew” to his family and friends, McGee worked as an engine driver and was a talented local sportsman who was involved in the Avoca Cycling Club.

On 15 November 1914 he married Eileen Rose Bailey. The couple had one child together, a daughter named Nada, who was born in 1915.

McGee enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on the 1st of March 1916, one of the first men to volunteer for the newly formed 40th Infantry Battalion in Tasmania. McGee began training with the 40th Battalion at Claremont in Hobart, and three months later sailed for overseas duty.

McGee arrived with the 40th Battalion in England in August 1916 and continued his training at Larkhill in Wiltshire. In November 1916 he sailed for France and the war on the Western Front. McGee and the 40th Battalion arrived in France just in time to spend the bitterest winter in living memory in the trenches. Throughout the cold winter months they occupied the waterlogged trenches around Armentieres in northern France, came under intermittent enemy shell-fire, and conducted raids on German lines. McGee distinguished himself as a talented and capable soldier, and on 12 January was promoted to the rank of sergeant.

In May 1917, McGee and the 40th Battalion moved north to Belgium, where British and Commonwealth forces were focussing their operations around the medieval town of Ypres. On 7 June they took part in the battle of Messines, a successful operation in which Australian, British, and New Zealand troops captured strategically important high ground in the Ypres salient after igniting nearly 500 tonnes of explosives dug into mines underneath the German trenches. The Australians suffered nearly 7,000 casualties in this battle.

On 4 October, McGee and the 40th Battalion participated in the bloody fighting at Broodseinde, one of a series of battles fought by British and Commonwealth troops as they advanced towards Passchendaele village. In torrential rain, Australian and New Zealand troops advanced across no man’s land after a heavy artillery bombardment. McGee and his platoon came under intense Germany artillery and machine-gun fire, and at one point were prevented from advancing by heavy fire from a fortified concrete structure known as a pill-box.

As they men of his platoon sought cover in shell holes, McGee, armed only with a revolver, leaped to his feet, crossed 50 metres of open ground towards the concrete structure, and killed or captured the German occupants. His heroic action allowed the rest of his platoon to continue the advance and contributed to the successful conclusion of the battle. For his “conspicuous bravery” in this action, McGee was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy. His citation stated that “he led his platoon with great dash against all obstacles under heavy fire”, and that “Throughout the whole operation, his bravery and coolness stood out as a splendid example to everybody”. His heroic action also saw him recommended for a commission.

Just eight days later, on 12 October 1917, McGee and the 40th Battalion once again manned the front line trenches in preparation for an assault on German lines which has since become known as the First Battle of Passchendaele. In pouring rain and deep mud, the men launched their attack at dawn after a largely ineffective artillery barrage on the German positions.

One report states that as his company prepared for the advance, McGee said to a fellow soldier, “How glad I am to be here; I wouldn’t have missed this for anything”. He then turned to his men and called out: “Steady, lads; keep a good line”. Heavy German machine-gun fire then fell on the men. McGee stood firm and began to rush the enemy, but was killed instantly by a bullet wound to the head. He was 29 years old, survived by his young wife and daughter. His grieving wife was presented with his posthumous Victoria Cross in Launceston in March 1918.

Today his remains lie buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery in Belgium, within sight of the area where he won his Victoria Cross, and less than a kilometre from where he was killed.

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 Sergeant Lewis McGee, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

David Sutton
Historian, Military History Section