The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Lieutenant Abel Richmond Sheath, 18th 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 Lieutenant Abel Richmond Sheath, 18th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

Lieutenant Abel Richmond Sheath, 18th Battalion, AIF
KIA 8 August 1918

Today we remember and pay tribute to Lieutenant Abel Richmond Sheath.

Abel Sheath was born on 31 March 1890 to Harris and Harriet Sheath of Sydney. He was educated at the Leichhardt Superior Public School, and was well known in local cricket and football competitions. Abel Sheath was an active member of the Loyal Orange Lodge, and became the Leichhardt Lodge’s Secretary. He worked as an accountant for John McLean, who was also based in Leichhardt. Not long after he enlisted in 1915, his name was included on an honour roll of serving soldiers erected at the Methodist Mission Hall in Leichhardt.

Even as a young boy, Abel Sheath took a keen interest in the cadets and other military matters. He went on to hold the rank of brigade sergeant major in the junior cadets, and a commission in the senior cadets. Despite this, Sheath enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in July 1915 as a private soldier. He undertook training to qualify for a commission after enlistment, and by early 1916 was given the rank of 2nd lieutenant. He left Australia in charge of the 11th reinforcements to the 18th Battalion in April 1916.

Second lieutenant Abel Sheath spent several months as an instructor at the 5th Training Battalion based in Rollestone in England, and joined the 18th Battalion in France in December 1916. Soon afterward he was promoted to lieutenant. He remained with his battalion for the rest of his service, apart from a short period of illness in May 1917.

In September 1917, during preparations for the battle of Menin Road, Lieutenant Sheath was working overnight to create a brigade supply dump. While working he was wounded by a shell fragment, but refused to leave the line to make sure he could participate in the attack, which went ahead on the 20th of September. During that attack, Sheath’s company commander – and in fact every other officer in the company to his left – became casualties. Sheath took command of the two companies and rushed the enemy’s position, achieving all objectives. He was awarded the Military Cross, his citation noting that Sheath repeatedly showed “courage, coolness and resource of a high order … During the enemy’s counter attacks and heavy shelling, [he] again inspired all by his cool bearing and utter disregard of danger.”

Lieutenant Sheath was a popular member of the battalion, and used to sing at concerts and other occasions in a “fine baritone voice”. He was an enthusiastic participant in battalion sports, and as an officer was described as “level headed, sound and well trained,” a man “possessed of an excellent word of command and a bearing which commanded attention”.

On 8 August 1918 the 18th Battalion took part in the battle of Amiens, the opening attack of the great British offensive of that year, and a startling success. Lieutenant Sheath led his men to their final objective, but was slightly wounded as they arrived. He seems to have gone back towards the original line at some point, and some reports indicate that he was tending to some wounded men of the 20th Battalion when he was shot by a machine-gun bullet. What is certain is that his body was found by members of the 18th Battalion later that day, and he was buried in a small cemetery north-east of Marcelcave on the Somme.

A report on Abel Sheath in the 18th Battalion’s war diary says, “as a man, it is difficult to say enough in appreciation of his character. He was at all times the ideal of a courteous and cultured gentleman, full of kindly humour and good-fellowship. Few if any of our officers have been so highly respected among all ranks.”

After the war, Abel Sheath’s body was reinterred in the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, where he lies today under the words “in memory of the dearly loved son of Mrs. H.A. Sheath of Haberfield”. He was 28 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 Lieutenant Abel Richmond Sheath, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section