The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (VX12727) Private Lawrence Hawken, 2/8th Battalion, 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 Craig Berelle, the story for this day was on (VX12727) Private Lawrence Hawken, 2/8th Battalion, Second World War.

VX12727 Private Lawrence Hawken, 2/8th Battalion
KIA 21 January 1941

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Lawrence Hawken.

Born Lawrence Henry Manuel Hawken in 1922, Lawrence Hawken was the son of Stanley and Violet Hawken of Koondrook, Victoria. He was educated at the Culfearn State School and was an active member of the Methodist Church and the local young people’s guild. As a young boy he was a member of the Young Farmers’ Club, and showed an interest in raising pigs. He was a keen sportsman, playing football with the Koondrook juniors and a member of the Barham Lawn Tennis Club. After completing his education, Lawrence moved to Melbourne, where he worked as a labourer.

Lawrence Hawken enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force in April 1940. He was not quite 18 at the time, but put his age up to 22 in order to make sure he was accepted. He began infantry training in Melbourne, and in September 1940 was posted to reinforcements to the 2/8th Battalion. He left Australia that month for active service overseas, joining his battalion in Palestine in October 1940.

Private Hawken first saw action at Bardia in early January 1940, when his battalion had a minor role to play in the fighting. Less than three weeks later, the 2/8th Battalion was again called to action during the battle for Tobruk. It was called on to attack a strong point built around a line of dug-in tanks, and as a result sustained the heaviest casualties of any Australian unit during the operation.

One of those killed was Private Laurence Hawken. Little is known of the manner of his death. His body was recovered from the battlefield, and today he is buried in Knightsbridge War Cemetery at Acroma in Libya. His gravestone bears the words “our dearly loved son and brother – till we meet again”. He was just 19 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 Lawrence Hawken, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section