The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2140) Corporal Frederick Arthur Thurston, 33rd 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 Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (2140) Corporal Frederick Arthur Thurston, 33rd Battalion, AIF, First World War.

2140 Corporal Frederick Arthur Thurston, 33rd Battalion, AIF
KIA 30 August 1918

Today we remember and pay tribute to Corporal Frederick Arthur Thurston.

Frederick Thurston, commonly known by his middle name of Arthur, was born on 24 September 1893, the only son of James and Sophia Thurston of the Sydney suburb of Tempe. His family remember him as a handy left-handed cricketer, a good student, and a gifted artist. He was educated at the Enmore public school and went on to become a clerk.

Arthur Thurston enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in April 1916 at the age of 22. He underwent a period of training in Australia before leaving for active service overseas with reinforcements to the 33rd Battalion the following August. Private Thurston first went to England, where he continued training on the Salisbury Plain, before being sent to fight on the Western Front.

The 33rd Battalion did not participate in a major battle until mid-1917, when it took part in the battle of Messines. Private Thurston was serving as a company runner and immediately distinguished himself. It was later reported that during the 96 hours of battle, he “repeatedly carried messages through heavy barrages [and] when told he could wait until the shelling eased off, he nevertheless carried the despatches without the slightest hesitation or delay.” For his actions at Messines, Thurston was awarded the Military Medal, the citation for which reads, “by his remarkable coolness and courage, his cheerful readiness for any duty, his fearlessness and his devotion to duty, he set a splendid example to all ranks.”

Thurston was soon promoted to corporal, but a few weeks later was wounded when a bomb accidentally exploded in front of him. He was sent to hospital in England to treat wounds to his chest and face. Fortunately they were not as serious as they could have been, and he rejoined the 33rd Battalion in the field in November 1917.

As the winter wore off in early 1918, the 33rd Battalion resumed offensive activity, and again Corporal Thurston distinguished himself. During a raid on enemy trenches near Warneton he was in charge of a Lewis gun team placed to cover the infantry’s furthest advance. When the enemy counter-attacked, Thurston directed fire not only from his machine-gun, but from nearby riflemen and rifle grenades, which successfully broke up the counter-attack and ensured protection for the raiding party. He was awarded a bar to his Military Medal, the citation reading “his action was most determined, courageous and invaluable to the night assault.”

A month later, Thurston was in the thick of it yet again. He was awarded a second bar to his Military Medal – his third decoration – for “conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty”. On 30 March 1918 the 33rd Battalion counter-attacked German forces that had pushed through towards Villers-Bretonneux. His citation said that “this non-commissioned officer led his men in a highly capable and determined manner in the face of exceedingly heavy machine gun and rifle fire. Although badly wounded in the arm, he refused to be evacuated and … did exceptionally good work in reorganising the company and consolidating his new line.” Once again it was noted that “by his wonderful cheerfulness and optimism, his highly courageous leadership, and his steadfastness, he was a splendid example to his company, which had suffered very heavy casualties.”

After receiving treatment for his wounded arm at a hospital in Rouen, this remarkable soldier was sent to “aspirant officer school”. Shortly after his return to the battalion, it was again called into action. On the morning of 30 August 1918, as the battalion advanced towards Péronne, Corporal Arthur Thurston and two other men were hit by an artillery shell and killed instantly. It was the only time Thurston had been in a battle and not been decorated for it.

Corporal Arthur Thurston was buried where he fell, but later reinterred in the Péronne Communal Cemetery Extension, where his remains lie today under the words “Thy will be done”. He was 24 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 Frederick Arthur Thurston, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section