The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2276) Trooper Gordon John Farmer, 3rd Camel 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 Joanne Smedley, the story for this day was on (2276) Trooper Gordon John Farmer, 3rd Camel Battalion, AIF, First World War.

2276 Trooper Gordon John Farmer, 3rd Camel Battalion, AIF
KIA 6 November 1917

Today we remember and pay tribute to Trooper Gordon John Farmer.

Gordon Farmer was born in 1897, the eldest son of Richard and Mary Farmer of Traralgon, Victoria. His father was a grazier, and Gordon probably grew up on the family property at Nambrok. Following his education, he worked as a farmer and grazier, possibly on his father’s property. In January 1913 a bushfire tore through Nambrok, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to Richard Farmer’s property. After this, the family seems to have moved to the Tatura district.

Gordon Farmer enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in December 1915, at the age of 18. He underwent a period of training in Australia before being sent for active service overseas with reinforcements to the 8th Light Horse Regiment in May 1916.

Trooper Farmer was sent to Egypt, where, after two months’ training in the desert, he transferred to the Camel Corps. The AIF supplied two battalions of cameliers, which joined with one from Britain and one from New Zealand to form the Imperial Camel Corps.

In January 1917 the camel corps fought in the battle of Rafa. Trooper Gordon wrote letters to his parents, reporting that he had seen the initial attack by the Mounted Corps. He wrote, “The Light Horse galloped across a level plain, through plenty of shrapnel, and into the action. It was a bonzer sight … You may guess we were anxious to have a smack also, but it was no good.”

The 3rd Camel Battalion finally engaged in the enemy in the latter stages of the battle. Gordon wrote, “We got within 500 yards of their trenches fairly easily … we charged with fixed bayonets. We would rush about fifty yards and stop, and shoot at them. While we were firing, another company would be rushing up … As we were about to make the last rush, they put up a white flag.”

The Imperial Camel Corps participated around Gaza and Sana before being withdrawn to refit. By late October 1917 they were back in action again, taking part in the attack on Beersheba. Days later, on 5 November, the 3rd Anzac Camel Battalion received orders to attack the Kuweilfen Hills at dawn the following morning.

During the operation the 3rd Camel Battalion was supposed to advance in rear of a British unit, but for some reason the units on the flank of the 3rd failed to match pace, and the Australian cameliers found themselves unsupported. As the sun came up, they found they were in fact the front line, and the flat-topped hill in front of them was strongly held by the Turks. Nevertheless, they rushed the position under cover of an artillery barrage, capturing ground that was then held despite a series of Turkish counter-attacks. After two days’ vicious fighting, the Turks withdrew.

Trooper Gordon Farmer did not survive the battle. Although the manner of his death is unknown, his mate Private McDonald later wrote to Richard and Mary Farmer to tell them about their son’s grave on the flat-topped hill over which the battle was fought. McDonald said they had erected a wooden cross to “mark the grave of one of Australia’s noblest and best”.

Today Gordon Farmer is buried in the Beersheba War Cemetery, beneath the simple words, “Thy will be done”. He was 20 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 Trooper Gordon John Farmer, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section