The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (1039) Private John Vivian Gordon, 11th Light Trench Mortar Battery, 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 (1039) Private John Vivian Gordon, 11th Light Trench Mortar Battery, First World War.

1039 Private John Vivian Gordon, 11th Light Trench Mortar Battery
KIA 24 June 1917

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private John Vivian Gordon.

John Gordon, known as “Jack”, was born on 10 June 1893 to James and Frances Gordon of Riverton, South Australia. He was the youngest son of six boys and three girls in the family. His father was an integral part of stock sales in the Riverton district, and was a quiet, retiring man.

John began his education at the Riverton state school, but later moved to Adelaide and continued at the East Adelaide State School and then Muirden College. He was a keen sportsman, playing football for St Bartholomew’s and cricket for the Harrowville Cricket Club as well as participating in tennis and swimming competitions. He was also an active member of the Anglican Church, being a member of Holy Trinity church and choir in Riverton, and later All Souls’ Church in St Peters. He was also a member of the Church of England Men’s Society, and the YMCA. By the time war broke out in 1914, he had been working for Elder, Smith & Co. as a clerk for several years.

Jack Gordon enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force with his brother Kenneth in early 1916. They left Australia on board the troopship Afric with the 43rd Battalion in June of that year. Shortly after arriving in England, the brothers transferred to the 11th Light Trench Mortar Battery. They continued training on Salisbury Plain in England for several months, before being sent to fight on the Western Front in November 1916.

The Gordon brothers arrived in France at the beginning of one of the coldest winters in decades. In early January, Kenneth fell ill with the mumps. He struggled to recover. Even after several months in hospital in France, he was suffering from rheumatism and lung problems, and after being sent to England in April, he was discharged three months later.

In June 1917 the 11th Light Trench Mortar Battery took part in operations around the Belgian village of Messines. On 24 June, Jack Gordon was carrying ammunition with two other men when a shell landed nearby, wounding two of them. Richard Mummery of the 43rd Battalion made it to hospital in England, but Jack Gordon survived only minutes. Gordon’s friend, Private Belchamber, later called him “one of the finest fellows going.”

Jack Gordon was buried at the Messines Ridge British Cemetery, where he lies today under the words “Dearly loved youngest son of J.S. and F.M. Gordon of Adelaide”. He died two weeks after his 24th birthday.

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 Private John Vivian Gordon, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section