The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (QX44227) Private Robert Featherstone, 49th Australian Infantry 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 (QX44227) Private Robert Featherstone, 49th Australian Infantry Battalion, Second World War.

QX44227 Private Robert Featherstone, 49th Australian Infantry Battalion
KIA 7 December 1942

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Robert Featherstone.

Robert Featherstone was born on 4 May 1921 in North Ipswich, Queensland, the son of Robert and Mary Featherstone.

Known as “Bob”, he grew up with his family in the Ipswich suburb of Booval, and worked as a carter. He was also a member of the local Militia, the 49th Battalion, which was known as the “Stanley Regiment”.

Throughout the initial stages of the war, Militia battalions were used to provide training for conscripts who were called up for short periods of continuous service.
As tensions in the Pacific grew and the possibility of war with Japan became more likely, measures were taken to improve the defences of the islands to Australia's north. The 49th Battalion was earmarked for Port Moresby in New Guinea. Mobilised in August 1941, Featherstone had just under a week pre-embarkation leave before embarking from Brisbane on 13 September 1941.

At Port Moresby, the battalion was occupied digging defences and labouring. The battalion undertook little training, boredom was high, morale was low, and the unit reportedly had the worst discipline on Moresby.

Japan entered the war at the end of the year and by the start of 1942 was rapidly advancing through south-east Asia and the Pacific. By March, Japanese aircraft were attacking Port Moresby. The garrison was strengthened to cope with the battles along the Kokoda Trail and at Milne Bay, but there was little change to the 49th’s routine and their training remained basic.

Featherstone was attached to the 39th Battalion in May 1942, and the following month the battalion was ordered to proceed up the Kokoda Trail to block any possible Japanese overland advance.

He returned to the 49th Battalion in July, as the Japanese attacked Kokoda and the 39th were forced to withdraw.
By November morale within the 49th Battalion had improved with more combat experience and jungle training. The battalion had expanded and more than half its personnel, including Private Featherstone, had volunteered to transfer to the AIF.

As the tide of the fighting in Papua turned towards the Allies, the 49th Battalion joined the fighting on the northern coast. The Japanese positions were well-prepared and heavily defended. At the end of November the men were flown across the Owen Stanley Range to reinforce the attack.

The 49th moved into position along the Sanananda Road on 6 December. Supported by the 55th/53rd Infantry Battalion, its four companies, each about 100-men strong, attacked the next morning.

Attacking with all four companies, the 49th suffered heavily as it came up against heavy machine-gun fire from well-sited and concealed Japanese positions. Over the course of five hours, the 49th lost over 60 per cent of its assault force and the attack failed.

In five hours the battalion lost 14 officers and 215 men killed or wounded. Close to 60 per cent of the attacking force, just under half of the battalion's full strength, were casualties.

Among the dead was Robert Featherstone. He was 21 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 Robert Featherstone, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Duncan Beard
Editor, Military History Section