The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (QX39969) Sergeant Edward Dudley Lloyd, 25th 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 (QX39969) Sergeant Edward Dudley Lloyd, 25th Australian Infantry Battalion, Second World War.

QX39969 Sergeant Edward Dudley Lloyd, 25th Australian Infantry Battalion
KIA 5 April 1945

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sergeant Edward Dudley Lloyd.

Edward Lloyd was born in Haden, Queensland, on 7 July 1912, the son of Charles and Catherine Lloyd.

Lloyd enlisted in the 25th Battalion, a Militia unit that was maintained on a part-time, voluntary basis, at Toowoomba on 15 May 1941. As the prospect of war in the Pacific grew, training gained in intensity, and when Japan entered the war in late 1941, the 25th Battalion was mobilised for full-time service.

In mid-December, Lloyd entered Cabarlah camp and began full-time duty. After some defensive duty on the coast around Caloundra, the battalion was moved north to Townsville in May 1942.

With the Japanese advancing through the Pacific, the battalion was deployed to New Guinea in July, shortly after Lloyd’s 30th birthday.

In August and September 1942, the 25th Battalion took part in the pivotal Battle of Milne Bay, remaining there after repelling the Japanese invasion.

On 4 September, Lloyd enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. While he had been serving full time, New Guinea was considered an Australian territory, and enlisting in the AIF was necessary for him to serve in other overseas theatres.
After six months at Milne Bay, Lloyd and his unit moved to Port Moresby in March 1943.

Lloyd began to receive promotions, becoming acting corporal in May, and having his rank confirmed in August. In September he was appointed lance sergeant.

Returning to Australia in November 1943, Lloyd and his comrades underwent a period of training. They were then deployed to Madang in New Guinea, where they undertook garrison duties.

In November, the 25th Battalion was committed to the Bougainville Campaign. While American forces had been focused on containing Japanese forces on the island, when the Australians took over the campaign turned to the offensive.

The recently promoted Sergeant Lloyd was away from his unit during late November and December, detached to the 9th Battalion. But he returned before Christmas, and just before the end of the year was involved in the battle of Pearl Ridge. Believing the ridge in the centre of Bougainville island was held by less than a company of Japanese, the 25th Battalion launched a four-pronged attacked. The defending force had, in fact, been reinforced and was closer to a battalion in strength. Regardless, the Australians dug in and repulsed a strong counterattack before sweeping the enemy off the ridge. An observation post was established on the ridge, which was used to direct artillery fire as the Australians pushed south towards Buin.

After the Australian advance had been halted by wet weather, in late March Japanese troops launched several probing raids. This was followed by a force of about 3,300 troops from the Japanese 6th Division, supported by concentrated artillery, launched a counterattack concentrated on Slater’s Knoll.

The final assault on the knoll came on the night of 4/5 April. The Australian artillery was heavily shelled; communications between brigade headquarters and 25th Battalion headquarters were severed, as were the lines from 25th Infantry Battalion headquarters to its forward companies.
At 5 am the Japanese launched an attack from the north, followed almost simultaneously by an attack from the south-west. Japanese soldiers attacked the small Australian force in waves, overwhelming forward positions.
Finding their path blocked by wire obstacles, however, the attack stalled, and Japanese soldiers were cut down by defensive artillery fire and machine-guns. While some Japanese regrouped, determined to fight to the last man, an order was finally dispatched to cancel the attack. By the afternoon, Australians began to carry out mopping up operations, flushing out small groups of survivors.

Around 620 Japanese were killed in the battle with another 1,000 estimated to have been wounded, while the Australians suffered 189 casualties.

Amongst the dead was Sergeant Edward Lloyd, who had been killed in action on 5 April.

His remains were buried in the field, but were later reburied in Torokina War Cemetery, where they remain today under the inscription chosen by his grieving family: “His duty fearlessly and nobly done, ever remembered.”

Brother George was with 26 Battalion, prisoner of war in Malaya.

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 Sergeant Edward Dudley Lloyd, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Duncan Beard
Editor, Military History Section