The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of

Places
Accession Number AWM2021.1.1.10
Collection type Film
Object type Last Post film
Physical description 16:9
Maker Australian War Memorial
Place made Australia: Australian Capital Territory, Canberra, Campbell
Date made 10 January 2021
Access Open
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial
Creative Commons License This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
Copying Provisions Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction.
Description

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 (9737) Private Henry Gordon Loone, 4th Field Ambulance, First World War.

Film order form
Speech transcript

9737 Private Henry Gordon Loone, 4th Field Ambulance
DOW 28 September 1917

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Henry Gordon Loone.

Henry Loone, who went by his middle name “Gordon”, was born on 10 January 1885, the third son born to Arthur and Keturah Loone of Scottsdale, Tasmania. There were eight boys and one girl in the family.

Gordon’s father, described as “a man of energy”, started as a farmer, but ended up with interests in carting, mining, shopkeeping and sawmilling. He also took a keen interest in municipal affairs, and eventually became a member of the Legislative Council in Tasmania, a position he held for ten years. Henry’s mother was a prominent member of the Methodist Church who worked tirelessly for the Country Women’s Association.

Gordon was educated at the local state school, and spent a “considerable time” working for the Sydney Tramway Company before becoming the manager of a general storekeeping business. He was described as being “of a splendid and able character, clean living and upright, his quiet and unassuming manner won for him many friends and admirers, and he proved a son of whom any parents might be proud … Gordon was of a genial, optimistic disposition, ready for a joke with all and sundry, and full of banter and good nature. He was always thoughtful for others … took a keen interest in all sport, and was one of the best known fellows in town.”

Gordon Loone enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in September 1915. He underwent a period of training in Australia before leaving for overseas service in March 1916 with reinforcements to the Australian Army Medical Corps. Private Loone was first sent to Egypt where he continued training in the desert until the AIF was transferred to France. He reached Marseilles in June 1916, and remained with the 4th Field Ambulance on the battlefields of the Western Front for the next 15 months.

Private Gordon Loone served as a stretcher bearer during some of the fiercest battles fought by Australians on the Western Front, including the battles of Pozieres and Mouquet Farm in 1916, and Bullecourt and the outpost villages early the following year. Later they were moved north, where a major offensive was planned near the Belgian town of Ypres.

In late September the Australians took part in the battle of Menin Road. The men of the 4th Field Ambulance carried wounded from the field during the battle as well as carrying supplies such blankets, stretchers, water and food to the forward lines while under heavy fire. After several days of this, Loone wrote a letter home, saying wrote “we are standing to, ready to move at any minute for the front on a stretcher-bearer job, so I will write a few lines while we are waiting. I posted a field card home yesterday, as I did not have time to write.” Loone discussed the recent death of a friend from Scottsdale, writing, “and so poor Neville Hookway has paid the price… one good thing to know is that he was killed instantaneously.” Loone finished his letter by writing, “give my best wishes to all at home and abroad.” It would be the last letter he would write.
At some point on 28 September 1917, Private Gordon Loone was shot in the temple. He was taken to the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station near Poperinghe, where he died shortly after arrival.

Major Furber of the 4th Field Ambulance wrote to Gordon’s father to say, “I am writing to express my sympathy in your great loss. It was a tremendous shock to me, and I felt it very deeply, as Gordon has been very closely attached to me for upwards of fifteen months, and I had conceived a great affection for his personality, and a great admiration for his honesty, willingness and bravery.” Furber added, “he had been through many tight corners with me, and had come through each ordeal with flying colours always, and it is there under stress that one learns to appreciate real men. Nothing, of course, can make up for your loss, but it must be some consolation to you to know that he died doing his duty in the bravest and most gloriest work of stretcher-bearing, and bringing back to safety his wounded comrade soldiers.”

Private Gordon Loone was buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in Belgium, where he lies today under the simple epitaph: “beloved son [of the] Hon[ourable] A.W. & K.A. Loone, Scottsdale, Tasmania.” He was 33 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 Private Henry Gordon Loone, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section

  • Video of The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (video)