The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (QX37595) Private George Edgar Krafft, 2/12th Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, 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 Gerard Pratt, the story for this day was on (QX37595) Private George Edgar Krafft, 2/12th Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, Second World War.

QX37595 Private George Edgar Krafft, 2/12th Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force
DOW 1 July 1945

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private George Edgar Krafft.

George Krafft was born on 28 January 1921 in Wondai, Queensland, to Frederick and Anne Krafft. He had two older brothers, Roy and Neil, and three sisters.

Krafft attended Running Creek Primary School, and afterwards went to work on the family farm “Lone Pine” at Glen Echo. He was a keen horseman, was fond of leatherwork, and apparently loved to yodel.

George Krafft and his brother Roy joined the Militia together in March 1941. They served as troopers in the 5th Light Horse Regiment and the 5th Australian Motor Regiment. On 11 July 1942, when George was 21 and Roy 23, they enlisted together in the Second Australian Imperial Force. Roy was posted to the 2/5th Field Ambulance, while George joined the 2/12th Battalion.

On 17 August 1942 Krafft and his brother embarked for overseas service aboard the Katoomba, arriving in Port Moresby three days later. The battalion took part in counter-attacks against Japanese invasion forces at Milne Bay, then in 1943 at Shaggy Ridge and the Ramu Valley as the Australians sought to follow the enemy withdrawal along the Kokoda Trail to Buna and Sanananda.

Krafft was hospitalised briefly in February 1944, and in May joined his unit as they sailed back to Australia. He spent most of the year in and out of hospital with malaria, and it wasn’t until December that he re-joined his battalion in training. In June 1945 he sailed back with the 2/12th to Morotai in the Netherlands East Indies.

On 1 July 1945 the 2/12th Battalion landed at Balikpapan on Borneo, and captured its objectives with relatively light casualties. One of those casualties, however, was Private George Krafft, who suffered gunshot wounds to his shoulder and jaw. He died of his wounds later that day. He was 24 years old.

George Krafft’s remains are interred at the Labuan War Cemetery in Malaysia, under the inscription, “Asleep at rest for evermore.”

Roy Krafft also served on Morotai and Borneo, and survived the war.

Private George Edgar Krafft’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, along with some 40,000 others from 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 George Kraft, and all those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.

Christina Zissis
Editor, Military History Section