The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2636) Private George Knight Rapp, 41st Battalion and (3894a) Private Henry Thomas Rapp, 47th 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 Troy Clayton, the story for this day was on (2636) Private George Knight Rapp, 41st Battalion and (3894a) Private Henry Thomas Rapp, 47th Battalion, Second World War.

2636 Private George Knight Rapp, 41st Battalion
KIA 1 September 1918

3894a Private Henry Thomas Rapp, 47th Battalion
DOW 15 April 1917

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private George Knight Rapp and Private Henry Thomas Rapp.

George Rapp was born in 1890; his brother Henry was born four years later. Their father had moved to the Casino district some years earlier, working as a stockman on Wooroowoolgen Station. He later selected land south of Casino which eventually became the settlement of Rappville, named for Henry Rapp.

The brothers grew up in Rappville in a family of twelve children, and attended the local public school. Henry went on to work in the district as a farmer, while George worked as a stockman.

In 1913 George married Ella Whitton, and their child was born later that year.

Henry enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in September 1915. He left Australia for active service overseas with reinforcements to the 9th Battalion in December of the same year. After arriving in Egypt he began training until he fell ill and had to spend an extended period of time in hospital in Abbassia. When he left hospital, he was transferred to the 47th Battalion, and sent to France to fight on the Western Front.

The 47th Battalion entered the trenches of the Western Front for the first time in July 1916. Although not playing a primary attacking role, the battalion was involved in the fighting at Pozieres either through providing working parties or by defending newly-captured ground.

In August 1916, Henry’s brother George enlisted. George was posted to the 41st Battalion and, after a period of training in Australia, left for active service overseas on board the troopship Kyarra. He arrived in England in January 1917 and continued training on Salisbury Plain for some time.
Henry remained with his battalion throughout the bitterly cold winter of 1916 to 1917 as the battalion rotated in and out of the front line. He fell sick with the mumps and was evacuated to England to recover, returning to the front in March 1917.

Weeks after his return, Henry took part in the first battle of Bullecourt. This was the first occasion that the Australians would work with the new invention, tanks, and it was a disaster. Although parts of the line advanced under heavy fire, determined German counter-attacks pushed the Australians back, and the operation failed with heavy casualties.

One of those who failed to return was Private Henry Rapp. It took some months to determine his fate. It was believed that he had been taken prisoner, and at one point the Germans confirmed that he was a prisoner and had been taken to Limburg in Germany. This was a mistake, however. Rapp had been taken prisoner, but he was wounded at the time and despite being given medical treatment at a hospital at Valenciennes, he died of his wounds four days later.

Not knowing of his brother’s fate, Private George Rapp was sent to join his battalion on the Western Front in late June 1917. He arrived a few weeks after the 41st Battalion had fought at Messines, while they were trying to establish a new front line near Warneton. In full view of the Germans, the Australian infantry worked day and night under heavy shell-fire, suffering heavy casualties.

On 4 October 1917, the 41st Battalion participated in the battle of Broodseinde Ridge. During the attack, George was wounded in the shoulder. He was taken to hospital to recover, later developing a problem with his feet that needed further treatment. He was not fit to rejoin his battalion until late April 1918.

In early August the 41st Battalion took part in the battle of Amiens, and in or near the front line for the long advance that followed.

In the early hours of 1 September, the 41st Battalion assembled ready for an assault on German positions near the Bapaume –Péronne Road. The Germans had not been kept down by the artillery barrage, and the men advanced into a hail of machine-gun bullets. Bitter hand-to-hand fighting followed as the Australians reached their objective. Although the operation had some success in capturing ground – including 250 prisoners and five German field guns – the 41st Battalion, running at under half strength, suffered 120 casualties.

One of those killed was Private George Rapp. The exact manner of his death is unknown. Unlike many who had to be left on the battlefield that day because the enemy machine-gunners were shooting stretcher bearers, George Rapp’s body was recovered, and today he is buried at Hem Farm Military Cemetery at Hem-Monacu.

George Knight Rapp was 28 years old. His epitaph reads “his duty nobly done”.His brother Henry Rapp is buried in the Valenciennes Communal Cemetery in northern France under the words “his duty nobly done, rest in peace.” He was 23 years old.

Their names are listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

These are but two of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private George Knight Rapp and Private Henry Thomas Rapp, who gave their lives for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section