The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (NX40516) Private Algie Albert Pischke, 2/3rd 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 Meleah Hampton, the story for this day was on (NX40516) Private Algie Albert Pischke, 2/3rd Australian Infantry Battalion, Second World War.

NX40516 Private Algie Albert Pischke, 2/3rd Australian Infantry Battalion
Died of wounds 19 July 1941

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Algie Albert Pischke.

Algie Pischke was born on 16 August 1900 in Ashford, New South Wales, the son of Fredrick William and Mary Pischke.
Algies was the second-youngest member of a large family. His parents had been born in Germany, emigrating to Australia in the 1850s and settling in the small village of Ashford, north of Inverell in northern New South Wales.

Algie worked as a grazier until 25 June 1940, when he travelled to Tamworth to enlist in the Second Australian Imperial Force. At 39 years of age, he was just three months away from being too old to enlist.

Private Pischke first joined a training battalion. In October he was admitted to Tamworth Hospital with varicose veins, but quickly recovered, and on 3 January 1941 he embarked for overseas service with reinforcements for the 2/3rd Battalion.

Arriving in the Middle East in mid-January, Pischke continued training in Palestine and Egypt until joining his unit in early May. By then, the 2/3rd had taken part in the advance against the Italians in eastern Libya and been involved in successful attacks at Bardia and Tobruk before leaving for Greece with the rest of the 6th Division.

A succession of withdrawals meant that the battalion did not meet the enemy in battle until mid-April, when it supported the 2/2nd Battalion at Tempe Gorge and blocked German movement, allowing the unhindered withdrawal of Allied forces further south. The 2/3rd then withdrew, evacuating by sea from Kalamata on 27 April.

Pischke joined the 2/3rd Battalion as it took part in the Syria–Lebanon campaign. Australian troops were already fighting in the campaign when the battalion was committed as reinforcements, to help bring the 7th Division up to strength.

In a bitter campaign, Vichy French forces attempted to resist the Allied invasion, which had been launched in order to deny the Germans the use of Vichy territory to launch attacks against Egypt. The well-equipped French force outnumbered the attackers and had the advantage of holding the mountainous terrain.

Having arriving from Palestine, the battalion formed a block on the road between Damascus and Deraa, and were later committed to an attack to sever the Beirut road around Mezze, as part of wider fighting around Damascus in June. On the evening of 20 June, the battalion helped relieve the surrounded 5th Indian Infantry Brigade, and also captured several forts. After a French counter-attack on Fort Sarrail, most of the battalion's headquarters company were briefly captured, and the battalion’s commanding officer was wounded in the action. An Australian counter-attack freed the captured personnel, and with a successful defensive action in the Barada Gorge, helped force the Vichy defenders in Damascus to surrender.

The following week, with the battalion's second-in-command in charge, the 2/3rd was transferred to the British 16th Brigade. Operating with British and Indian forces on the right flank, the battalion launched an attack at Jebel Mazar on 24 June, tasked with capturing the high ground overlooking the main road, along which the Australians were advancing.

Moving in battle formation, the battalion moved off as ordered at 5 am and was fired on almost immediately. Heavy enemy artillery fire neutralised the Australians’ supporting artillery, and that afternoon the men withdrew.
Private Pischke was wounded during the advance, and was evacuated to hospital with a gunshot wound to the right leg and a fractured knee.

The attack on Jebel Mazar was unsuccessful, and the battalion withdrew four days later. Despite this setback, Allied forces continued to advance, overcoming Vichy French defences until an armistice put an end to the campaign on 14 July.

The troops of the 2/3rd battalion remained in Syria preparing defences and undertaking garrison duties. Its casualties during the short campaign were 16 killed and 77 wounded. Australian casualties during the fighting in Syria and Lebanon numbered 416 killed and 1,136 wounded. Approximately 1,000 Vichy French troops were killed throughout the theatre.

Algie Pischke died of wounds on 19 July 1941, five days after the signing of the armistice that ended the Syria–Lebanon Campaign.

He was 40 years old.

Pischke was buried in Gaza War Cemetery the following day. His remains lie there today, under the inscription chosen by his grieving family: “Deeply we remember a brother we love and will never forget”.

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 Algie Pischke, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Duncan Beard
Editor, Military History Section