The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (1732) Private Frank Darmody, 1st Battalion, AIF, First 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 Joanne Smedley, the story for this day was on (1732) Private Frank Darmody, 1st Battalion, AIF, First World War.

1732 Private Frank Darmody, 1st Battalion, AIF
DOD 19 September 1915

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Frank Darmody.

Born Francis Ryan Darmody on 12 November 1888 to Thomas and Sarah Ryan of Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Frank Darmody grew up in Sutton in a family of 13 children. His father went into business as a storekeeper, and later built the Sutton hotel, which he ran for many years. This business was not always profitable, and in 1897 Thomas Darmody filed for bankruptcy. The family later moved to Queanbeyan, and in 1903, Frank’s parents moved to Sydney. The following year his father had a heart attack and died in the back yard. With this Frank became the main form of support for his mother. Completing his education, he went to work as a despatch clerk, and served in the Australian Rifles for two and a half years. His family suffered another blow in 1912 when his youngest sister died of consumption of the throat.

Frank Darmody was one of four brothers to enlist for service in the Australian Imperial Force. Enlisting in January 1915, he passed his medical examination and went into Liverpool Camp in Sydney to undertake initial training.

While he was still at Liverpool Camp Frank suffered from a sore throat and husky voice. Although his throat failed to clear up, and he developed a cough, he was able to complete his training and leave Australia for active service overseas. He was first sent to Egypt, but was there for a short time before being sent on to Gallipoli where the Australian force was desperate for reinforcement.

After nearly a month on Gallipoli, Private Darmody scalded his foot, probably with hot water he was cooking with over a fire. Also suffering from a septic wound on his hand, he was evacuated and taken to hospital, first on Mudros, and later in Egypt.

In hospital in Egypt doctors realised that his cough was not a cold that would not go away. Darmody had lost nearly 20 kilograms in weight over the course of his training, and his throat was badly ulcerated. Tests determined that he was suffering from tuberculosis, probably the same kind that had caused the death of his sister three years earlier.

On 29 August 1915, Private Darmody, unfit for further service, boarded the troopship Euripides, which was docked at the Suez Canal, in order to return to Australia. His condition worsened, and he died on 19 September 1915 without seeing land again. He was buried at sea shortly afterwards.

Today Private Frank Darmody is commemorated on the Chatby Memorial, a memorial erected in the Chatby War Memorial Cemetery in Alexandria, which commemoratse almost 1,000 Commonwealth servicemen who died during the First World War and have no other grave but the sea. He was 26 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 Frank Darmody, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section