AS VISITORS to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra are bid farewell at the end of each day, they are welcomed to take part in the Last Post Ceremony.

The ceremony begins with the singing of the Australian National Anthem, followed by the poignant strains of a Lament, played by a piper. Visitors are invited to lay wreaths and floral tributes beside the Pool of Reflection.

The Roll of Honour in the Cloisters lists the names of more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations over more than a century. At each ceremony the story behind one of these names will be told. The Ode is then recited, and the ceremony ends with the sounding of the Last Post.

Pierre Seillier with Major Stephen Ward (former RSM Army) at the 99th commemoration of they Battle of Fromelles on July 19, 2015. With them is Pierre’s daughter, Charlotte.

On Friday, December 2, 2015, the Last Post Ceremony honoured the memory of Lieutenant Ernest William Spreadborough (location 119 in the Commemorative Area of the War Memorial), a member of the 31^st Battalion AIF that sailed on board A62 HMAT Wandilla enroute to Egypt.

A photo of the Battalion officers was taken at sea circa November 1915 (https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/A03377/).

Lt Spreadborough lived in Warwick, Queensland, and was killed in action at Fromelles, France, on July 19, 1916.

The Last Post Ceremony is broadcast live daily via webcam on the Memorial’s website from 4.55 pm AEDT.

The Ceremony is proudly supported by the RSL & Services Clubs Association, RSL Victoria and RSL Queensland.

The attached artwork was created by Pierre Seillier, a resident of Fromelles and an Honorary Member of the 31^st Infantry Battalion Association.

He was nominated to receive the Award by the Brisbane Branch for his efforts in fostering a link of friendship between Australian and France, and is instrumental in the organisation of the annual Anzac Day ceremony that is attracts many visitors from Australia.

Pierre is a former Staff Sergeant (Quartermaster) in the French Army, is involved in recording and maintaining the history of World War I on the Western Front and disseminating it to tour groups, and is extremely proud of his links to the 31^st Battalion.

Pictured below: The professionalism of the Perth Hills and Wheatbelt Band (WA) was on display in Fromelles in July 2015 where members entertained a large group of dignitaries, local community members and visitors from Britain and Australia.

ON THE 130^th anniversary of the proclamation of the Kennedy Regiment, a Commemorative Service was held at St James Cathedral, Townsville, yesterday (October 16).

The Queen’s and Regimental Colours of both the 31^st and 42^nd Battalions were marched into the Church in front of a packed congregation.

The Reflections Address was delivered by Major John Lavery OAM, manager of the Army Museum North Queensland.

MORE TO COME.

Kennedy Regiment Commemorative Service
St James Cathedral, North Ward
Sunday, October 16, 2016, beginning at 9.30 a.m.

FOR AN Infantry Regiment, there has to be a significant occasion for the Queen’s and Regimental Colours to be paraded in public — not only are they revered by all Australian Infantry Regiments, including battalions of the Army Reserve — they are closely guarded and secured.

Two sets of Colours — the Queen’s and Regimental — are carried by all Australian Infantry Regiments, including battalions of the Reserve, and by certain training establishments such as the Corps of Staff Cadets and University Regiments.

Originally the Colour was the rally point when, during the noise and confusion of battle, it was the focal point of the Regiment; even if the commander was killed, hope was always present whilst the Colours remained intact. On the verge of impending defeat, the troops would concentrate around the Colours, which would become the scene of its last defence. From such times, records of epic gallantry and acts of heroic self-sacrifice have been associated with the Colours, whose safety engendered these acts.

The full history of a regiment is contained within written records, but as these are not portable in a convenient form, the Colours, emblazoned with distinctions for long and honourable service, are presented as a silken history, the sight of which creates a feeling of pride in soldiers and ex-soldiers alike.

Infantry Colours are made of silk, with Royal Blue being reserved for units who have been granted the title ‘Royal’, whilst dark green is for non-Royal Regiments. Prior to 1960, only one battalion had the prefix ‘Royal’, that being the 6th Infantry Battalion, The Royal Melbourne Regiment. Now that all Reserve battalions are part of Royal Regiments, they are entitled to carry blue Regimental Colours. University Regiments continue to carry Colours of dark green silk.

Also prior to 1960, the Royal Australian Regiment was the only multi-battalion Regiment in the Army. In that year, a complete re-organisation of the Citizen Military Force’s saw 31 infantry battalions combined into six regiments comprising 20 battalions. Each new regiment was granted the title ‘Royal’ and was based entirely upon the State in which it was located.

Since that time, the Reserve battalions of the various states have undergone many reductions in size in line with government policy. Many of these reductions have resulted in the battalions being linked to preserve traditional links with the original units of the 1st Australian Imperial Force.

As one of the longest continuously serving Units in the Australian Army, and to mark the 130^th anniversary of the proclamation of the Kennedy Regiment, Townsville’s own 31^st Battalion has been granted permission to Parade its Queen’s and Regimental Colours at a Kennedy Regiment Commemorative Service at St James Cathedral, North Ward, on Sunday, October 16, 2016, beginning at 9.30 a.m.

President of the 31^st Infantry Battalion Association, Colonel Greg Stokie (Retired), said he has been advised by the RSM of the 31^st/42^nd Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment, WO1 Robert Maitland, that soldiers of the Battalion will Parade their Queen’s and Regimental Colours — some of whom were involved in the official Australian Defence Forces Colour Parties that recently performed in ceremonies in Paris, Pozieres and other venues on the Western Front to mark this year’s Centenary of the First World War in France.

Colonel Stokie said 2016 has been a significant one for the 31^st Infantry Battalion Association.

“Apart from being the only Australian Infantry Unit of the 5th Division of the Western Front which is still serving, in July this year a group of Association members travelled to France to pay their respects to the soldiers of the 31^st Infantry Battalion, AIF, who suffered heavily during the Battle of Fromelles.

Colonel Stokie also noted that the 31^st Battalion was the first Militia Unit to be mobilised in World War I and sent to Thursday Island as a precaution because New Guinea was then a German colony.

The Commemorative Service will feature a Reflections Address delivered by Major John Lavery, OAM, Manager of the Army Museum North Queensland situated at at Kissing Point.

Major Lavery is expected to highlight the link between early research completed by the late Captain Bob Burla, in his role as unofficial museum historian, and the work of the modern Museum in its role of collecting and showcasing military memorabilia and stories relative to the history of the Army in North Queensland.

This will be the first year that the two Units have joined together in the Commemoration Service. Its President, WO1 Darryl Prizeman (Ret’d), will travel from Keppel Sands to read the First Lesson.

The Service will be conducted by the Dean of St James Cathedral, the Very Reverend Canon Rod Macdonald, a former long-serving Army Padre, with the Bishop of North Queensland, the Right Reverend W.J. Ray delivering the Sermon.