Last Post Ceremony - AWM - 26 June 2015

At the end of each day, commencing at 4.55 pm AEDT, the Australian War Memorial, farewells visitors with a brief tribute to one of the fallen. This event is known as the Last Post Ceremony.

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

The story of Lieutenant Athol Gladwyn Adams will be told at the Last Post Ceremony held on Friday 26 June 2015.

Anyone is able to attend these services and there is no need to RSVP. I would be delighted if Blog-followers and family members were able to attend this ceremony in Canberra on 26 June. Perhaps you may wish to lay your own wreaths.

Further information is available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/events/last-post-ceremony/

A.G. Adams, aged about 18, in his final year at MGS.

With many thanks to the archives held at the Melbourne Grammar School.

UPDATE:

On 26 June 2015 the Australian War Memorial's last post ceremony commemorated Lieutenant A. G. Adams. Thank you to the many friends and relatives who attended the event.

I would like to thank my fellow volunteer guides at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, who supported me by donating the rosemary with which I made the wreaths for both A.G. Adams and his brother, V. H. Adams.

Making the wreaths

The handmade cards which were attached to the wreaths.

The Australian War Memorial keep all the wreath-cards as a permanent record of the event.

A.G. Adams on left in Observer's uniform and his elder brother, 

V.H Adams, on right, in Royal Flying Corps pilot's uniform.

With Capt. J G Renwick (RAN reserve) who read the statement of service

for AG Adams at the ceremony. The transcript appears below.

The two wreaths were laid by AH Renwick and LD Renwick in memory of their great-great uncles.

A video of the ceremony can be found on the Australian War Memorial website at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/PAFU2015/246.01

Below is the transcript of the War Memorial's biography of AG Adams read out at the Last Post Ceremony, 26 June 2015.

Lieutenant Athol Gladwyn Adams

5th Battalion (Infantry) seconded to 67th Squadron Australian Flying Corps

Accidental Death: 19 February 1917

"Today we remember and pay tribute to Lieutenant Athol Gladwyn Adams, who died during the First World War.

"Athol Adams was born in 1894 in South Yarra, Melbourne, the youngest of four boys, to parents Alexander and Adah. Athol attended Melbourne Grammar School, where he excelled in sports, participated in the school cadets, and became a prefect. Athol was working as a clerk in the family shipping company when he enlisted in the AIF in August 1914, just a few weeks after the declaration of war.

"Athol was assigned to the 5th battalion, and left Australia in the first convoy on HMAT Orvieto. The battalion arrived in Egypt in December and marched to their camp, just outside Cairo. After several months of training and drill, during which Athol was promoted to 2nd lieutenant, the battalion left Egypt in early April 1915, bound for the Gallipoli peninsula.

The 5th battalion was part of the second wave of troops to land on Gallipoli on the 25th of April. Athol was wounded twice during the landings, and was also promoted to lieutenant. He rejoined his battalion a few days later, just before the 5th battalion, as part of the 2nd brigade, was transferred to Cape Helles to take part in an attack against the Turkish stronghold of Krithia. This disastrous attack resulted in many casualties, including Athol. He was wounded in the thigh and forearm, evacuated to the hospital ship Guilford Castle, and sent to Alexandria for extended medical treatment.

"Athol rejoined his battalion on the peninsula in June, took part in the battle of Lone Pine, but was evacuated again to Egypt with enteritis in September. By the time he was well enough to rejoin the 5th, they had withdrawn from Gallipoli.

"Athol was seconded to the Imperial Camel Corps in early 1916, and was in command of the first company to go into action, but in June was transferred to No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps. In September he qualified as an observer, and a few months later was promoted to Flying Officer. Towards the end of the year, Athol spent some time at the School of Military Aeronautics in Egypt, receiving instruction in aviation.

"Military aviation was still in its infancy during the First World War, and the work performed by pilots, observers and air mechanics was often dangerous. On the 19th of February 1917 Athol was involved in an aeroplane accident, which left him with a compound fracture of the skull. He was admitted to the 17th General Hospital in Alexandria, but died soon after as a result of his injuries. He was 22 years old. Athol was buried the next day by Chaplain Walter Harding at the Hadra War Memorial Cemetery in Alexandria, where he rests today.

"Athol Adams’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour to my right, along with the names of more than 60,000 other Australians who died fighting in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Lieutenant Athol Gladwyn Adams, and all those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation."

505 words

Dr Kate Ariotti

Historian, Military History Section

JG Renwick and AH Renwick with photo of A.G. Adams