The Last Post sounded for Sergeant Albert Levy on the 100th anniversary of his death
Every evening the Australian War Memorial in Canberra holds a Last Post Ceremony farewelling visitors with its moving Last Post Ceremony sharing the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour. Yesterday it remembered Sergeant Albert Levy and his service in the First World War.
This video starts with a period of silence. Albert Levy’s distinguished war record and the events which led to his death are told in detail.
Michael Danby, Squadron Leader Phil Creagh, Phil Lipshut and Mike Kelly
Sergeant Albert Levy
The Last Post Ceremony for Melbourne conscript Sergeant Albert Levy M.M., of the 39th Battalion, was held on March 29th, exactly 100 years to the day when Albert was killed in action on the Western Front, March 29 1918.
He was the great-uncle of Phil Lipshut of Melbourne who arranged with the Australian War Memorial for this Ceremony to take place.
Sergeant Albert Levy’s grave
There are 102,000 names inscribed on the walls at the AWM with only 365 Last Post Ceremonies possible each year, so it is very special that a Jewish ex-serviceman is honoured in this way.
Keith Shilkin, President of the Federal Association of Australian Jewish Ex-service Men and Women, said: “This Last Post Ceremony for Sergeant Albert Levy M.M. was an important event for Australia’s Jewish ex-service community and for those Jewish Australians currently serving in the military. FAJEX as the representative at the national level of all Jewish ex-service personnel is proud to have been part of the ceremony to honour Sgt Levy and to acknowledge and remember the contribution and sacrifice of so many Jewish Australians in the nation’s military involvement.
At the Ceremony on the 29th March, wreaths were laid by Phil Lipshut and other descendants of Sgt Levy, by MPs Michael Danby and Mike Kelly, by Squadron Leader Phil Creagh of the Canberra Jewish community on behalf of FAJEX and by a representative of the 39th Battalion Association.
Phil Lipshut told J-Wire: “I visited Albert’s grave in 1972 when his parents were still alive and was able to show them a photograph of his headstone. My grandparents and all the immediate family mourned Albert’s death for their entire lives. Yesterday’s ceremony was very moving.”
At the end of the ceremony Phil Lipshut was joined by Michael Danby and Mike Kelly in reciting Kaddish.
Albert Levy’s medals
