Thursday, October 20, 2022

Last Post Ceremony for Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Harold Nelson Richards

 On Saturday 15th October 37 relatives of Harold Nelson Richards gathered at the Australian War Memorial for the Last Post Ceremony honouring Harold Nelson Richards. Harold was the cousin of my mum, Pam Mamouney and he went down on the HMAS Sydney which was sunk of the coast of Western Australia in November 1941- there were no survivors.

My three brothers and wives drove up from Melbourne with my mum. The Goss boys- John ( who lives in Canberra) David and his wife Leanne, Geoff and his wife Fiona, came across from Adelaide, with some of their adult children as well. There were also 7 members of the Dempster family who are related on the Richards side also came.

It was a very special occasion for us and the War Memorial staff do such a great job and were so good to us. The ceremony began at 4:45pm, they began with the Australian National Anthem, followed by the bagpipes playing while family members laid wreaths, then a member of the Armed Services read a tribute to Harold, finally the Last Post was played.

Afterwards we took lots of photos, then  headed down to the Mercure to Olim's Bistro for dinner.



All 37 of us after the ceremony

The Goss Family


The Mamouney's and Frost's


Pam Mamouney



The wreath layers

Michael and Matthew, Charlie and Pam laid a wreath.







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