Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Allan John Lashmar was born to Harry Lashmar and Francis Anne Buick on the 10th of August 1889 at Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, South Australia. He was a 25-year-old single man who worked as a typist before the war and lived on Edward Street, Norwood, South Australia. He was a natural-born British subject who followed the Methodist religion. He was 170.82 cm tall and weighed 66.68 kg with a chest measurement of 92.71 cm at the time of his enlistment. He had a dark complexion with black hair and brown eyes.

Allan John Lashmar served in the 10th Infantry Battalion during World War I under service number 454. He enlisted on the 20th of August, 1914 at Morphettville. The reason behind his enlistment is unknown but it is highly likely that he followed the example of friends and family who eagerly signed up for war. He embarked to Egypt for further training on the 20th of October, 1914 on the A11 Ascanius and later passed away on the 2nd of May, 1915 on the Gallipoli Warfront. His body was never found. He was awarded three medals: the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. These medals were awarded to the majority of soldiers who served during World War I.

Allan’s battalion arrived in Cairo, Egypt in early December. They trained for four and a half months along with other Australian and New Zealander military units. The Australian and New Zealander soldiers were known to be quite mischievous and would often cause trouble but British generals considered this an acceptable ‘price’ when weighed against their performance on the battlefield. The Australian and New Zealander troops were known as some of the most willing and fearsome troops of the Allied forces. The conditions in Egypt were tough with many Australians embracing the challenging lifestyle of a soldier. The soldiers would train for 8 hours a day and 6 days a week. During the first stages of their training, the soldiers were required to wear their full kits and heavy packs during training in an effort to harden them. This created great discomfort and often resulted in the soldiers’ backs being drenched in sweat. With the dry desert wind blowing on them during their midday meal, many soldiers fell sick and some suffered from pneumonia. After finishing their training, the soldiers departed for the Gallipoli Peninsula along with other soldiers from Britain and France.

The battle of Gallipoli was one of the most devastating battles in the first World War for the Australian Army. This battle cost 26111 casualties with 8141 of these casualties being death. The 10th Battalion would form the 3rd Brigade along with the 11th and 12th Battalions. This brigade was the covering force for the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli. This meant that they were responsible for laying covering fire to give other soldiers enough time to get into position. Two soldiers from this battalion (Lance Corporal Philip Robin and Private Arthur Blackburn) are believed to have penetrated further inland than any other Australian soldier. The 3rd Brigade was also heavily involved in the defence of the beach and the evacuation of Gallipoli.

The abbreviation ANZAC has come to been known as something of a myth and a legend amongst the people of Australia. It was created by a signaller in Egypt as an acronym for “Australia and New Zealand Army Corps”. This name was quickly adopted and became a word associated with a variety of meanings. ANZAC’s were later referred to as those who fought at Gallipoli and following that, it came to be known as the spirit and qualities that the original ANZAC’s showed/possessed. These qualities included courage, mateship, endurance and initiative. The ANZAC’s showed these qualities through the way they acted and felt. Allan John Lashmar showed these qualities when he willingly put his life on the line and signed up immediately after war was declared to fight for his country. He also showed these qualities when he died valiantly during one of the many skirmishes between the Australian soldiers and the opposition. These actions showed both bravery and initiative which are two of the many qualities that the ANZAC’s possessed. His death is commemorated at the Lone Pine Memorial in Gallipoli, Turkey. This memorial is found in the Lone Pine Cemetery and is the main Australian Memorial at Gallipoli. The Lone Pine Memorial stands over the Turkish tunnels and trenches and commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave. It also commemorates the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who died on the journey home through wounds or disease.

Member of original F Company 10th Battalion AIF - 'Fighting 10th'

His younger brother Private 1735 Clair Young Lashmar of 52nd Battalion AIF was Killed In Action on 4 September 1916

His younger sister Lilla Filmer Lashmar was beheaded by the Japanese on Buna Beach in Papua New Guinea.  She became a teacher and commenced teacher training at St Cuthbert's in Prospect.  She offered herself for missionary service and in December 1920 arrived in Papua, working first at Gona where she taught up to 400 children.  Her final post was at Sangara a coffee and rubber growing area.  After the arrival of the Japanese Lila was one of a group who left their hideout in the bush to walk to the coast.  They were captured by renegade Papuans and handed over to the Japanese.  The Japanese took them to Buna Beach where Lila was beheaded.  Her body was not recovered as it is believed she was thrown into the sea.  The inquest after the war found that the local Papuans had betrayed the missionaries to the Japanese.  Lilla Lashmar is an Anglican martyr : executed by the Japanese