Roy Longmore
Roy Longmore | |
---|---|
LSgt) | |
Battles/wars | World War I
|
Awards | Taxicab driver |
Roy Longmore (29 April 1894 – 21 June 2001) was an Australian soldier and centenarian, who after Alec Campbell, was noted as the second last living Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) veteran who saw service in World War I.[1]
ANZAC soldier
Longmore set aside his life as a farm-hand in
- "We were patrolling in a gully when suddenly half a dozen Germans appeared over a hill armed with machine guns and opened fire. Jerry riddled me, knocking me flat on my back, and the last I heard was 'Longy's had it, they got him.'"
Fortunately, his fellow soldiers saw him move and rescued him.[3] Lance Sergeant (LSgt) and returned to Australia on 16 March 1919 as a member of the 2nd Pioneer Battalion.[2]
Civilian life
After returning to Australia in 1919, his injuries made returning to farm work impossible, so he drove a taxi in Melbourne. Another change caused by the war was more telling. Before, he had hunted rabbits; but he later explained that when he returned home, he no longer had an appetite for firing at anything alive.[3]
Longmore married and had one son, Eric.[1] The one-time LSgt Longmore died peacefully in his sleep at a Burwood Nursing Home aged 107 on 21 June 2001. He was the second last Anzac to die.[2] At his death, Australia honored him one final time with a state funeral.[3]
Australian "legend"
In 2000, Longmore along with fellow ANZAC veterans
Longmore's 45-cent Legend stamp displays the soldier's portrait as a young man, photographed just prior to his departure for Gallipoli. Formal photographs of the other two ANZAC centenarians complete this stamp set, titled The Last ANZAC's. In addition, a fourth stamp features the 1914-15 star medal which was presented to all those who fought in campaigns during those war years.[5] These stamps, designed by Cathleen Cram of the Australia Post Design Studio, commemorate the story of events and people shaping contemporary Australia.[6] The Longmore stamp honors him as an individual and as a representative of all 68,000 soldiers at Gallipoli whose actions affected Australia's evolving self-image.[7]
Medals and honours
- 1914–15 Star
- British War Medal
- Victory Medal (UK)
- 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal, 1999 (Australia).[1]
- Centenary Medal (Australia)
- Légion d'honneur, 1998 (France).[1]
- Australia Post Australian Legends Award, 2000.[5]
See also
- Alec Campbell, last living Anzac
- Walter Parker, one of the last three living Anzacs to have served at Gallipoli
References
- ^ a b c d e "Australia Day: Australian Legends," Stamp Bulletin (Australia Post), p. 3.
- ^ a b c Australian War Memorial: Pte. Lognmore, Photo Id DA10145, September 1915
- ^ a b c d Goldstein, Richard. "Roy Longmore Dies; Australian 'Legend,' 107," New York Times. 2 July 2001.
- ^ Australia Post: "Racing Legends are first past the post," 2007.
- ^ a b Australia Post: "Previous Australia Post Australian Legends," Archived 4 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine 2005.
- ^ "156 years collecting Australian graphic art," Priority (Australia Post), 2000.
- ^ Australia Post: "Stamp Bulletin Online No. 254: Australian Legends - The Last Anzacs," 21 January 2000.
External links
- "Australia Day: Australian Legends," Stamp Bulletin (Australia Post). No. 254. March–May 2000.
- "156 years collecting Australian graphic art," Priority (Australia Post). Issue 32, 2000.