Australian War Memorial Indigenous liaison officer Michael Bell inspects the name of Aurukun soldier Private Charlie Bob Ngakyunkwokka among the 103,000 that appear on the Roll of Honour in Canberra. Photo: Supplied.
The sacrifice of an Aurukun soldier who helped defend his country during World War II has been commemorated during a ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra today (27 May).
The service of Private Charlie Bob Ngakyunkwokka was recognised at the Last Post Ceremony on National Reconciliation Day on Tuesday and War Memorial historian Dr Thomas Rogers said the former Aurukun resident’s bravery during the conflict was to be commended.
“Born on 7 January 1912 at Aurukun Presbyterian Mission … Waal Waal Ngakyunkwokka served in the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion during the Second World War,” he said.
Private Ngakyunkwokka enlisted for service with the Australian Army on 13 September 1943 and joined the 2nd Australian Water Transport Group, before being transferred to the 14th Australian Water Transport Operating Company.
Under constant threat of enemy sea mines and aerial attack by Japanese aircraft, his duties included piloting Army vessels in the Torres Strait and Gulf of Carpentaria, and moving personnel and stores between ships, flying boats and the shore.
“In March 1945, Waal Waal Ngakyunkwokka was transferred to the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion, one of the very few racially segregated units in Australia’s history,” Dr Rogers said.
While on leave in Aurukun in 1945, he contracted influenza and died of pneumonia on 20 April at just 33 years of age.
Private Ngakyunkwokka is buried at the Aurukun cemetery, where his is the western Cape York community’s only war grave.
The Last Post Ceremony is performed every day, except Christmas Day, at the War Memorial at 4:30pm, and shares the story behind one of 103,000 names on the Roll of Honour.
To date, more than 4,100 ceremonies have been performed and War Memorial director Matt Anderson said it would take more than 280 years to read the story of each of the names appearing on the roll.
“The Last Post Ceremony is our commitment to remembering and honouring the legacy of Australian service,” he said.
“Through our daily Last Post Ceremony, we not only acknowledge where and how these men and women died; we also tell the stories of who they were when they were alive, and of the families who loved and, in so many cases, still mourn for them.”
A poppy is placed next to Private Ngakyunkwokka’s name on the Roll of Honour. Photo: Supplied.
