The Last Post

The "Last Post" is a bugle call used at military funerals and ceremonies commemorating those who have been killed in war. The Last Post symbolises the duty of the dead is over and they can rest in peace. 

The Last Post is one of a number of bugle calls in military tradition that mark the phases of the day. 

It is the bugle call that signifies the end of the day's activities. 

It is also sounded at military funerals to indicate that the soldier has gone to his final rest
and at commemorative services such as ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day.

In Australia and New Zealand it is also played on Anzac Day usually before the two-minute silence,
which concludes with "The Rouse".

When the post is played during services such as Anzac Day, it is required of all current serving military members 

to salute for the duration of the call. 

During services organised by the Royal British Legion, the recommendation is that no salute is given by either officers or troops as during the "Last Post" and for Silence, the recommendation is that all troops will have removed head dress (as in church service prayer), have heads bowed, weapons inverted, with flags and standards lowered.

   Corporal Matthew Creek of the Royal Military College Band plays The Last Post
    at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

   Commonly called 'Short Reveille' the Rouse is a bugle call most familiarly played
   at military funerals and services as well as at Remembrance ceremonies
   in the Commonwealth Realms e.g., Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand.  

   It was originally played following 'Reveille'  for soldiers to 'Stand To'. 

Australia's biggest music names -
Lee Kernaghan, Guy Sebastian, Sheppard, Jon Stevens, Jessica Mauboy, Shannon Noll & Megan Washington (Below)
unite to release the official music video for the charity single, 'Spirit of the Anzacs'.

It is a tribute to those who have given their lives, those who have served & those who still today step bravely into the unknown to serve our country.

The Artists, the Songwriters, the ABC, record labels and publishers will donate their proceeds “Spirit of the Anzacs”
to Soldier On and Legacy.

                                   A song about a young Australian soldier maimed during the Battle of Gallipoli (1915)
                                                 during the First World War; written by Eric Bogle in 1972.

                                          Australian number one hit single 'I Was Only 19 (A Walk In The Light Green)'
                                      about the Vietnam War by John Schumann, Red Gum 1983 album 'Caught In The Act'. 

                                                                "When the War Is Over (Live)" by Cold Chisel
                             The original studio version is written by Steve Prestwich from the album "Circus Animals" (1982)

                                                    Khe Sanh lyrics video from Cold Chisel's 2011 Light the Nitro tour.

My Grandfather fought as part of the Australian Imperial Force in Egypt in WWII (1939 -1945).

His name was
LESLIE PATRICK  CAMPBELL            Service No. VX815       Unit: 2/2 Battalion             Rank: Bombardier 

Nick Names : Sam as Leslie Patrick was a mouthful or Bluey as he had red hair. That's standard Aussie humour.

He was captured by the Italians & the Germans                      
He was held as a Prisoner of War at  Campo 57        Gruppignano,  Udine, NE Italy   
& then at                                                  Stalag 344       Lamsdorf, Poland 
It was a gruelling experience of deprivation.
  

He is remembered on the Ex Prisoners of War (Ex POW's) Memorial in Ballarat, Victoria
His name is listed on this site  http://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/world-war-2-c.php

Decades later when I was 6yo, I lived with my Grandparents 
I remember my Grandfather having nightmares, yelling so loud in his sleep that he woke everyone in the house.

So even those soldiers who returned,                        in a way,
still gave their lives for the peace we live in Australia today. 

Louise Smith

U.S. Navy Band

"Taps" originates from the Dutch taptoe meaning "close the beer taps & send the troops back to camp".
Another explanation is that it carried over from before the American Civil War.
Three single, slow drum beats were struck after the sounding of the Tattoo or "Extinguish Lights".
This signal was known as the "Drum Taps", "The Taps" or simply as "Taps" in soldier's slang.

The Taps is not the same tune as the Last Post.

Thank you Bill King