On 4 March this year, a group of riders set off from Shepparton in memory of Australia’s Light Horse soldiers. Over the course of the following six weeks they rode via Benalla, Albury and Wagga Wagga to Harden, and after a break, via Gundagai, Tumut, Tumbarumba and Corryong to Tallangatta.
Parade at Shepparton at the start of the ride
Four of the Shepparton members in World War costume
A stunning day of riding looking across the Blue Mountains
Rider Bruce McLean
Rider Amanda McLean with Corryong Aged Care Centre residents
Parade at Thooner
Visiting the Devonish silos, painted by Cam Scale as a tribute to World War I nurses and the Australian Light Horse Brigade
‘What’ll it be?” The horses get thirsty too.
Vasey RSL Care Ex-Service Accommodation resident, Bob Pride, a keen horseman in his past, was part of the team that supported riders along the way.
The Chauvel Anniversary Light Horse Memorial Ride is named in honour of General Sir Henry (Harry) George Chauvel CMG KCB, a legend of the Australian Light Horse.
He was born at Tabulam in NSW on 16 April 1865, the second child of graziers and cattle farmers. His father had served in the British Army and started his own unit, the Upper Clarence Light Horse, which Harry joined. Managing the cattle, Harry became an excellent horseman.
He was commissioned as Captain into the Queensland Mounted Infantry and commanded the A Squadron in the Boer War for which he received his Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG).
After the war, he married Sibyl Jopp and together they had four children (with one of their daughters becoming the author of well known book ‘The Silver Brumby’). During this time, Harry contributed to the training of the Light Horse in Australia and by 1914 he had risen to the rank of Colonel. When war broke out, he was appointed to command the 1st Light Horse Brigade of the Australian Imperial Force. He served in Gallipoli, Egypt and famously, at Beersheba, where he ordered the successful charge to capture the city at sundown.
Harry died on March 4 March 1945, his riderless horse following the gun carriage to Springvale Crematorium.
Harry Chauvel’s life of service to his country and the service of Australia’s Light Horsemen is remembered with the Ride beginning on the 80th anniversary of Harry’s death and ending on the 160th anniversary of his birth.
Behind the Ride are Pat Leary from Coolamon, Ewan McLean from Shepparton and Ross Smith from Tallangatta, who set about keeping the memory of the Light Horse alive for future generations.
“It is important we remember”, Pat says. “Our Light Horsemen did so many heroic deeds and let us never forget the remarkable animals under them. What a mighty combination… what history they made together.”