Australian Light Horse - Lest We Forget
The Australian Light Horse were mounted infantry who served from Pre Federation, during the Boer War and World War 1. They were a unique force, mostly volunteers from outback Australia who had bush survival skills and a special bond and respect for their horses.
The Australian Waler horse was the common horse for the light horsemen, as it was strong and hardy, which was needed in the extremely harsh blazing desert conditions; burning sand; blazing sky and flies. The Waler was also able to travel long distances in extreme weather with very little water.
Due to Australian quarantine regulations only 1 of the mens beloved horses named "Sandy" out of 136,000 sent overseas in World War 1 made it home to Australia. Many of the horsemen shot their horses; their best mates; rather than leaving them behind to an uncertain life.
On 31st October 1917, after almost 2 days without water, 800 light horsemen charged Beersheba in what was the last successful cavalry charge in history.
The legendary men of the light horse inspire us all to this day and their inspiration and legend lives on.
Todays light horse troop organisations are keeping the memory of the light horse alive and preserving the history and tradition more than 80 years after confirming their place in Australia's Military History. They are mostly volunteer groups who survive on generous donations. Troops actively participate in events such as Anzac Day, Remembrance Day, Reserve Forces Day and other special events and occasions.
"Bugger" displaying the Light Horse equipment carried.
The Memorial to the Australian Light Horse. The Tamworth Waler Memorial. The bronze statue of an Australian WW1 Trooper saying farewell to his Waler horse in the deserts of the Middle East.
A Memorial Statue to the Waler Light Horse was erected in Tamworth NSW as a tribute to the men of the ANZAC Corps who served in Boer, Sudan and First World Wars. The Memorial was unveiled on the 29th October 2005, this being the nearest Saturday to the 88th anniversary of the famous charge of Beersheeba (31/10/1917).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6ch53WrmRQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Creswick Light Horse
Calendar
of Events for 2012
Anzac Day Parade Bacchus Marsh, Victoria Sunday 22nd April
Anzac Day Parade Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne Wednesday 25th April
For further information regarding the Light Horse, go to our links page for website details.
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow,
between the crosses, row on row,
that mark our place; and in the sky the larks, still bravely singing,
fly scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago we lived,
felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved,
And now we live in Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you from failing hands we throw the torch;
Be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die we shall not sleep,
Though poppies grow in Flanders Fields.
author: John McCrae