The Leader of the Australian Light Horse
Everyone has heard of the Australian Light Horse, those Australian bushmen turned soldiers who rode across the desert sands, taking all before them in the First World War. The Australian Light Horsemen are icons of the Australian military tradition. But who led them and why is so little known about him?
General Sir Harry Chauvel was an outstanding military leader. He served in the Boer War and the First World War and later led the Australian Army in peacetime. Raised at Tabulam in northern New South Wales, he grew up around horses and began his military career with the mounted forces.
He served in three wars over half a century and later led the Australian Army in peacetime. After service in South Africa, he commanded the 1st Light Horse Brigade at Gallipoli. In 1916 he took command of the Anzac Mounted Division, leading it across the Sinai to victories at Romani, Magdhaba and Rafa. The following year he became the first Australian to command a corps, taking charge of the Desert Mounted Corps. He is best known for the victory at Beersheba and, a year later, the triumphant Australian entry into Damascus.
On his return to Australia following the end of the First World War, Chauvel was appointed Inspector General of the Australian Army and then Chief of the General Staff. In 1929 he was promoted to the rank of full General in appreciation of his distinguished career. With foresight of likely future conflict, Sir Harry strove to establish, preserve and train the Australian Army as a peacetime force bracing itself for World War 2.
He retired from the Army in 1930 but remained active in public life. He served as a company director and held senior roles with organisations including the National Australia Bank. As Chairman of both the Australian War Memorial and the Shrine of Remembrance and patron of Melbourne Legacy, Chauvel worked to preserve the memories of those servicemen who were not fortunate enough to return home and for the welfare of those who returned.
During the Second World War, the 75-year-old Chauvel returned to uniform as Inspector-in-Chief of the Volunteer Defence Corps (Australia’s Dad’s Army for homeland defence). He remained in that role until his death in 1945.