The Lighthorse Today
– and our forebears
Reflections by Major Duncan Munro
at the Beersheba Commemoration Event
Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance, on 31 Oct 2017
I have been asked to address you today as we honour the sacrifice of the Lighthorse of yesterday, and to provide an insight into the Lighthorse of today.
As an Army Reserve officer, I have had the honour of serving with both full-time and part-time soldiers and officers on operations and in training. I have studied our military’s past battles, examined their tactics, bisected the complexity of campaigns and been awed by accounts of individual courage, innovation and sacrifice by the service men and women who served before me. And one element always present was Honour.
Battle Honours are awarded to a unit and embroidered on the unit’s Guidon or Standard. Guidons and Standards are banners with strong symbolism which historically served as a rallying point on the battlefield. They were traditionally defended passionately on the battlefield and are now held in strong reverence for the sacrifice they represent. The charge and subsequent capture of Beersheba by the 4th and 12th Lighthorse in WW1, resulted in the iconic battle honour emblazoned on the 4th/19th Guidon.
The 4th/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse Regiment, of which I am proud to be a serving member, is an amalgamation of several Light Horse units, whose Guidons are a representation of more than 100 years of military service. The current Guidon, presented to the unit last year by Australia’s Governor-General, replaced six previous Guidons bearing battle honours inherited from those founding units. The previous Guidon will be laid up in consecrated ground here at the Shrine later this year after being escorted to the location by the Regiment’s Light Horsemen and women of today. Paying deep respect for the past, the Light Horse of today will be embracing the new Guidon as a symbol to carry forward into the future.
The Light Horse today provide protected mobility for troops and deliver a reconnaissance capability deployable in a mounted or dismounted role. Their Cavalry Scouts are the eyes and ears for the Commander, providing up-to-date information to shape the battlespace.
The Light Horse who served at Beersheeba, achieved success at great cost in the face of extreme adversity. These soldiers and officers forged the legend of the Light Horse and created an aspirational standard for all that would follow in their stead. They demonstrated innovation, resilience, courage, determination and honour. Building on this foundation, the Light Horse today are more suitably equipped, receive intensive training and have a wider understanding of the impact of their actions overseas on security here in Australia. Yet their actions and motivations are underpinned by those same values of innovation, resilience, courage and honour.
The Light Horse then rode mountain-bred Australian horses forged in the harsh conditions of the Australian bush, The Light Horse now ride in armoured vehicles designed to withstand environmental extremes in Australia and across the globe.
The Light Horse then were deployed across all three fronts of the Great War and developed a niche capability for Commanders in each theatre. The Light Horse now adapt to the diverse conditions and complex tasks on deployment in all current theatres, again providing a special niche capability.
The Light Horse then often served dismounted, separated from their horses for a time. The Light Horse now specialise in being able to conduct both mounted and dismounted operations.
The Light Horse then went to countries they had never heard of, to fight for a country (Australia) which had only just been born. The Light Horse now go wherever that same country asks them to and fights to keep it free.
The Light Horse then faced an uncertain future, they left behind friends and family. The Light Horse now still leaves behind friends and family, in order to secure a future for them.
The Light Horse today honours the tragedy and heroism of the past, respects the dedication and sacrifice of our present conflicts and strives towards a secure future.
As you join today’s commemoration of one our unit’s greatest victories, I encourage you all to remember the cost of the peace we enjoy and the vigilance we must maintain to preserve it.