By John Boyce (representing the Chauvel Foundation at the event)
A new life-size statue of Lieutenant Colonel Murray Bourchier galloping in the Charge at Beersheba was unveiled at a large public ceremony in Shepparton, Victoria, on Sun 24 April 2022. This saw the culmination of a 14-year-long community project to honour the local man and his Light Horsemen.
On 31st October 1917, he was Commanding Office of the 4th Light Horse Regiment, who were the right wing of the 4th LH Brigade’s famous charge. After that epic event, he went on to later lead a joint force of two regiments in the advance to Damascus. In wartime he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, and three times Mentioned in Despatches.
Upon his return to Australia in 1919 he once again took up farming, before entering state politics where he fiercely advocated on behalf of returned servicemen and the soldier settlement scheme. He was a Brigadier commanding Light Horse units in the Citizen Military Forces. Eventually he became leader of the state’s Country Party, and later moved to London as Victoria’s Agent-General, where he died aged 56.
The spectacular statue was designed by Paul Smits, who unfortunately was unable to complete the sculpture, as he died unexpectedly. Ewen Coates was already involved in the bronzing of the statue by Coates Studio Foundry, and then took on the completion of the sculpture.
The statue was originally planned to be unveiled on the Beersheba anniversary in October 2021, but covid-19 imposed a postponement until the Anzac weekend in 2022.
In recognition of the Light Horse, a section of mounted troopers from the 8th Indi Light Horse re-enactors paraded and then held ground (much to the crowd’s delight) as did a lance guard of serving soldiers.
Well over a hundred spectators were present to hear speeches by local dignitaries, by a family representative, and by a serving officer from the modern Army Reserve regiment (4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse).
During this event hosted by the local RSL, Mayor Kim O’Keeffe and former State politician Jeanette Powell related the lengthy but determined process by which the statue had been commissioned, funded, and finally completed.
Sally Brennan spoke on behalf of the Bourchier family to relate Sir Murray’s life story and what their ancestor had meant to them: “His life wasn’t very long. However, it was a life of high impact. He was deeply aware of how war affected people. If he was here today and if he’s anything like his children and his grandchildren, I have no doubt that he would be working with this community for the same principles.”
Major Steve Dobby then spoke on behalf of the modern regiment who are the 4th LH’s successors. He talked about what their WW1 predecessors meant to the modern soldiers, and how proudly they hold those original battle honours.
Retiring federal politician Damien Drum commended all involved in the project and its funding, before the statue itself was unveiled.
The statue stands in Queens Gardens on the corner of Nixon St and Welsford St, Shepparton, and is a very worthy tribute to a great Light Horseman. Be sure to go see it, if you are travelling anywhere through central Victoria!
Reference: Australian Dictionary of Biography (1979). Vol. 7., (and online).
