MONUMENTALLY SPEAKING National Boer War Memorial Association Newsletter for NSW, SA, WA and ACT Artist’s impression NUMBER 28 – FEBRUARY 2016 NATIONAL BOER WAR MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION National Patron: Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin AC NSW Committee of NBWMA Inc – Chairman: David Deasey Our fund patron, Tim Fischer AC would NSW Chairman’s Message like to see Sir John Monash retrospectively This issue sees further progress on the promoted to Field Marshal. memorial. As you are reading this the Chauvel and Monash had a competitive second horseman has been cast and is relationship but eventually it settled after being assembled whilst the third horseman WW1 into one of mutual respect and will be underway with the model nearing friendship. One day Chauvel should also be completion. The design specifications for the considered for posthumous promotion. fourth horseman have also been completed. After World War One Chauvel invited John The memorial ground design details should Monash to lead some key “Tactical Exercises also be approved this month. Our current Without Troops” ( TEWTs) at Duntroon and estimate is that we need $300,000 in 2016 this reflected the Boer War veteran and great to complete the fund raising total. We are on Light Horse leader admiring the Jerilderie track for the dedication date of 31 May 2017. young man and horse rider who went on to In this issue also we commence a series on excel on the Western Front. those AIF commanders and identities, who Chauvel wrote to his wife re Monash during saw service in the Boer War. Our first is on Sir World War One and both Chauvel and Monash Harry Chauvel, perhaps the last great horsed were promoted from Lieutenant General to cavalry commander in history. What might General on the same day, 11 November 1929. AIF history have been like if Chauvel had As Tim Fischer and others have observed, accepted the invitation to take an Australian they were both giants of their times! Division to France? David Deasey Monumentally Speaking is a periodic newsletter of the National Boer War Memorial Association Correspondence and donations to Building 96, Victoria Barracks, Paddington, NSW 2021. In this issue ANZAC Day Lord Carrington NSW Chairman’s Message ...................1 Monday ANZAC Day 2016 ....................................2 Lord Carrington ......................................2 25 April 2016 Vale Les Perrrett ......................................2 Book a Speaker .......................................3 NSW Committee .....................................3 National and State Contacts ..............3 ACT and SA Committees .....................3 Fund raising .............................................4 Second horseman detail .....................4 ANZAC DAY MARCH 2015 News from South Australia .................5 Descendants Gathering Boer War descendants any Australians were sent to Be Careful What You Ask For and supporters are urged to MEngland either for rest and South Australian Legion support their local ANZAC Day recuperation or for further medical Commemorations. Sydney Boer War - Wentworth NSW ..................6 treatment. Whilst medically they were descendants are invited once M D Hales - Tasmanian .............................7 looked after, separated from their again to march behind the Boer administrative system they were soon The Ordinance 5” BL gun .........................7 War banner. in trouble as they had no money. Sir Harry Chauvel .......................................8 Please note that this year there is Everyone from the Commander in Army Service Corps & South Africa ..10 a change to the assembly point. It Chief down is ‘owned’ by a unit in the Book Review .......................................... 10 will be in King Street between Pitt Army for administrative purposes. Reserve Forces Day Council ............ 10 and Castlereagh Streets. Look for Lord Carrington, former Governor of Commemorative Envelopes ........... 11 the Boer War banner. NSW, worked tirelessly on the welfare of all these Australians, raising the issue in Parliament, opening his own home to them and getting friends VALE LES PERRETT involved in the process. Eventually the British Government recognised the problem and put systems in place to fix the issue. His brother, Rupert, had stayed in Australia, married an Australian girl and went on to command the 3rd NSW Imperial Bushmen in South Africa. A former Grenadier Guards officer, he actually spent more time in Australian uniform than British. Things might have remained that way except Lord Carrington’s only son was killed in World War 1. Thus, on his brother’s death, Rupert succeeded to the title and became the grandfather of the current Lord Carrington (Margaret Thatcher’s Long time member of the NSW -1902 from the Hunter Valley to Foreign Minister). Commiittee, Les Perrett, died Transvaal was an important An item of trivia: the family name suddenly in October 2015. contribution to the history of is Carington whilst the title is Les, a descendant, was one our the NSW Lancer contingents. Carrington. David Deasey key public speakers, especially He will be sorely missed by north of Sydney in the Newcastle members of both the NSW and district and the Hunter Valley. National committees. Members Sydney Boer War Day A published historian, his of both committees attended for 2016 is book The Anglo Boer War 1899 his memorial service. Sunday 29 May Page 2 – Monumentally Speaking Newsletter number 28 – February 2016 An invitation from David Deasey, Chairman, NSW Committee of NBWMA Book a Speaker for Your Association on’t hesitate to contact me to arrange delighted to put our first war as a nation Da speaker for your association. Our into context. 23,000 Australian soldiers and lively presentations are about 40 minutes nurses served, 1,000 did not return. We are allowing time after for questions, but are remembering them. often adapted for both shorter and longer Regardless of the duration of the periods to meet your needs, lunchtime or a presentation requested, our speakers need conference. a working computer, video projector and The story of Australia’s contribution to the screen for supporting visuals and, for larger Boer War is little known. Our presenters are groups, a microphone. David Deasey To arrange for a speaker contact David Deasey – 0409 585 877 NSW SCHEDULE OF PRESENTATIONS 2016 - David Deasey will be speaking at the following 26 Feb 10:00 am Pennant Hills Mens’ Probus Pennant Hills Bowling Club 19 Mar 9:30 am West Wyalong Family History Group West Wyalong 2 April 2:30 pm Rock Hill War Memorial and St Clair Museum staff Goulburn Soldiers Club 26 Apr 11:30 am Rose Bay Probus Anglican Church Hall, Watsons Bay 12 May 10:00 am Moss Vale Probus Club Moss Vale Golf Club 13 May 11:15 am Balgowlah Probus Club Balgowlah RSL Club TIO E NA NA H L B T O R E O R F W E NOW T A SO THAT IT CAN N BE COMPLETED O D M PRIOR TO E O S R A 31 MAY 2017 I A E L L P Fund raising Second Horseman has amazing detail Edwardian Afternoon Southern Cross, played wonderful Tea Dance 1 November old time music and dancers swung gaily and with much laughter to delightful Tea Dance was Strip the Willow, the Barn Dance A held at Old Government and the Pride of Erin. House in Parramatta Park. It was Afternoon Tea was enjoyable and well attended by Descendants, the crowd participated in a Silent Supporters and Friends of the Auction (to guess the weight of NSW Committee of the National a home cooked Christmas Cake). Boer War Memorial Association, A small raffle was held and lucky with a number of people dressed door prizes were won on the day. in period costume. The President, COL John Haynes and Mrs In all a very pleasant time was Haynes represented the National enjoyed by all who attended. Committee. A great band, The Bernadette Mottram L to R: Brian Walters, Jilly Warren, Lani Davis, David Deasey, Owen Graham, Barbara O’Keefe, Paul Lenehan, Bernadette Mottram. 2015 Raffle to aid the Memorial Winners in the 2015 Raffle were 7th Bracelet - Mr D Elbourne 1st 1902 Gold Sovereign - Mrs E Bouchier 8th Royal Albert Bon Bon Dish - Mrs B McAlister 2nd Prize R.M. Williams voucher - Mrs T Trevenar 9th Royal Albert Bon Bon Dish - Ms A Fallon 3rd Bottle of Chivas Regal - Mrs S Gillespie 10th Royal Albert China - Mrs D Lysaght 4th Oroton Handbag - Mr R Langsford 11th Cake Slice - Mr B Harrison 5th Designer Silver Dish - Mrs C Dove 12th Travel clock & Boer War coin - Mrs P Grace 6th Designer Chrome Bowl - Mr A Cairnes Bernadette Mottram We still need money – please keep fundraising Page 4 – Monumentally Speaking Newsletter number 28 – February 2016 News from South Australia Photographer Ms Bec Norton Descendants and Friends Our keynote Gathering 2015 speaker, Ms Christeen ur first Gathering since 2013 was Schoepf, is hosted by the Walkerville RSL a Historical O John Spencer on Sunday 1 November and what Archaeologist and a wonderful Gathering it was. The Peter Stanford Wayne Barrie hall was packed, the Devonshire tea Community was delicious, the bar was open, we Historian had some terrific speakers and an in the final phase of her amazing photographic display. Christeen Schoepf Following the Exaltation and Ode PhD. Her research has of Remembrance delivered by Mr Meridee and Betty Just Julie, June and Lorraine John Spencer our Chairman Monty explored the patriotic groups Smith welcomed everyone including formed in Adelaide during the Mr Geoff Brock MP, the Minister of Boer War as the origins of the Regional Development and the networks that extended into World War 1. Her paper was lovely Ms Rachel Sanderson, MP for Sally James and Betty and grandaughter, Adelaide. titled A Sense of Place. Ros Conway Lindsay Our first speakers were Mr John Our third speaker, Mr Spencer and Mr Peter Stanford. Wayne Barrie has spent long hours Following afternoon tea, visits to the Their topic was Small Arms in the researching just one small event by a armoury display and photographic South African Boer War and a Jam handful of South Australian Troopers display and catching up with friends Tin of Incidentals.