Plainland Light Horse open day precursor for Boer War anniversary

The war was the first true conflict that Light Horse troops fought in and those carrying on the legend are keen to ensure the important occasion remains in the public eye.

The anniversary falls on May 31, 2022 and one of those preparing to honour the time stamp in history is Jed Millen of the Queensland Mounted Infantry Historical Troop.

He is making plans to gather in the towns of Allora and Gatton on May 28 and 29, where two of the three independent Boer War memorials stand in Queensland.

Allora's memorial was the first to be erected in Queensland and was unveiled by Lt Col Harry Chauvel in 1904, while Gatton's was the second, erected in 1908 and unveiled by the then-Governor of Queensland, Lord Chelmsford.

"Our soldiers left as members of the Queensland Defence Force and came back as Imperial Bushmen," Mr Millen said. "They went as Queenslanders and came back as Australians."

He expects somewhere between 50 and 75 mounted troops will take part in parades in the two towns.

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A fascinated crowd watched on in amazement at the open day conducted by the 2^nd Light Horse Plainland Troop, in conjunction with the Lockyer Valley Riding for Disabled Association, as troops thundered down the grounds, waving bayonets and firing replica guns.

Dignitaries including Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor Tanya Milligan and councillors Jason Cook and Brett Qualischefski hunkered down in the 'trench' as the legendary Light Horse charge at Beersheba was brought to life before their eyes.

Troops from the 11^th Light Horse Darling Downs, the 2^nd Light Horse at Woombye, the 5^th Light Horse at Gympie, the Australian Army Veterinary Corps, and a Maleny troop joined the host troopers at Plainland to re-enact the charge that happened just over a century ago.

It was the culmination of a full day of events that began with a parade, led by commander Ian Malcolm and inspected by Captain Adele Catts of the Australian Army History Unit at Victoria Barracks.

Australian Light Horse Association president Lawrence Watts was present and helped ALHA national judge Arthur DeMain cast his eye over the 20 competitors in events such as the dispatch race, a rescue race, and an obstacle course.

Plainland troop president Jo Moore said the opening of the grounds they shared with the local Riding for Disabled Association was all about keeping history alive and relevant.

"What we do on days like this provides our members with the training, the skills and the confidence to take part in large re-enactments," he said. "No-one had experienced a charge quite like what they saw today though."

Together with 'Turks' firing back and then surrendering around wells made for the occasion, Mr Moore said the dignitaries in the 'trenches' were struck with a feeling of anticipation that the Turkish troops at Beersheba must have felt in 1917.

"It's definitely something we plan to keep for next year," he said.

"We're looking forward to the Boer War activities too - it was the first international conflict we supported and as Aussies, we were well suited to the environment.

"I think there'll be a lot of interest generally in how the Australian Light Horse Association commemorates it.

"It's showing the public that they didn't just fight at Gallipoli - there's so much more to Australia's Light Horse history."

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