Mounted Memorial, Canberra facts for kids
The Mounted Memorial in Canberra, Australia's capital city, is a special statue found on Anzac Parade. This street is important for ceremonies and memorials. The memorial you see today is a copy of an original one built in Port Said in 1932. That first statue was later removed in 1956. Another copy of the memorial is in Mount Clarence, Western Australia. A talented sculptor from Melbourne, Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal, created this artwork. It was the last piece he made before he passed away in 1918.
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What the Memorial Looks Like
This memorial shows two brave horse riders from the Australian Army and New Zealand Army. They are shown in action, wearing their uniforms from World War I. You can see the famous slouch hat worn by Australian 'Diggers' and the 'lemon squeezer' campaign hat worn by New Zealand soldiers. These hats are symbols of their courage.
The horse ridden by the New Zealander on the right side of the statue looks like it has been hurt or shot. Its rider is falling to the ground. The rider on the left is helping his friend, showing their strong bond.
History and Special Plaques
There are two important plaques near the memorial that tell its story.
The Original Memorial's Story
A plaque at the front explains that this statue is a copy. The original was part of a larger memorial in Port Said. It was officially revealed on November 23, 1932, by the Right Honourable Billy Hughes, who was a Member of Parliament.
The original memorial had a message that said it was built by their friends and the governments of Australia and New Zealand. It honored members of the Australian Light Horse, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, the Imperial Camel Corps, and the Australian Flying Corps. These brave soldiers lost their lives in Egypt, Palestine, and Syria between 1916 and 1919.
Sadly, the original statue was badly damaged during a conflict called the Suez Crisis in 1956. The parts that were left were brought to Australia. Then, a new copy was made. Two bronze copies were cast. The first one was placed on the original stone base in Albany, Western Australia, in 1964. The memorial in Canberra was officially revealed on April 19, 1968, by the Right Honourable John Gorton, who was the Prime Minister of Australia at the time.
Honoring General Harry Chauvel
A second plaque nearby remembers a very important soldier. It tells us about General Sir Henry ("Harry") George Harry Chauvel. He lived from 1865 to 1945.
General Chauvel was an Australian cavalry leader during World War I, from 1914 to 1918. He led the 1st Light Horse Brigade and the 1st Australian Division at Gallipoli in 1915. Later, he commanded the ANZAC Mounted Division, the Desert Column, and the Desert Mounted Corps. These groups were involved in important operations in Egypt, Palestine, and Syria from 1916 to 1918.
On ANZAC Day in 2005, and other similar events, members of the Australian Army or special commemoration teams visited the memorial on horseback. This shows how important the memorial is for remembering these brave soldiers.
Remembering the Battle of Beersheba
The Battle of Beersheba was a very important event in World War I. People often gather at the Mounted Memorial in Canberra to remember this battle every year on October 31. Larger gatherings happen every five years to mark special anniversaries.
