Memorial for heroism
Walers suffered but never failed

Unveiled: Tamworth memorial.

A MEMORIAL to the waler, the horse that will be forever associated with the Australian Light Horse regiments, has been unveiled in Tamworth.

The Waler Memorial was unveiled on October 29, a few days before the 88th anniversary of the Light Horse’s legendary charge at Beersheba.

The event included a mounted parade along Peel Street, Tamworth, which was led by more than 40 of the Light Horse Association re-enactment troopers followed by nine armoured vehicles, some B vehicles and the RAAC Association.

National President of the RSL Maj-Gen Digger James (ret’d) unveiled the memorial, saying it was a great pleasure and honour.

“We are here to mark an extraordinary contribution to our great history in this country Australia,” he said. “This is the relationship between Australians and this superb animal, the waler, whose feats in war were no more marked than 88 years ago in what has been described as the greatest charge made by mounted men in modern history.

“The heroism, endurance, the extraordinary courage has made Beersheba the best remembered victory of the Palestine campaign. The walers suffered wounds, hunger, thirst and weariness, almost beyond endurance, but never failed – we will not forget them.”

WO1 Ian Cummings, RSM 12/16 Hunter River Lancers, said the memorial appeal was launched in 2001.

“Because we have very close ties with the community, the Waler Association approached us to help with the fundraising for the memorial and, more recently, asked 12/16HRL to assist with the ceremony,” he said.

“For at least the last four years we’ve been fundraising on Reserve Forces Day and with soldiers out collecting – whenever we had an activity or a parade we’d rattle the tins. Some of the older guys who were supporting this Memorial have passed away but they’ll be watching today.”

12/16HRL is descended from 12 Light Horse and every year commemorates the Battle of Beersheba with a regimental dinner.
Waler horses were bred mainly in NSW, and that’s why they’re known as walers. It’s a term coined by the British in Calcutta in 1846. The horses served in India, the Boer War and World War I.