Riders visit north-east communities on 750km journey

By Bree Harding and Simon Ruppert

Mar 7, 2025

The Chauvel Lighthorse Memorial Ride stopped in Devenish for a service below its magnificent silos on Thursday, March 6. Photo by Simon Ruppert

The Chauvel Anniversary Lighthorse Memorial Ride pays tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those who served in the Australian Light Horse regiments.

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March 4 marked the 80th anniversary since the death of one of Australia’s most decorated army generals, Sir Harry Chauvel.

To mark this anniversary a group of light horses and their riders are undertaking the 750km memorial ride.

A crowd of around 100 onlookers gathered in Shepparton on a warm and windy day to hear speakers, including Chauvel’s great-granddaughter, Honor Auchinleck, and Bourchier’s great nephew, John Bourchier, and farewell the riders and horses on their journey.

Nigel Morris stands with his horse at Shepparton RSL’s service ahead of the Chauvel Anniversary Light Horse Memorial Ride. Photo by Megan Fisher

That journey will take them from north-east Victoria, through many small towns, and up into NSW.

It will end on the 160th anniversary of Chauvel’s birth, April 16, at Tallangatta’s memorial statue of Sandy the warhorse, the only horse to return home from World War I.

On Thursday, March 6 the memorial ride visited Devenish, where the Benalla RSL sub-branch hosted a special service under the town’s magnificent silos.

The Chauvel Anniversary Lighthorse Memorial Ride took time out for an unscheduled visit to Glenrowan Primary School on Friday, March 7. Photo by Simon Ruppert

A crowd of about 30 local people gathered in the early evening sun to pay respect to the riders and what the journey represents.

Three of the horses took a detour on Friday morning, March 7, for an unscheduled stop at Glenrowan Primary school, where students got to hear all about the role they played in active combat.

There was some audible gasps as students were asked if they could pack belongings into a small saddle bag to keep them going for four years away from home.