Below is a piece submitted by Peter Sutton, who argues that local military hero and politician Sir Murray Bourchier, who died in 1936, should be better honoured within the Moira Shire.
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In recent posts on social media, I have advocated strongly for local recognition of Sir Murray Bourchier.
A local boy, who went on to serve his community, the state of Victoria and the nation in various capacities.
Several readers informed me that the Strathmerton community and the local Lions Club have also determined that this is important.
The Lions Club is a small but determined club that has undertaken a number of projects within the town and achieved a number of exceptional results.
Whatever the outcome, Murray Bourchier is a name that should be better known.
Many Australians have heard of Pompey Elliott, Albert Jacka, Simpson and his Donkey.
Bourchier is not as well known.
The poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson famously wrote:
- Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them, Volley’d and thunder’d, Storm’d at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell Rode the six hundred.
These words were written during the Crimean War, but reflect also the Australian Light Horse charge at Beersheba, during World War I.
In that situation, the Light Horse comprised 800 men, one regiment commanded by Murray Bourchier.
Sir Murray Bourchier is a name that should be better known and commemorated throughout Moira Shire.
He is honoured in Shepparton, with Bourchier St and Bourchier St Primary School named for him, as well as with a statue in Shepparton’s Queen’s Gardens.
Sir Murray served both Australia and the state of Victoria exceptionally well in a number of different capacities.
He was a military officer during World War I where he was a commander during the Charge at Beersheba.
He served as a member of parliament, representing the Country Party (now National Party) as the state Member for Goulburn Murray.
He became leader of the Country Party in the Parliament of Victoria, becoming deputy premier.
Post parliamentary career, he served as Victoria’s agent general in London.
Murray William James Bourchier was born at Pootilla, near Ballarat, on April 4, 1881, the eldest son of Edward Bourchier and Francis (Fanny) Bourchier née Cope.
Edward Bourchier and his brothers had taken up four adjoining selections of land on the Victorian side of the Murray River near Tocumwal and present-day Koonoomoo.
Edward settled on the property known as Woodlands — the remaining holdings were known as Boomagong.
Descendants of both family branches are still residents in the district today.
Murray grew up on the family property ‘Woodlands’ at Strathmerton, and was a pupil at a number of local schools.
From 1901, he joined the militia and with the arrival of World War I he enlisted, serving in the Light Horse.
He achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was given command of the 4th Light Horse Regiment.
The 4th and 12th regiments are remembered for the Battle of Beersheba, which was significant as it had water.
"The Light Horsemen knew well that the fate of the battle – and probably the campaign in Palestine – depended on this charge; they also realised, that for the first time, Australian cavalry were actually to charge!“ wrote official historian C.E.W. Bean.
For this time the Light Horse were to act purely as cavalry, although with only their bayonets as shock weapons.
Australians had never ridden any race like this.
The Light Horse famously took part in the Charge at Beersheba against quite incredible odds.
The battle took place in October 1917.
On October 31, a contingent of around 800 men and horses charged Ottoman (Turkish) positions at Beersheba, which included two regiments of the Australian Light Horse, the 4th commanded by Lt Colonel Bourchier and the 12th commanded by Lt Col Donald Cameron.
They rode at full gallop, a distance of about two miles (3.2km) under fire from Turkish gunners.
The Turkish forces had 28 artillery pieces, nine machine guns, two aircraft and 4400 men, including 1000 experienced battle-hardened troops, under their command.
The Australian Light Horse of 800 men charged the Turks.
They rode through Turkish trenches and machine guns capturing the town of Beersheba before Ottoman forces could destroy the water wells.
In fact, they succeeded, as only two of 17 wells were destroyed.
Bourchier was honoured by being awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.
He was to receive many honours afterwards, and was mentioned in dispatches three times.
He was promoted to full Colonel in 1921 and to the rank of Brigadier.
He served in the Citizens Militia Forces, the predecessor of the Army Reserve.
Post World War I he married Minona Francis Maddern.
He had returned to the family property at Strathmerton, and later took up farming at Katandra.
He entered politics in 1920 where he also excelled.
He was elected to the Legislative Assembly, representing the Victorian Farmers’ Union.
Between 1924 and 1935, he represented the Country Party in the seat of Goulburn Valley.
He was always a strong and staunch advocate for returned soldiers.
In 1935, he became minister for agriculture, chief secretary and deputy premier.
A year later, he was appointed for five years as the agent general in London.
It is here where he died in London, on December 16, from pernicious anaemia and cancer.
He was survived by his wife, a daughter and two sons.
His remains were cremated and returned to Australia where he rests in the Shepparton Public Cemetery.
In a very rare honour, he was knighted posthumously in January 1938.
He has been honoured in Shepparton, and he should be honoured within the Moira Shire.
As an example, Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop is recognised within Benalla where his family were from.
– Peter Sutton.
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