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Lot Essay
Sir Henry George Chauvel (1865-1945), soldier was born at Tabulam, New South Wales. He was educated at Sydney Grammar School and Toowoomba Grammar before taking his place on his father's cattle station on the Clarence River.
His ambition was to join the British Army, but due to losses suffered from drought, Sandhurst and the cavalry proved an impossible dream. In 1885, when the volunteer movement was reviving, his father raised the Upper Clarence Light Horse in which Chauvel was commissioned. In 1888 the family moved to the Darling Downs in Queensland. Chauvel was compelled to resign and this sword was presented to him as a mark of appreciation.
Chauvel was commisioned in the Queensland Mounted Infantry in 1890. In 1896 he obtained an appointment in the Queensland Permanent Military Forces as a Captain of the Moreton Regiment. He went to England with the Queensland Jubilee Contingent in 1897 staying on for a year for courses and attachments to regular infantry.
Chauvel served with distinction in the South African War as a major in the 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, taking part in the relief of Kimberley, the advance to Pretoria and the battle of Diamond Hill. For a time he led a mixed force known as Chauvel's Mounted Infantry in operations in eastern Transvaal.
Returning to Australia in 1901 he took command of the 7th Australian Commonwealth Horse as lieut-colonel, but the war ended before reaching South Africa. For his services in South Africa, Chauvel was appointed C.M.G and mentioned in dispatches.
During the following years, Chauvel established a reputation as a trainer, especially of officer's who were to distinguish themselves in World War I. Involved in the establishment of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, Chauvel was sent to London in 1914. He was appointed Australian representative on the Imperial General Staff. On arrival, Europe was at war and Australia was preparing an expeditionary force. Chauvel was chosen to command the 1st Light Horse Brigade and upon his representations to Sir George Reid, High Commissioner in London, it was decided to disembardk the A.I.F in Egypt.
Landing at Gallipoli in May 1915, Chauvel commanded the area around Pope's, Quinn's and Courtney's posts. Engaging in action he was renowned for his coolness and courage and spent much of his time walking the trenches.
Promoted Major-General in 1916, Chauvel elected to command the new Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division. He also took command of all Australian forces in Egypt.
In August 1917, Chauvel became the first Australian to attain the rank of Lieut-General. In October, Chauvel commanded the Desert Mounted Corps in the last successful cavalry charge of the 20th century when the 4th Light Horse attacked Beersheba. For his part in the success he was appointed K.C.B. In 1919 he was appointed G.C.M.G., awarded the French Croix de Guerre, the Order of the Nile (twice) and mentioned in dispatches ten times.
Returning to Australia in 1919, Chauvel was appointed Inspector General and succeeded as Chief of the General Staff in 1923. Commanding a peacetime army while government encouraged disarmament and economy, Chauvel continued to train his officers for future conflict and encouraged a close relationship with the British Army.
In 1929 Chauvel was promoted to General, the first Australian to attain this rank and retired the following year. He was back in uniform during World War II as Inspector-in-Chief of the Volunteer Defence Corps. He died in Melbourne in March 1945.
This sword represents an early link with the outstanding career of Australia's first general.
His ambition was to join the British Army, but due to losses suffered from drought, Sandhurst and the cavalry proved an impossible dream. In 1885, when the volunteer movement was reviving, his father raised the Upper Clarence Light Horse in which Chauvel was commissioned. In 1888 the family moved to the Darling Downs in Queensland. Chauvel was compelled to resign and this sword was presented to him as a mark of appreciation.
Chauvel was commisioned in the Queensland Mounted Infantry in 1890. In 1896 he obtained an appointment in the Queensland Permanent Military Forces as a Captain of the Moreton Regiment. He went to England with the Queensland Jubilee Contingent in 1897 staying on for a year for courses and attachments to regular infantry.
Chauvel served with distinction in the South African War as a major in the 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, taking part in the relief of Kimberley, the advance to Pretoria and the battle of Diamond Hill. For a time he led a mixed force known as Chauvel's Mounted Infantry in operations in eastern Transvaal.
Returning to Australia in 1901 he took command of the 7th Australian Commonwealth Horse as lieut-colonel, but the war ended before reaching South Africa. For his services in South Africa, Chauvel was appointed C.M.G and mentioned in dispatches.
During the following years, Chauvel established a reputation as a trainer, especially of officer's who were to distinguish themselves in World War I. Involved in the establishment of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, Chauvel was sent to London in 1914. He was appointed Australian representative on the Imperial General Staff. On arrival, Europe was at war and Australia was preparing an expeditionary force. Chauvel was chosen to command the 1st Light Horse Brigade and upon his representations to Sir George Reid, High Commissioner in London, it was decided to disembardk the A.I.F in Egypt.
Landing at Gallipoli in May 1915, Chauvel commanded the area around Pope's, Quinn's and Courtney's posts. Engaging in action he was renowned for his coolness and courage and spent much of his time walking the trenches.
Promoted Major-General in 1916, Chauvel elected to command the new Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division. He also took command of all Australian forces in Egypt.
In August 1917, Chauvel became the first Australian to attain the rank of Lieut-General. In October, Chauvel commanded the Desert Mounted Corps in the last successful cavalry charge of the 20th century when the 4th Light Horse attacked Beersheba. For his part in the success he was appointed K.C.B. In 1919 he was appointed G.C.M.G., awarded the French Croix de Guerre, the Order of the Nile (twice) and mentioned in dispatches ten times.
Returning to Australia in 1919, Chauvel was appointed Inspector General and succeeded as Chief of the General Staff in 1923. Commanding a peacetime army while government encouraged disarmament and economy, Chauvel continued to train his officers for future conflict and encouraged a close relationship with the British Army.
In 1929 Chauvel was promoted to General, the first Australian to attain this rank and retired the following year. He was back in uniform during World War II as Inspector-in-Chief of the Volunteer Defence Corps. He died in Melbourne in March 1945.
This sword represents an early link with the outstanding career of Australia's first general.