“By 8 oclock the long column of 2000 men was formed in fours and the head of the column was already moving out of camp. Through Essendon, Moonee Ponds and Flemington the brigade reached Melbourne shortly after 10 oclock and, at Campbell and Sons horse bazaar on the outskirts of the city, halted for a few minutes to water the troop and transport horses - just time to smoke a cigarette, then tighten girths and straighten slouch hats, ready for the two mile parade before the eyes of Melbourne. Meanwhile Melbourne was ready and waiting their arrival. Every suburban train that reached Flinders Street or Spencers Street station before 11 oclock, and every tram car that ran on the city routes helped to swell a crowd that lined the whole marching route three deep and gathered in mass round the saluting base. Collins Street and Bourke Street were avenues of flags and bunting, shops and office windows from ground floor to roof were crowded points of vantage. Prompt, at 11.40 am the head of the brigade turned from Kings Street into Collins Street and met the first cheers of the crowd. Wheres your hankies? called a mother to her girls. Youll have to give a shout for Cyril. Shout they did - and not for Cyril only. As the head of the column wheeled into Collins Street, the mounted band struck up a swinging march, the men stiffened on their horses, and it took the most persuasive calls from sweethearts at the barricades to get the least flicker of recognition from the trooper on parade. An old gentleman watching eagerly leaned out of the crowd with a handkerchief tied to the end of his umbrella ready to raise it frantically as his son rode by. He received a grave, dignified nod of the head, and waved so frantically that the line of horses shied and nearly broke the column. All along the route of march it only required one voice to raise a hip and a hundred voices finished the cheer.” Melbourne Age, 21st January 1915 One hundred years ago today, the 3rd Light Horse Brigade paraded through the streets of Melbourne. Unique archival footage from the AWM collection shows the march past. The Brigade embarked to Egypt during the months of February and March 1915. On 7th August 1915, two regiments of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade (the 8th and 10th) mounted a tragic and futile attack on the Turkish trenches in what became known as the Battle of the Nek. The charge of 3rd Light Horse Brigade at the Nek was depicted in the last minutes of Peter Weir’s film Gallipoli.
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:56:31 +0000