Leslie Cecil Maygar
Encyclopedia
Leslie Cecil Maygar VC
, DSO
, VD
(27 May 1868 – 1 November 1917) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces, for service in the Second Boer War
.
. His full name was Edgar Leslie Cecil Willis Walker Maygar. His family moved north to the Strathbogie Ranges region of Ruffy
when he was about 20 years old.
in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, Australian Forces during the Boer War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 23 November 1901 at Geelhoutboom, Natal, South Africa
, Lieutenant Maygar galloped out and ordered men of a detached post, which was being outflanked, to retire. The horse of one of the men was shot under him when the enemy were within 200 yards and Lieutenant Maygar dismounted and lifted the man on to his own horse which bolted into boggy ground, making them both dismount. As the horse could not carry two, the lieutenant again put the man on its back and told him to gallop for cover at once, while he himself went on foot. All this took place under very heavy fire.
Maygar later served in World War I
as a Lieutenant Colonel, where he received his Distinguished Service Order and was Mentioned In Dispatches twice.
Leslie Maygar died of wounds suffered in Karm, Palestine
, on 1 November 1917. He is buried in the Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel
. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial
, Canberra
, Australia.
base located at Broadmeadows (a northern suburb of Melbourne
, Victoria (Australia)
) is named Maygar Barracks
in honour of Leslie Maygar, as is a major road in northside Brisbane, Queensland. In 1914, the then Captain Maygar had helped establish Broadmeadows as an Army Base to train soldiers for the First World War.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, VD
Volunteer Decoration
The Volunteer Officers' Decoration was created by Royal Warrant under command of Queen Victoria on 25 July 1892 to reward 'efficient and capable' officers of the Volunteer Force who had served for twenty years...
(27 May 1868 – 1 November 1917) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces, for service in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
.
Early life
According to his birth certificate, from Victorian Birth Death & Marriage Registra, Maygar was born on 27 May 1868, (not 1872 like his official documentation states) at Dean Station, near Kilmore, VictoriaKilmore, Victoria
Kilmore is a town in the Australian state of Victoria. Located north of Melbourne, it is contentiously claimed as Victoria's oldest inland settled town...
. His full name was Edgar Leslie Cecil Willis Walker Maygar. His family moved north to the Strathbogie Ranges region of Ruffy
Ruffy, Victoria
Ruffy is a town in Victoria, Australia. The town is located in the Shire of Strathbogie, north of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Ruffy and the surrounding area had a population of 280...
when he was about 20 years old.
Military service
He was 29 years old, and a lieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, Australian Forces during the Boer War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 23 November 1901 at Geelhoutboom, Natal, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Lieutenant Maygar galloped out and ordered men of a detached post, which was being outflanked, to retire. The horse of one of the men was shot under him when the enemy were within 200 yards and Lieutenant Maygar dismounted and lifted the man on to his own horse which bolted into boggy ground, making them both dismount. As the horse could not carry two, the lieutenant again put the man on its back and told him to gallop for cover at once, while he himself went on foot. All this took place under very heavy fire.
Maygar later served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as a Lieutenant Colonel, where he received his Distinguished Service Order and was Mentioned In Dispatches twice.
Leslie Maygar died of wounds suffered in Karm, Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, on 1 November 1917. He is buried in the Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia...
, Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Australia.
Legacy
The Australian ArmyAustralian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
base located at Broadmeadows (a northern suburb of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria (Australia)
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
) is named Maygar Barracks
Maygar Barracks
Maygar Army Barracks is located in Broadmeadows, Victoria. Maygar was the training place of the Australian Light Horse during World War I.It was named after Victoria Cross winner Leslie Maygar.-References:...
in honour of Leslie Maygar, as is a major road in northside Brisbane, Queensland. In 1914, the then Captain Maygar had helped establish Broadmeadows as an Army Base to train soldiers for the First World War.
External links
- List of Australian winners of the Victoria Cross, anzacday.org.au