The monument in Tabulam, New South Wales, commemorates the Upper Clarence Light Horseman and the men and women from the district of Tabulam who served in the Australian Armed Forces.
The monument was unveiled by Mrs Elyne Mitchell, the daughter of General Sir Harry Chauvel. General Sir Harry Chauvel was the first Australian to command a corps, becoming Lieutenant General, the first Australian to reach this rank.
The memorial is centred with a wall with the three emblems of the Australian Defence Forces. Behind the wall is two flagpoles and to either side are metal cut-outs of light horsemen.
There are three bronze plaques, two have information about the history of the light horsemen from Upper Clarence and the dedication to the men and women from the Tabulam district. The third is an honour roll of who served in WWI, WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War.
Plaque
This memorial was erected to commemorate the formation of the Upper Clarence Light Horse, the forerunner of the Light Horse on the Northern Rivers.
It was formed in October 1885 by C.H.E. Chauvel, of Tabulam Station. No 1 Troop was at Tabulam and Officer in Charge was C.H.E. Chauvel, who commanded both troops. No 2 Troop, The Border Troop, had Captain J.S. Smith as the officer in charge, and H.G. Chauvel, later Sir Harry Cauvel, as 2nd Lieut. In 1887, Casino replaced The Border Troop and became No 2 Troop Upper Clarence Light Horse. In 1888, No 1 Troop changed to Mounted Infantry. In the same year, No 2 Troop was renamed The Richmond River Light Horse.
In 1903, after Federation, the units of the NSW Lancer Regt. reverted to Light Horse. This unit became the 5th Light Horse Regt. (New South Wales Mounted Rifles). In 1907, the unit was titled the Northern Rivers Lancers. In 1918 the Regt. was renumbered the 15th Light Horse Regt. to perpetuate the 15th Light Horse of the Desert Corps.
The Regt. was de-horsed in 1941 and became the 15th Motor Regt. AIF 1st Armoured Brigade, 1st Armoured Division. It was disbanded in 1944. The unit was reformed in 1948 as ‘A’ Squadron 15th Amphibian Assault Regt. (Northern Rivers Lancers). In 1956 the unit disbanded and the number was linked with the 1st Royal New South Wales Lancers and became the 1/15th.
This plaque was unveiled on 5 October 1985 by Mrs Elyne Mitchell, daughter of General Sir Harry Chauvel. It was erected by West of the Range Historical Society and the 15th Light Horse Motor Regt. Association.
Plaque
This memorial is dedicated to the men and women from the Tabulam district who have served in the Australian Armed Forces.
The memorial depicts the Australian Light Horse, to which Tabulam has a strong connection by being the birthplace of General Sir Henry (Harry) Chauvel GCMG, KCB. He is best known for the charge of the Light Horse at Beersheba in WWI.
Harry’s father, Charles Chauvel, formed the Northern Rivers Light Horse at Tabulam. It was made up of local horseman, including some Aboriginal stockmen from the area and was a forerunner to the Australian Light Horse.
