Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Gunner Arthur Keith Urquhart (11th Battery, 4th FAB). 6613 Driver RV McGinness, of Framlingham, wrote to the Koroit Sentinel of Urquhart’s service: “Writing from ‘On Water’, under date 13 December 1915, the crack Western District amateur horseman, Mr RV McGinness, says they had not had one day’s rough weather, but unluckily struck a couple of very hot days, and , ‘oh, the thirst on a dry canteen’. Proceeding, RV says: ‘We have boxing competitions on board. Claude Grice and I had our colt, Keith Urquhart, very well, but he had the bad luck to meet a chap named Banks, who used to play with Richmond football club, in the first draw. He knocked our colt about a lot before he found his legs, and eventually he beat Keith on points, although our man finished well. It’s better to be the trainer than the horse in these competitions.’ The trio named – Messrs RV McGinness, Claude Grice and Keith Urquhart – three of our most famous amateur riders, are on the same gun. They are called drivers in the artillery, but, as our readers know, there are six horses to each gun, and the near side horse in each pair is ridden. Urquhart rides the leading pair, RV the next, and Grice the third pair. A gamer or more courageous trio could not be found. Indeed, it has been said of Keith that he would drive the gun to the gates of hell, if necessary to defeat the enemy.” Urquhart transferred in Egypt to the 8th Light Horse in order to serve with his brother Roderick William Urquhart, who was subsequently killed at Romani on 7 August 1916. Keith and Tom Austin of Lake Bolac were with Roddy when he was killed in the desert fighting at the Battle of Romani on 7 August 1916, when the 8th Light Horse dismounted for action, advancing on foot as Chauvel drove the Turks eastward. Keith, Tom and Roddy were serving in the same section, and when Roddy was killed they were unable to retrieve his body, however they returned that night, knocked out the machine gun post responsible for his death, retrieved his body and returned to their lines. Roddy was buried at Hod el Sagia, Sinai, however at the end of the war his grave could not be found, his name is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial. When they retrieved Roddy’s body, the men took Roddy’s horse back with them to carry his body back, however the horse knew something was amiss and refused to travel with his body draped over the saddle, so Keith carried Roddy’s body on the pommel in front of him, and led Roddy’s horse. Subsequently he transferred again to the Australian Flying Corps, he was then discharged on compassionate grounds on the death of his father, on 11th July 1917, in order that he might return home to managed his family’s property, Boonerah, at Hexham.

Courtesy of James Affleck

Son of Roderick Robert Urquhart and Mary Helen Urquhart nee Armstrong of Boonerah, Hexham, Victoria. Brother of Roderick William Urquhart who was killed in action on 7 August 1916 while serving with the 8th Light Horse Regiment and has no known grave. His name appears on Panel 58 of the Jerusalem Memorial.

Mentioned in Despatches:- For valuable services rendered. London Gazette on 1 December  1916,  page 11807, position 52. Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 19 April 1917, page 926, position 60

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

During 1917c Arthur married Eleanor Jessie Howe in Victoria