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Australia

Brigadier MWJ Bourchier CMG, DSO, VD.  Agent General for Victoria. RSL Deputy Representative on the Empire Council of the BESL

LATE SIR MURRAY BOURCHIER.
The late Sir Murray William James Bourchier, who was Agent-eneral for Victoria, died in London on December 16, after an illness which lasted several weeks.
His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve that Mrs. Bourchier should be granted the style, title, place, and precedence to which she would have been entitled had her husband survived to receive his knighthood.
Colonel Bourchier was one of the most spectacular cavalry leaders in the Great War. After the war he was a member of the State Parliament for 16 years, and a Minister for nearly five. He resigned the portfolios of
Chief Secretary and Minister for Labour in the Dunstan Ministry, when he was appointed Agent-General in London in January, 1937.
Lady Bourchier is the third daughter of the late Sir Frank Madden.

From Ballarat & District in the Great War
102 years: Remembering Beersheba

To say I am constantly amazed by the calibre of stories that continue to come out of our district is an understatement. However, on discovering that the leader of the last great cavalry charge in history – one of the finest moments of Australia’s involvement in the Great War – had local connections, I was completely stunned. This is his story…..

Murray William James Bourchier was born into a family of graziers who farmed land across Victoria – including Geelong, Pootilla, Tocumwal, and Strathmerton. He was the eldest son of Edward Bourchier and Frances “Fanny” Cope and was born at Pootilla just east of Ballarat on 4 April 1881. His grandfather, John Bourchier, had taken up land outside of the goldfields settlement in the 1850’s establishing a long connection with the Pootilla district.

In the year following Murray’s birth, his father relocated to the family property of Woodland Park near Strathmerton in the rich Goulburn valley. With his brother’s help, Edward built a simple timber and mud cottage on the property before bringing his wife and baby son to join him.

As a youngster, Murray started his schooling at the small State School at Mywee, before going on to attend the Strathmerton Public School. His education was finished privately in Melbourne before he returned to work on his father’s farm.

From the outset, Murray showed a great affinity with horses, and it was therefore fitting that he joined the 15th Light Horse Regiment at nearby Numurkah. In 1897 he was appointed to the rank of second lieutenant; he went on to command a troop at annual camps and courses that trained many a future young light horseman. By this time he had grown into a tall, wiry young man, standing 5-foot 11-inches and weighing 10½-stone.

With the declaration of war in August 1914, Murray Bourchier was amongst the first to offer his services. He enlisted on 25 August and then applied for a commission on 23 September. He was immediately assigned to the 4th Australian Light Horse Regiment.

The decision to mount an attack on the Gallipoli Peninsula resulted in the Light Horses Regiments being advanced as infantry, leaving their beloved horses behind in Egypt. Murray sailed for the Dardanelles on 15 May.

On 1 July he was appointed to the rank of temporary captain at Gaba Tepe. During this period his work as a commander came to the attention of the High Command – from the 31 July to 1 August, whilst he was at Courteney’s Post, Murray remained ‘quite cool and collected’ as his men came under heavy shelling by the Turks. The effect on his men – many who were in the trenches for the first time – was instrumental in keeping them calm as the infantry on their immediate left attacked and captured Leane’s Trench.

Then at Ryrie’s Post on 6 August ‘he again proved his good qualities’ as an officer.

‘…When part of Leane’s Trench was recaptured by the enemy, our section of the trench was subjected to a heavy shelling from the enemy, during the whole time he was walking up and down the line in a cool and collected manner, this had a wonderful effect upon the men particularly as our casualties were heavy. By carefully watching the enemy he was able to pour in a heavy enfilade fire into the enemy during the short time they occupied Leane’s Trench and also when they were retiring after the trench had been retaken by the infantry…’
For his conduct, Murray was Mentioned in Despatches by General Sir Archibald Murray.

It was clear, even at this early stage, that Murray Bourchier was a born leader of men. On 19 October he was appointed to command A Squadron of the 4th Light Horse. Then, on 22 November, he was promoted to captain.

After seven months at ANZAC, Murray finally arrived back in Egypt on Boxing Day 1915. Within days he was transferred to Regimental Headquarters for duty. News of his promotion to major came through on 28 January 1916 and he was then returned to his former command of A Squadron of the 4th Light Horse.

In March 1917, Murray was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and placed in command of the 4th Australian Light Horse Regiment.

Illness was to cause problems for Murray when he began to display symptoms of paratyphoid in early September. He was admitted to hospital in Kazar; and then was immediately transferred to the 74th Casualty Clearing Station at Rafa, where the diagnosis was altered to phlebotomus fever. The illness kept him out of action for a month.

Murray finally rejoined his regiment on 11 October, less than three weeks before one of the most historic events of the Great War – the Charge at Beersheba.

On 31 October 1917 he led the 4th Light Horse Regiment in the two-mile charge against Turkish positions defending the vital wells at Beersheba. The capture of 15 of the 17 wells intact and the taking of over 700 prisoners, was a massive heart-punch to the enemy.

Summing up the effects of the attack in a later report, Murray wrote:

‘…In commenting on the attack I consider that the success was due to the rapidity with which the movement was carried out. Owing to the volume of fire brought to bear from the enemy's position by Machine Guns and rifles, a dismounted attack would have resulted in a much greater number of casualties. It was noticed also that the morale of the enemy was greatly shaken through our troops galloping over his positions thereby causing his riflemen and machine gunners to lose all control of fire discipline. When the troops came within short range of the trenches the enemy seemed to direct almost all his fire at the horses…’

With this single outlandish and unexpected attack, Murray Bourchier and his men rode into history in the last great cavalry charge. These exploits earned him the soubriquet of “Bourchier of Beersheba” and, on 4 November 1917, the Distinguished Service Order.

‘…For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. As commanding officer he led his regiment into action in the most gallant and capable manner. By his skilful handling of the regiment and by his magnificent courage and determination he was very largely instrumental in the success of the attack and the capture of the objective…’ ( (The award was gazetted in the London Gazette on 18 January 1918).

Personally directing his regiment, Murray displayed a ‘magnificent example of courage and determination.’ It was believed that he was largely responsible for the success of the attack and the capture of Beersheba itself.

Eleven months later, after fighting north through Palestine, he commanded a joint force of the 4th and 12th Light Horse regiments (“Bourchier Force”) in the final advance on Damascus.

On 27 September he led his regiment as they crossed the River Jordan below Jisr-Benat-Yakub. The crossing was particularly difficult, but in achieving the manoeuvre the 4th Light Horse managed to outflank the enemy and forced a withdrawal from the position.

Three days later Murray took command of both the 4th and 12th Australian Light Horse Regiments forming the advanced guard of the Division as it advanced on Damascus. A ‘spirited mounted charge’ thus opened the way into the Syrian capital. Fittingly, Murray Bourchier and his troops were the first to enter the city where they captured some 12,000 Turks.

In recognition of his work during this period, Murray was appointed Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St John. He returned to Australia on 13 June 1919 as Lieutenant-Colonel Murray Bourchier CMG DSO.
Upon his return to civilian life, Murray was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1920. He represented the Victorian Farmers’ Union for the district of Goulburn Valley. During his maiden speech, Murray made a pointed attack on what he saw as the Lawson government’s ‘neglect of ex-servicemen.’

The following year he was re-elected as a Country Party candidate – a position he held unopposed until his resignation in 1936.

In April 1921, the gossip columns were a-flutter with news of a particularly high-profile engagement between Murray Bourchier and Minona Frances Madden, daughter of politician, the late Sir Frank Madden.

‘…One of the newest engagement rings is being worn by Noni, daughter of the late Sir Frank Madden and Lady Madden, of Kew. The man in the case is Lieut-Col Bourchicr, CMG, DSO, who was in command of the 4th Light Horse in Palestine. He is the M.L.A. for Goulburn Valley, Lieut.-Col. Bourchier was best man on the occasion of Noni’s sister’s wedding to Col. Hindlaugh. He owns a station adjoining the Hindlaugh acres, so that the two Madden girls will present be able to hobnob across their respective boundary fences, and com pare the relative merits of the best merinos of the family acres…’

Just two months later, on 16 June 1921, at Holy Trinity Church, Kew, Murray and Noni were married. Due to the death of her father in February of that year, the wedding was a quiet affair. The bride wore white Milanese satin and silver lace and was attended by her sisters, Nancy and Vera. Murray’s brother, John, acted as best man.

The couple welcomed three children into their family – Elaine Minona was born on 1 June 1923 at South Yarra; Murray Goulbourn Madden followed on 28 Mar 1925 at St Kilda; and finally, William Edward, who arrived at North Brighton on 10 Jan 1927.

Throughout this period, Murray maintained his connection with the military, but his political career was paramount. He became deputy leader of the Country Party in 1927 and held the position until 1930. He was leader of the party from 1933 to 1935 and then deputy leader again for the following twelve months. As a politician he served as Minister of Agriculture and Markets for the Allan government, and then as Chief Secretary, Minister of Labour, as well as Deputy Premier of Victoria during the early years of the Dunstan government.
Ill health forced Murray to resign from Parliament in August 1936. He was appointed Victorian Agent-General to represent the State at the coronation of King George VI on 12 May 1937.

Following the coronation, Murray was seemingly too ill to return home to Australia. He was suffering from pernicious anaemia and advanced cancer, and, after developing pneumonia, he died quietly on 16 December 1937. His body was cremated and his ashes brought home for burial in the Shepparton Cemetery.

Obituaries ran in all major Australian newspapers and tributes for this remarkable man poured in:
‘…Mr Bourchier's name will go down in history as Bourchier of Beersheba, as he was probably one of the last of the cavalry leaders to gallop personally in front of his regiment against a strongly entrenched and fortified enemy position, and take it by the sheer audacity and impetuosity of the charge.

His regiment, the 4th Australian Light Horse, consisting mostly of young farmers from the Goulburn Valley and other rounding districts, had completed a forced march under dry - conditions, encircling the ancient town of Beersheba, and was waiting in the foothills for orders.

When word came late in the afternoon to take the town every trooper realised that if Abraham's wells were not taken by nightfall horses and men would be desperately short of water. The regiment moved off in line, first at a walk, and soon at a trot to cover the four miles of bare plain. They had no sabres, and used only bayonets held like daggers.

As the German shells from a battery of twelve guns fell around, causing casualties in the line, and the volleys from the Turkish riflemen sang overhead, Bourchier, still alone at the front, except for the scouts, increased the pace to a gallop. Two officers and some troopers and N.C.O.'s spurred forward to form a tacit bodyguard for their leader, and one, who got directly in front of him, fell. Others fell In the course of the charge, and in the hand-to-hand fighting, dismounted, when they gained the Turkish trenches, but Bourchier appeared that day to lead a charmed life.

His regiment swept over the three systems of trenches, and on into the town, drinking that night from the wells dug by Abraham, from which Arab women draw water to this day.

In war, from the beginning until a year after the end, Bourchier was a man of action and very few words: a personal leader who always could be relied upon to respond to every demand made upon him. Cool and phlegmatic in danger, and resourceful in each crisis; a disciplinarian, but just and beloved of the men he led.

He left Australia a junior lieutenant of the regiment, he rose to command and returned having led his brigade. He continued his military service in peace, and at the time of his London appointment commanded the Second Cavalry Division…’
In January 1938 Murray was posthumously knighted – one last honour for a man whose place in history is now assured.