The 10th Light Horse’s devastating charge at Gallipoli’s Battle of the Nek was commemorated on Sunday with memorial troops and military personnel paying homage at the Bellevue RSL.
The Nek was a vitally important position on the northern end of the ANZAC front line and the battle that decimated the 3rd, 8th and 10th Light Horse Regiments took place on August 7, 1915.
The battle was remembered with a display and the attendance of descendants from the regiment at Bellevue’s commemoration service.
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READ NOWMajor Duane Nurse, who is the Officer Commanding A-Squadron 10th Light Horse said the 8th Light Horse Regiment’s was completely wiped out in the first two waves of the attack at the Nek.
“A commanding officer of the 10th LHR Lieutenant Colonel Noel Murray Brazier appealed to stop the charge and protested the attack but he was over ruled and told to push on,” he said.
“So the third wave charged to its death and half of the fourth wave as well.”
Major Nurse said Lieutenant Colonel Brazier was wounded in action but survived the war.
“He spent 28 days on Gallipolli and in that time he saw his regiment decimated, they attempted to remove him from command because of his protest but he appealed and was reinstated.”
Major Nurse said the 10th regiment and the Nek disaster charge was an integral part of Western Australia’s history.
“I am heartened that so many people are keeping their legacy alive.”
The bravery of the 10th LHR is set to be immortalised with a commemorative statue at Stirling Square in Guildford.
The name of the commissioned artist and a small model of the 10th LHR tribute statue is set to be unveiled at a ceremony in Guildford later this month.