Leslie Cecil Maygar

Few Australian soldiers carried a record quite like that of Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Leslie Cecil Willis Walker “Leslie” Maygar VC, DSO, VD. He won the Victoria Cross in South Africa by giving his own horse to a stranded soldier under heavy enemy fire. More than a decade later, already in his mid-forties, he volunteered for another war, fought at Gallipoli, commanded the 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment across Sinai and Palestine, earned the Distinguished Service Order, and was mortally wounded during the operations at Beersheba. His career stretched from colonial mounted soldier to one of the Australian Imperial Force's experienced light horse commanders.

Maygar was born on 27 May 1868 at Dean Station near Kilmore, Victoria, the seventh child of Edwin Willis Maygar and Helen Maygar, née Grimshaw. Although he became widely known as Leslie Cecil Maygar, Australian War Memorial records identify his full name, found on his will, as Edgar Leslie Cecil Willis Walker Maygar. He was educated at Alexandra and Kilmore State schools and later worked with members of his family at Strathearn Station near Euroa. A skilled horseman from an early age, Maygar found a natural military home in mounted service. He joined the Victorian Mounted Rifles in March 1891, beginning a military association that would continue for more than twenty-five years.

When the South African War began, Maygar tried to volunteer for active service but was initially rejected because of a dental problem. He was eventually accepted into the 5th Contingent, Victorian Mounted Rifles, received temporary rank as a lieutenant, embarked from Melbourne in February 1901, and reached South Africa the following month. The regiment operated against Boer forces in the eastern Transvaal before being transferred to Natal later that year.

It was at Geelhoutboom on 23 November 1901 that Maygar performed the action for which his name entered the history of the Victoria Cross. A detached group of Victorian soldiers was in danger of being outflanked. Maygar galloped forward through heavy fire to order them back. During the withdrawal, Private Arthur Short's horse was shot beneath him. With Boer troops only a few hundred yards away, Maygar dismounted, lifted the exhausted Short onto his own horse, and attempted to escape with him. When the horse became bogged and proved unable to carry them both, Maygar freed it, put Short back into the saddle, sent him toward safety, and returned on foot. His commanding officer reported that the entire rescue had been carried out under “a very heavy fire.”

For that action Maygar received the Victoria Cross. The award was gazetted on 11 February 1902, and Lord Kitchener presented the Cross to him at Pretoria on 8 June 1902. Maygar was also Mentioned in Despatches for his South African service. His recipient-specific Queen's South Africa Medal survives in the Australian War Memorial collection with four clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, and South Africa 1901.

Returning to Australia, Maygar resumed life as a grazier but continued serving in the citizen forces. He carried his commission into the 8th Light Horse Regiment, was promoted captain, and later served with the 16th (Indi) Light Horse Regiment. His long militia service brought further recognition. On 2 November 1912 he was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal. In 1917 he would also receive the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration, the distinction represented by the post-nominal VD in contemporary records of his name. Both recipient-specific awards survive in the Australian War Memorial's national collection.

The outbreak of the First World War brought Maygar back to active service. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 20 August 1914, understating his age by four years, and became a captain commanding B Squadron, 4th Light Horse Regiment. He was also part of the advance party that established the Light Horse camp at Broadmeadows. On 19 October 1914, he sailed from Melbourne aboard HMAT Wiltshire for Egypt.

In 1915 the Australian Light Horse went to Gallipoli, where its men fought dismounted. Maygar was promoted major and, on 17 October 1915, became temporary lieutenant colonel and was given command of the 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment. His rank and appointment were confirmed in December. During the evacuation of Anzac, Maygar was entrusted with the final party withdrawing from the trenches. He later described the evacuation as a remarkable feat of military organization. The responsibility placed upon him during the withdrawal reflected the confidence already being placed in his leadership.

After Gallipoli, Maygar and the 8th Light Horse returned to mounted operations in Egypt and then advanced across the Sinai Peninsula toward Palestine. His regiment fought through a demanding series of operations, including the advance following Romani, Magdhaba, Rafa, and the Gaza battles. In 1917 he also temporarily commanded the 3rd Light Horse Brigade on two occasions, extending his responsibilities beyond regimental command.

Maygar's leadership at Magdhaba in December 1916 and Rafa in January 1917 led to the award of the Distinguished Service Order on 3 June 1917. The recommendation opened with the words “A gallant leader of men” and specifically praised his service during the occupation of El Arish and the actions at Magdhaba and Rafa. At Rafa, his regiment had been detached to deal with an enemy relief column, a task that the recommendation recorded as having been handled successfully. Four days after the DSO award, Maygar received the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration for his long military service.

His reputation for leadership was reinforced during the Second Battle of Gaza on 19 April 1917. The 8th Light Horse occupied an exposed position and suffered heavily as the attack failed. Maygar continued riding among his men despite the danger. Official historian Henry Gullett later wrote that Maygar had repeatedly raised the spirit of his regiment through his personal example and described him as “a true fighting commander.”

Maygar's wartime recognition extended beyond the DSO. The Australian War Memorial's detailed records identify three First World War Mentions in Despatches, with recognitions recorded in 1916, 1917 and posthumously in 1918. Together with his South African War mention, this gives him four documented mentions across the two conflicts. Under the regulations for the Victory Medal, multiple First World War mentions are represented by a single bronze oak-leaf emblem on the ribbon, regardless of the number of mentions.

The final battle of Leslie Maygar's career came at Beersheba on 31 October 1917. The 8th Light Horse played a supporting role in the wider operation that culminated in the famous mounted charge of the 4th Light Horse Brigade. Later that day, as Maygar returned to his regiment after reporting to headquarters, a German aircraft attacked with bombs and machine-gun fire. Maygar was severely wounded, his left arm shattered, and his frightened horse bolted into the darkness. The horse was found first. Maygar was located later that night and taken to the 65th Casualty Clearing Station at Karm, where surgeons amputated his injured arm. Although he initially rallied after the operation, he suffered a haemorrhage and died from blood loss on 1 November 1917. He was 49 years old.

Maygar was buried in Beersheba War Cemetery, grave Q.82. His death ended a military career that had begun with the Victorian Mounted Rifles in 1891 and passed through two wars, Gallipoli, the Sinai desert and the Palestine campaign. He had progressed from lieutenant of colonial mounted troops to lieutenant colonel commanding an Australian Light Horse regiment, while also twice assuming temporary command of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade.

His complete documented award history reflects that extraordinary span of service. It includes the Victoria Cross; Distinguished Service Order; Queen's South Africa Medal with the clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and South Africa 1901; 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-20; Victory Medal with Mention in Despatches emblem; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration; and Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal. The Australian War Memorial preserves Maygar's Victoria Cross, DSO, Queen's South Africa Medal, British War Medal and both colonial long-service awards. His service at Gallipoli in 1915 and subsequent operational service also satisfies the official conditions governing the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

What makes Leslie Maygar VC, DSO, VD especially compelling is the continuity of his service. The young mounted officer who surrendered his horse to save another soldier at Geelhoutboom became, sixteen years later, the commander responsible for hundreds of Australian light horsemen in the Middle East. Gallantry brought him the Victoria Cross, command brought him the Distinguished Service Order, and more than a quarter of a century of military service carried him from colonial Victoria to South Africa, Gallipoli, Sinai, Gaza and finally Beersheba. His record remains that of a mounted soldier whose courage was demonstrated not in a single celebrated moment, but repeatedly across two wars and many years of command.