The grave and replacement wooden cross for Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Leslie Cecil Maygar, VC ...

Accession Number P05481.001
Collection type Photograph
Object type Black & white - Print silver gelatin
Maker Unknown
Place made Ottoman Empire: Palestine, Beersheba
Date made 2 November 1917 - July 1918
Conflict South Africa, 1899-1902 (Boer War)
First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

The grave and replacement wooden cross for Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Leslie Cecil Maygar, VC DSO MID VD of Dean Station, Kilmore, Vic, who died of wounds on 1 November 1917 at Beersheba. The words on the cross read 'Lt Col L C Maygar VC DSO VD. Died of Wounds Imara Nov 1st 1917, 8th L H Regt AIF'. Lt Col Maygar was buried on 2 November 1917 in Grave No 17 at Imara, Palestine, with Chaplain R R Skipper officiating at the service. The cemetery at Beersheba was commenced on 31 October 1917 by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and remained in use until July 1918 by which time 139 burials had been made. At the time of his death Lt Col Maygar commanded the 8th Light Horse Regiment where, in the previous month he was awarded the DSO. Lt Col Maygar was the first Victorian to be awarded the Victoria Cross, which he won at Geelhoutboom in South Africa on 23 November 1901, whilst serving with the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. The original cross for the grave can be viewed at P00252.004.