Maygar's Hill Memorial
EUROA, STRATHBOGIE SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
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Veterans Description for Public
Maygar's Hill Memorial - Veterans Description for Public
On the road from Euroa to Melbourne stands a sign for Maygar's Hill, which is dedicated to Victoria Crosswinner, Lieutenant Leslie Cecil 'Elsie' Maygar. Maygar was born at Kilmore. He, his father and three borthers owned Strathearn station, Euroa. Maygar enlisted in the Victorian Mounted Rifles in March 1891 and went with the 5th (Mounted Rifles) Contingent in March 1901. At Geelhoutboom, on 23 November 1901, Lieutenant Maygar was awarded the Victoria Cross for rescuing a fellow Victorian whose horse had been shot. With the enemy only 200 yards away, Maygar dismounted, put the man on his own horse, told him to gallop for the British lines, and ran back under heavy fire. His VC was presented by Lord Kitchener.
Maygar enlisted in the AIF on 20 August 1914 and was appointed a captain in the 4th Light Horse Regiment, serving at Gallipoli and given command of the 8th LHR as lieutenant colonel. Maygar led his regiment througout its service in Sinai and Palestine until his death, and was a much-admired leader. During the second battle of Gaza, on 19 April 1917, official historian Sir Henry Gullett (1941) records that "It was a day when true leaders recognised that their men needed inspiration, and Maygar gave it in the finest manner."
Late on the day of the battle of Beersheba, 31 October 1917, a German aeroplane, using bombs and machine guns, hit Maygar, whose arm was shattered. His grey horse bolted into the darkness and was found later by 8th Regiment troopers, but Maygar was not with him. 'He was picked up during the night by other troops...and, having lost too much blood, died the next day at Karm." (Gullett 1941).
Maygar was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in June 1917, and was mentioned in despatches three times from 1916 to 1918. He is buried at the Beersheba War Cemetery.
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Euroa War MemorialVic. War Heritage Inventory
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Euroa Memorial GatesVic. War Heritage Inventory
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Euroa Anglican Church War MemorialVic. War Heritage Inventory
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