Lt. Col. Bourne, 2nd Light Horse Regiment
By Marg Powell, Specialist Library Technician, Metadata Services | 6 May 2016
George Herbert Bourne (1881-1959) was appointed Major in command of B Squadron, 2nd Light Horse Regiment when he enlisted in August 1914. Aged 33 he had already served 8 years with the Queensland Mounted Infantry.
Group portrait of the Commanding Officer and officers of the 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment. Lieutenant Colonel George Herbert Bourne, DSO is seated in the centre of the front row; taken in Palestine, November 1918. Photograph courtesy of the Australian War Memorial, Accession B00527.
Bourne’s collection of papers, held at the State Library, tell the story of the 2nd Light Horse Regiment as it sailed towards Egypt, unaware of the strength they would need and the part the would play in the significant and terrible battles at Gallipoli, Palestine, Jordan and the Sinai.
The Regiment was part of a massive convoy of ships that left Australia late 1914, and with its cargo of troops and horses, they spent their six week voyage forming life-long bonds that would keep them strong in the months and years ahead.
Troops embarking on the troopship 'Star of England', in 1914. APE-39, Bourne photograph album, State Library of Queensland
Bourne knew many of his fellow officers personally - almost all being from his home town Brisbane - they enlisted, trained and socialised together. They included Major William Glasgow, Doctors George Macartney, Espie Dods & Alexander Marks, and Chaplain George Green.
When Bourne landed with the unmounted Light Horse troops at Anzac Beach on 12 May 1915 they went into the front line the very next day at Quinn’s Post, he wrote to his mother …
“I had 9 men hit in the first 2 hours - bombs doing most damage. On the night of the 14th Major Graham’s Squadron was ordered to charge - they took the enemy’s trench but suffered horribly from machine guns. Graham was killed & lost 50 men out of 90.”
Letter from George Bourne to his mother, dated 29 May 1915. OM68-25, George Herbert Bourne papers, State Library of Queensland
Early in his letters he is confident of their success, the men eager and well, but as the casualties mounted he expressed his disappointment in the lack of reinforcements.
Bourne was evacuated sick in September 1915. When he rejoined his unit it was heavily involved in the campaigns at Romani, Rafa and Gaza. Bourne was made commanding officer of his regiment on 27 June 1916 and was later awarded the DSO for his contribution in the Battle of Romani.
Bourne leading his Squadron, Palestine, 1917. Photograph from TR 1835 Henderson Family and Jimboomba Station papers
On his return to Australia he rejoined the Bank of NSW, and in 1924 married Frances McConnel. He retained his connection with the army, commanding several reserve regiments and published History of the 2nd Light Horse Regiment Australian Imperial Force August 1914 - April 1919.
George Bourne's collection is now fully digitised, the letters have been transcribed and available online. OM68-25 George Herbert Bourne papers, State Library of Queensland
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