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The War Trophy that stood for more than
thirty years overlooking Sandgate Pier and Bramble Bay was a 75mm
German "Whiz Bang" field gun captured from a combined German and Turkish
force during the last Light Horse charge by the Australian Forces
during the 1914-1918 War. (German artillerymen and machine gunners
assisted the Turkish force.) All light horse regiments were in fact
mounted infantrymen, for they made their battle charges with drawn
bayonets. After the successful charge and victory during the battle
of Beersheba, in 1918, the commander in chief of the campaign, Lord
Allenby, decided in August that year to convert the 4th Australian
Light Horse Brigade into a cavalry brigade which would charge with
drawn swords.
At pre dawn on September 22, 1918 the 11th Australian Light Horse
Regiment of Cavalry charged across two miles of open country to capture
the important Syrian rail link town of Semakh on the shore of the
sea of Galilee. This charge was made after a hurried ride of some
ten miles, and the 75mm field gun was a trophy of that battle.
The Sandgate War Committee was renamed Soldiers' Reception and General
Committee at a meeting on November 1, 1918. It was an entertainment
committee formed to raise funds for a War Memorial, and at that meeting
an application was made to the Sandgate Town Council for permission
to erect a memorial in the town's central park. At a subsequent meeting
held in the Mayor's room on February 6, 1920 the Sandgate War Memorial
Committee came into being. A meeting of that committee held on December
14 that year empowered Mr E.J. Shaw, a resident of Bracken Ridge and
president of the Royal National Agricultural & Industrial Association,
to act on their behalf whilst in Melbourne on business and apply to
the authority concerned for a War Memorial for Sandgate. The Sandgate
Town Council sanctioned this and Mr Shaw was authorised to act on
the War Memorial Committee's behalf.
Coincidence becomes paramount at the next stage of the endeavour to
secure a war trophy. Upon the cessation of hostilities, Mr Laurient
(Laurie) U.C. Kempster rejoined the Sandgate Town Council as Assistant
Town Clerk. He had started with the council as a Junior Clerk in July,
1914.
Laurie had been a Sergeant with the 11th Light Horse Regiment when
the German "Whiz Bang" field gun was captured and was awarded the
Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of his conspicuous and valuable
service during the Syrian Campaign. His younger brother Felix, also
an 11th Light Horseman and a resident of Sandgate before the War,
was awarded the Military Medal.
Laurie was a very active member of the 11th Light Horse Association,
during his lifetime holding executive positions for many years.
Laurie Kempster was present when the gun was unveiled by the then
governor of Queensland, His Excellency Sir Matthew Nathan, as it stood
on its base at Shorncliffe (Sandgate as it was known in those days)
on Saturday August 4, 1923, and was surprised to learn that it was
the gun the Regiment had captured in Syria. By this time he had become
Town Clerk of Sandgate, the position he occupied when the Sandgate
Town Council became incorporated within the greater Brisbane Authority
(Council) in 1925. He moved to the Brisbane City Council that year
and managed a number of departments before becoming Deputy Town Clerk
of Brisbane in 1952.
 Due
to the loss of records the actual dates can only be conjecture, but
after having withstood the sea air at Shorncliff for more than thirty
years, the old field gun finally succumbed to the elements to the
extent that the wooden wheels deteriorated so badly the gun had become
an accident hazard. Around 1953 the Brisbane City Council removed
the gun from Shorncliffe and the Parks Department placed it on a base
in New Farm Park. It was minus wheels and was painted in bright colours
as a plaything for children. In 1983 negotiations with Army establishments
were entered into, after being stored at Wacol for a time, custodianship
was granted to the 2/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted
Infantry) in 1984. The gun is now located near the 2/14 Light Horse
Regiment (QMI) Lines at Enoggera Brisbane.
Article provided by Pte G.A.H.
Ehrich, Assistant Curator 2/14 Light Horse Regt (QMI) Museum
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