Lieutenant Leslie Maygar served with the 5th Contingent Victorian Mounted Rifles in south Africa during the Boer War (1899-1902). He was awarded the Victoria cross for heroism . Maygar served with the 15th Light Horse (CMF) in the period 1902-1914 and at the outbreak of WWI (1914-1918) he was promoted to Major and appointed as a Squadron Commander with 4th Light Horse (AIF). He served at Gallipoli then was promoted Lieutenant Colonel and appointed Commanding Officer 8th Light Horse. He was serving in this capacity at Beersheba in October 1917 when the regiment was attacked by enemy aircraft. Maygar died of wounds sustained in the attack. Fine photograph of officer of the Victorian Mounted Rifles in the period immediately following the Boer War. Leslie Maygar was a native of the Euroa district and a geographic feature and a winery have been named in his honour.Framed black and white photograph of Lieutenant Leslie Maygar VC in Victorian Mounted Rifles uniform following his return from South Africa 1902. He is wearing his Victoria Cross and Queen's South African medal with three bars: Transvaal, Orange Free State, Cape Colony..Engraved panel at lower centre frame "Lt L C Maygar VC 5VMR / Date of Award 23-11.01"maygar leslie c lieutenant vc, victoria cross, vmr 5th contingent, 8th light horse regiment

The Maygar family came to Greensborough circa 1841 from Somerset England. They were of Hungarian descent. They farmed along the Plenty River. Leslie Cecil Maygar VC, DSO, VD was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross. In 1901 Lieutenant Maygar was awarded the Victoria Cross for rescuing a fellow Victorian whose horse had been shot. He died at Beersheeba in Palestine in 1917.Digital copy of black and white photograph.leslie cecil maygar, maygar family, victoria cross

Presented to the 8/13 Regimental Collection by the 8th Light Horse Association c. 1950. The 8th Light Horse Regiment AIF was raised at Broadmeadows Victoria in September 1914 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander White and formed part of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade. The regiment served at Gallipoli where in a courageous but ill-fated charge at the Nek on 7 August 1915 it suffered horrendous casualties including Lieutenant Colonel White. Rebuilt in Egypt under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Maygar VC the regiment went on the serve throughout the Middle East Campaign. Colonel Maygar died of wounds at Beersheba when the regiment was attacked by enemy aircraft while waiting to follow up the successful charge of the 4th LH Brigade on 30 October 1917. The 8th Light Horse AIF was disbanded in 1919, but soon after re-raised as the 8th (Indi) Light Horse in the Citizen Military Forces, superseding 16th (Indi) Light Horse. It had its headquarters at Benalla with sub-units throughout the Upper Murray and Northeast Victoria. In December 1941, the regiment converted from horse to mechanised, initially as 8th Reconnaissance Battalion then in July 1942 it became 8th Cavalry Regiment and served in Northern Territory. As Japanese threat to the mainland declined the regiment was disbanded.Silver Cup with handles presented to the 8th Light Horse Regiment for annual shooting competition. Cup sits on circular wooden base.8th Light Horse Regiment / The Wallace Cup / Teams match annual shootmilitary, light horse, 8th, wallace, trophy