The Lost Light Horsemen’s Graves

 

 

The Lost Light Horsemen’s Graves 

The graves of two Light Horsemen, Sergeant Louis Brook, a 25-year-old grazier from Gilgandra, and 19-year-old Trooper Clarence Radburn, a farmer from Forbes. 

Bedouins killed both men in the advance to Damascus in late September. 

Reverend Donald Dow oversaw the burials in a peaceful wadi, while comrades congregated around the graves, their heads bowed in respect.   

The horses standing next to the graves is testimony to the close relationship between the Light Horsemen and their mounts. 

Despite detailed notes and maps on the location of the graves, the grave registration units were unable to find them in 1922. 

Base Records wrote to the men’s families that same year, stating, ‘I regret to advise you notwithstanding the most exhaustive enquiries the overseas authorities have failed to locate the final resting places of the late soldiers.’ 

Brook and Radburn are commemorated on Panels 58 and 59 at the Jerusalem Memorial. 

It’s unlikely their families could ever muster the funds to visit the memorial. 

Rather they took some solace from receiving their treasured personal belongings that included a diary, testament, gold watch and letters.