HONCOL - COLONEL M. ROGER BURZACOTT RFD

AUGUST 2008 REPORT TO THE AGM

I wish to thank the President and his Committee for the support given by SAMRA to A Sqn 3/9 LH (SAMR) to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of Gaza-Beersheba in October and November 2007.

In October 2007 I attended the annual Honorary Colonels briefing at the School of Armour at Puckapunyal. The aim of the briefing was to familiarize us with modern training methods and in particular the use of simulators for driver, gunnery and operational training. A similar briefing is to be conducted in Oct 08.

Anzac Day 25 Apr 08, saw the Squadron mount its traditional guard and cataphlaque party at the Light Horse Memorial in Adelaide where they were joined by the 'Old and Bold' of the Regiment, the members of the South Australian Mounted Rifles Association (SAMRA). Now that this event is announced at the Dawn Service there has been a noticeable increase in attendance, this year included the Lord Mayor.

National Boer War Memorial

In May I attended the dedication of the site for the proposed National Boer War Memorial in Canberra. The President of SAMRA and I are to form the local committee (a sub committee of SAMRA) to provide State representation to the national forum. We are planning a South Australian launch event and the proposal is to re-enact the 'heliograph exercise' between Mt Lofty and the Hummocks near Kulpara on York Peninsula. More to follow once detailed planning is completed.

The Annual 'Beersheba Dinner'

The annual 'All Ranks Formal Dinner' for both serving and SAMRA members was to be conducted by the Sqn on Sat 1 Nov in the Torrens Training Depot (TTD), a possible date change to the 8 Nov or 15 Nov may occur if a venue can be confirmed, this is to enable members returning from Rifle Coy Butterworth to attend. The themes this year are to include the capture of the Standard of the 46th Turkish Regiment and the Armistice of WW1.

Nec Aspera Terrant

M Roger Burzacott RFD
Honorary Colonel
3rd/9th Light Horse Regiment