On Saturday, 31st August, 2019 a Life-Size Bronze Statue of Lt. Col. KENNETH MACKAY will be unveiled at the Lt. Horse Memorial in Murrumburrah NSW. On 30th August, 1987 the very first call-up muster and enrolments to the 1st Australian Horse took place in Murrumburrah-Harden, with further recruitments taking place throughout the country districts of NSW. Mackay was a keen horseman and military historian. His vision, helped realise his belief that a mounted Lt. Horse, capitalising on Australian bush skills and combining the function of infantry and cavalry would create a horse to protect a soon-to-be federated Australia.
The Boer War was looming for the Empire. The 1st Australian Horse sent 2 contingents to the Boer War in 1899 and 1900. This was the first time a colonial military group had used the name “Australian”. His motto for the ‘Australian Horse’ ‘For Hearths & Homes’ exemplified his belief that it was essential for Australians to protect ourselves using our own resources. Mackay’s motto was used until 1904 when the Australian Horse became part of the Australian Lt. Horse. Mackay was given the command of the 1st Lt. Horse Brigade in 1912 and supervised its reorganisation into the 3rd Lt Horse Brigade. After the outbreak of WW1, Mackay raised the Australian Army Reserve and was appointed Director General in 1916. He retired from military service in 1920 with the Honorary Rank Major General.
