By John Telfer, history writer
Last Saturday, the small town of Allora experienced the arrival of members of the various units of the Queensland Light Horse Regiments, with a street parade and memorial services at the local Anzac Shrine to commemorate the ending of the Boer War of 1900 – 1902.
When the names of those soldiers of the 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen who made the supreme sacrifice in South Africa were read out, one name that stood out was that of Lieutenant Lachlan John Caskey, MID, whose monument alone is located on a corridor wall within the grounds of Allora State School.
Here is his story.
Lachlan, always known as Jack, was born at Clifton, Queensland on 31 May 1870, the youngest son of the late Thomas and Marjory Caskey of Spring Creek.
Tragedy struck the family with the death of his father when Lachlan was only five years of age, so he was brought up by his mother and siblings on their small farm at Spring Creek.
Jack began his education at the small, one teacher school at Spring Creek, and proved to be a very intelligent and assiduous student who passed his Scholarship examinations, and at the age of 15, was employed by the Department of Public Instruction as a Pupil Teacher.
He was sent to various schools for his on-the-job training, as was the custom in those days.
However, the Leichhardt Street school (known as the Brisbane Central School) was his favourite place where he was instrumental in the forming and training of the school cadets and proved to be a very popular staff member.
He was the Commanding Officer of the school cadets, and enjoyed playing cricket and other sports of which he was quite competent.
He was also a very able horseman and pistol and rifle shooter, which was later to hold him in good stead.
It was at the age of 31 when Jack was keen to help England against the Boers in South Africa.
After his departure from Leichhardt School to enlist, the Principal Mr J. E. Jones had this to say:
“He was an excellent teacher, a popular and considerate cadet officer, a courteous and obliging assistant.
The cadets adored him for to know him was to love and respect him I could and did place such implicit confidence in him.”
So, on 25 February 1901, Jack enlisted in the Queensland Imperial Bushman’s Regiment as a Lieutenant, and embarked on board the SS “Templemore” bound for the war front in South Africa.
After arriving in South Africa, Jack was immediately in the thick of the action and led his men on various skirmishes against the Boers who were fighting a guerrilla warfare against the British, and the Commander in Chief Lord Kitchener was determined to overrun the Boers whose tactics were foreign to the British, and they tendered to underestimate the strength and resilience of the Boers.
On 26 September 1901, Jack and his regiment arrived at Wepener, near the Caledon River, Mokari Drift, when they came across a Boer Kopje which contained a force of around 400 Boers who were well armed with artillery and small arms fire.
In the ensuing battle, Lachlan bravely led his men, refusing to surrender against overwhelming odds, after telling his men to hold his horse he rushed into the battle with pistol drawn only to be cut down by the Boer’s accurate sharp shooters.
The next day, when the Boers melted away, which they tendered to do, the regiment went out to retrieve their dead and wounded, but could not locate Jack who was found the next day with his uniform and possessions looted by the Boers.
Jack’s death was deeply felt by his men and Commander, such was his great leadership and courage.
Lieutenant Dods of the Queensland Imperial Bushmen said:
“And so, he is dead – good, brave old Jack.
He would not surrender when called upon and died fighting to the last.
He was our best and most reliable officer.
All his men loved and admired him for his pluck whenever they were in a scrap.”
Jack was given a military funeral by his grieving regiment who were devastated by the death of a great fighting soldier, and buried him in a small cemetery at Van Stadensrus, Orange Free State.
A wooden cross was placed on his grave and a Major Toll carved the inscription on it.
“Lieutenant L. J. Caskey. 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen. 27th September, 1901”.
When the news reached Australia, the grieving for Jack continued with memorials and prayers throughout the country with one of Queensland’s earliest war memorials at Spring Creek State School dedicated to Lieutenant Lachlan John Caskey, which read:
“In loving memory of Lieutenant Lachlan John Caskey, who, during the Boer war was killed in action while bravely leading his men against overwhelming numbers at Mokari Drift, South Africa on 27 September 1901.
An enduring upright lad, an eminent teacher, a gallant and brave officer, faithful and obedient unto death.
Erected by his classmates and admirers at Spring Creek on 24 May 1902”.
Six months later the state minister for Public Instruction unveiled a memorial to Jack in Toowong Cemetery, at a ceremony attended by representatives of the 5 Queensland Contingent of the Imperial Bushmen, the Teacher’s Corps and the State School Cadets.
In 1912 the original Spring Creek memorial was destroyed in a fire so a replica was made and is now installed at the Allora State School.
His name is also listed in the Allora town memorial, and the Anzac Square Boer War memorial in
Brisbane.
Lieutenant Lachlan John Caskey’s sacrifice has firmly enshrined him in the history of those brave Light Horsemen, who have ensured a romantic and enduring legend in the history of the Anzacs.
The Boer War was considered the first major conflict to involve Australia in the later part of the 19th century and early 20th century.
It was here that the legend started.
In all 16,000 enlisted to fight in the Boer War and suffered 600 dead and wounded, and were awarded 6 Victoria Crosses.
