Trophy from Anzac Mounted Division race meeting, Richon Le Zion : Sergeant R C McCarthy, 6 Light Horse Regiment, AIF

Sterling silver cup, with Birmingham 1916 hallmarks, with fine beading around stem and base but otherwise plain. Cup is engraved 'ANZAC MUONTED (Sic) DIVISION RACE MEETING RICHON LE SION (Sic) 14.12.18 RICHON PLATE 5 FURLONGS CUP PRESENTED BY BRIG. GEN. W. MELDRUM C.M.G. D.S.O. WON BY SERGT McCARTHY'S B.G. [bay gelding] MAZAR'.

Rupert Clyde McCarthy, a farmer from Nelligen, NSW, enlisted in the AIF on 5 December 1914 aged 22. He sailed with the 4th reinforcements of 6 Light Horse Regiment from Sydney aboard HMAT Shropshire on 17 March 1915. His number was 875 and he served initially as a private. He participated in the Gallipoli campaign from May until December 1915 and then during the Palestine campaigns. During the war he was promoted to Lance Corporal and then Temporary Sergeant Cook in November 1918. In December he won this trophy at the Anzac Mounted Division Race Meeting. Two months later, on 20 February 1919, he was admitted to hospital dangerously ill with pneumococcal meningitis. He died on 23 February and was buried in the Dair El Belah War Cemetery in Palestine.