Lest we forget Remembering the Indigenous soldiers at Beersheba and all the heros

[NavyDiver]

'Not even classed as citizens': Remembering the Indigenous soldiers at Beersheba - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-30/battle-of-beersheba-indigenous-soldiers-remembered/9098636)

800 young Anzacs (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-31/thousands-of-australians-gather-100-years-battle-of-beersheba/9105448)
131558

Hope the Roughead girls are up front. Not just legends in the football world. One rode at Beersheba 100 years ago today. I saw pollies up front but the families are and should be as well. The Last wreath was laid in honour of our heros from Aboriginal and Torres strait Islanders which is in my view is completely deserved.

[Pickles2]

Very very very great AUSSIES.
Thank You, Pickles.

[bob10]

The AWM"S official magazine, " WARTIME ", has an article on Beersheba. Very interesting, it's titled Beersheba and its myths. In Newsagents now, worth a read.

[Wraithe]

The amount of Aboriginals that fought for this country is overwhelming and to think, they returned home to be shunned by the country they helped fight for...

I have read many stories over the years, about Aboriginal servicemen...

One come to mind, A guy from Onslow, served in France and the Middle East with Distinction, but could not buy a beer when he returned home... Bloody discusting how this country treats the ones that do things for it and yet helps the ones that do nothing but whinge...

[nismine01]

The Great Barrier is a reef.

What is laid in remembrance is a wreath.

Like I hate it when the Yanks spell honour without 'u'.

Regards

Mike

[Redback]

Matthias Ulungura was a member of the Tiwi people, who in 1942 was living on Melville Island. On 19 February, a damaged Japanese fighter returning from an attack on an aerodrome on nearby Bathurst Island crashed near Snake Bay on Melville Island. The Japanese pilot, Hajime Toyoshima, survived the crash, but Ulungura crept up behind him, surprising him with a tomahawk, and took him prisoner.In Ulungura's words:




I walked after him and grabbed his wrist near gun. He got proper big fright. I take revolver from his right side near his knee. Then I walk backwards pointing gun, I say "Stick 'em up, two hands, no more holding hands on head."

”



— Matthias Ulungura

[Ausfree]

[QUOTE=Wraithe;2736150]The amount of Aboriginals that fought for this country is overwhelming and to think, they returned home to be shunned by the country they helped fight for...


The Vietnam vets went through that also, the way the Aboriginal and the Vietnam vets were treat is a smear on this country. I remember the "rent-a-crowd" mob calling the Vietnam vets "baby killers" and other such garbage.........bloody disgraceful and no I'm not a Vietnam vet.

[bob10]

The horses. Never forget the horses. Only one came home, and it was a Generals horse.

world's last great Cavalry charge made by Australian Light Horse at Beersheba WWI - YouTube (https://youtu.be/UbYzsexVgZk)

[Redback]

Don't forget the New Zealanders either, remember it was an ANZAC force, if not for the KIWIs the charge would most likely have failed.

[Mick_Marsh]

The horses. Never forget the horses. Only one came home, and it was a Generals horse.

world's last great Cavalry charge made by Australian Light Horse at Beersheba WWI - YouTube (https://youtu.be/UbYzsexVgZk)
Just thought I'd mention, they weren't cavalry. They were mounted infantry.

[bob10]

The battle as it unfolded. Interesting.

The Battle of Beersheba, 31 October 1917 - YouTube (https://youtu.be/Mxp0kDf0MHM)

[bob10]

Just thought I'd mention, they weren't cavalry. They were mounted infantry.

And that is what the German commander said, " they are Australian light horse, mounted Infantry. They will not charge " But they did. And they charged as cavalry.
As an interesting aside, the Australian Mounted Division's British Commander, Major- General Henry Hodgson, a regular cavalry officer, had been unsuccessful in trying to get swords for his light horsemen, and had recently issued orders to use bayonets in lieu if a suitable situation presented itself. Partly because of what happened at Beersheba, permission was granted the following year, and his light horsemen would finish the War as full sword-carrying cavalry. [ from DR Jean Bou, historian at the strategic and defence studies group A.N.U. in WARTIME, issue 80, Official magazine of the A.W.M.]

[bob10]

Don't forget the New Zealanders either, remember it was an ANZAC force, if not for the KIWIs the charge would most likely have failed.
And without the Australian light horse on their left flank, the Auklanders would not have taken the defences on the right flank of the charge. But yes, don't forget New Zealand. [ see post 11] Edit. there were no NZ's in the charge, And Chauvel was Australian. Takes nothing away from the Kiwis.

[bob10]

To put things in perspective, I again quote Dr Jean Bou. Far from the last charge in history. Within weeks British Yeomanry had undertaken mounted attacks at other places in Palestine, one of which at Mughar, was roughly equal in size to Beersheba. More mounted charges would be made in the campaign by Indian, Australian and British troops, Especially during the Megiddo Offensive in 1918.[Whether they were as important as Beersheba, I'm not qualified to say.]

This is interesting.

MEGIDDO - BEERSHEBA 100TH ANNIVERSARY (http://beersheba100.com.au/history/megiddo.html)

[Redback]

To put things in perspective, I again quote Dr Jean Bou. Far from the last charge in history. Within weeks British Yeomanry had undertaken mounted attacks at other places in Palestine, one of which at Mughar, was roughly equal in size to Beersheba. More mounted charges would be made in the campaign by Indian, Australian and British troops, Especially during the Megiddo Offensive in 1918.[Whether they were as important as Beersheba, I'm not qualified to say.]

This is interesting.

MEGIDDO - BEERSHEBA 100TH ANNIVERSARY (http://beersheba100.com.au/history/megiddo.html)

I think it is more the last successful charge, the actual charge at Megiddo was not, even though they won the battle and could be the case for the others.

[bob10]

The taking of Jerusalem. The Middle East campaign gets very little publicity, compared to the Western Front, possibly because of the horrendous casualties in the Western Front. But the fact is the 400 year rule of the Ottoman Empire was ended , with the Anzacs heavily involved. As well as English, Welsh , Irish, Indian, West Indian and Jewish soldiers. The Scots weren't mentioned, but there would have to have been a mad Scotsman there somewhere.

JERUSALEM - BEERSHEBA 100TH ANNIVERSARY (http://beersheba100.com.au/history/jerusalem.html)

[bob10]

The Jordon valley and Amman.

JORDAN VALLEY & AMMAN - BEERSHEBA 100TH ANNIVERSARY (http://beersheba100.com.au/history/jordan-valley-amman.html)

[bob10]

The Partition plan for Jews and Arabs, of which the consequences resonate to this day.

PARTITION - BEERSHEBA 100TH ANNIVERSARY (http://beersheba100.com.au/history/partition.html)

[bob10]

That historical speech by Ataturk, on display at Gallipoli.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/11/115.jpg
Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives ... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies [Allied soldiers] and the Mehmets [Turkish soldiers] to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours...You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.