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

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

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.]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

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

Originally Posted by 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

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.

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

The Jordon valley and Amman.

JORDAN VALLEY & AMMAN - BEERSHEBA 100TH ANNIVERSARY

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

PARTITION - BEERSHEBA 100TH ANNIVERSARY