tonydawe
A Fixture
On 31 October 1917, two regiments (the 4th and the 12th) of the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade of the Desert Mounted Column mounted a desperate frontal charge against the Turkish defenders of the strategically vital and ancient town of Beersheba, in what is today modern Israel.
After a long ride at night over 48 hours, and a full day of relentless infantry attacks the attack on Beersheba looked to be faltering. A hastily convened meeting in the mid afternoon brought together the Allied Generals under the Command of Australian Lt Gen Harry Chauvel.
"With the day on the wane, it was now neck or nothing; the time had come to commit the reserve. Chauvel issued decisive orders for the occupation of Beersheba. Brig. Grant of the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade and Fitzgerald of the Yeomanry were at Headquarters; they pleaded for the honour of the charge. Put Grant straight at it was Chauvels terse order.
The 4th and 12th Australian Light Horse Regiments drew up behind a ridge. From the crest, Beersheba was in full view. The course lay down a long, slight slope which was bare of cover. Between them and the town lay the enemy defences. The 4th was on the right; the 12th was on the left. They rode with bayonets in hand. Each drew up on a squadron frontage. Every man knew that only a wild, desperate charge could seize Beersheba before dark.
They moved off at the trot, deploying at once into artillery formation, with 5 metres between horsemen. Almost at once the pace quickened to a gallop. Once direction was given, the lead squadrons pressed forward. The 11th Australian Light Horse Regiment and the Yeomanry followed at the trot in reserve. The Turks opened fire with shrapnel. Machine guns fired against the lead squadrons. The Royal Horse Artillery got their range and soon had them out of action. The Turkish riflemen fired, horses were hit, but the charge was not checked. The Lighthorsemen drove in their spurs. The bewildered enemy failed to adjust their sights and soon their fire was passing harmlessly overhead.
The 4th took the trenches; the enemy soon surrendered. The 12th rode through a gap and on into the town. Their was a bitter fight. Some enemy surrendered; others fled and were pursued into the Judean Hills. In less than an hour it was over; the enemy was finally beaten.
From his headquarters, Chauvel had watched the battle develop. He saw the New Zealanders swarming the Tel; on their right the 9th and 10th LH Regiment were trotting in pursuit under shrapnel. On the Wadi the 2nd and 3rd LH Regiments were pressing forward in their attempt to take the town from the east. The Royal Horse Artillery were firing in support. Then over the ridge rode the 4th and 12th . . . shrapnel . . . the signal to charge! Not for almost an hour did Chauvel learn that Beersheba had been won.
Then disaster. The 9th and 10th in pursuit were bombed by a lone German aircraft; they suffered heavy casualties. The Desert Mounted Corps watered at the wells of the patriarchs and in the pool. For days, the charge was the talk of the camps and messes.
The Australian Light Horse had galloped into history."
For those of you who haven't seen it, I highly recommend the movie The Lighthorsemen, which details the story of the Charge at Beersheba.
Below are some photos that you might find interesting.
The first one, taken in the middle of the charge, was taken by a photographer who rode ahead of the charge, dismounted while under rifle and artillery fire and then turned his back to the enemy to get this shot of his mates charging forward (what a legend).
The second photo shows the excellent diorama at the Australian War Memorial which depicts the arrival of the Lighthorseman at the Turkish trenches around Beersheba wielding their bayonets on horseback.
The last photo shows the Commonwealth Military Cemetery at Beersheba where men who fell during that fateful day are buried and remembered.
After a long ride at night over 48 hours, and a full day of relentless infantry attacks the attack on Beersheba looked to be faltering. A hastily convened meeting in the mid afternoon brought together the Allied Generals under the Command of Australian Lt Gen Harry Chauvel.
"With the day on the wane, it was now neck or nothing; the time had come to commit the reserve. Chauvel issued decisive orders for the occupation of Beersheba. Brig. Grant of the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade and Fitzgerald of the Yeomanry were at Headquarters; they pleaded for the honour of the charge. Put Grant straight at it was Chauvels terse order.
The 4th and 12th Australian Light Horse Regiments drew up behind a ridge. From the crest, Beersheba was in full view. The course lay down a long, slight slope which was bare of cover. Between them and the town lay the enemy defences. The 4th was on the right; the 12th was on the left. They rode with bayonets in hand. Each drew up on a squadron frontage. Every man knew that only a wild, desperate charge could seize Beersheba before dark.
They moved off at the trot, deploying at once into artillery formation, with 5 metres between horsemen. Almost at once the pace quickened to a gallop. Once direction was given, the lead squadrons pressed forward. The 11th Australian Light Horse Regiment and the Yeomanry followed at the trot in reserve. The Turks opened fire with shrapnel. Machine guns fired against the lead squadrons. The Royal Horse Artillery got their range and soon had them out of action. The Turkish riflemen fired, horses were hit, but the charge was not checked. The Lighthorsemen drove in their spurs. The bewildered enemy failed to adjust their sights and soon their fire was passing harmlessly overhead.
The 4th took the trenches; the enemy soon surrendered. The 12th rode through a gap and on into the town. Their was a bitter fight. Some enemy surrendered; others fled and were pursued into the Judean Hills. In less than an hour it was over; the enemy was finally beaten.
From his headquarters, Chauvel had watched the battle develop. He saw the New Zealanders swarming the Tel; on their right the 9th and 10th LH Regiment were trotting in pursuit under shrapnel. On the Wadi the 2nd and 3rd LH Regiments were pressing forward in their attempt to take the town from the east. The Royal Horse Artillery were firing in support. Then over the ridge rode the 4th and 12th . . . shrapnel . . . the signal to charge! Not for almost an hour did Chauvel learn that Beersheba had been won.
Then disaster. The 9th and 10th in pursuit were bombed by a lone German aircraft; they suffered heavy casualties. The Desert Mounted Corps watered at the wells of the patriarchs and in the pool. For days, the charge was the talk of the camps and messes.
The Australian Light Horse had galloped into history."
For those of you who haven't seen it, I highly recommend the movie The Lighthorsemen, which details the story of the Charge at Beersheba.
Below are some photos that you might find interesting.
The first one, taken in the middle of the charge, was taken by a photographer who rode ahead of the charge, dismounted while under rifle and artillery fire and then turned his back to the enemy to get this shot of his mates charging forward (what a legend).
The second photo shows the excellent diorama at the Australian War Memorial which depicts the arrival of the Lighthorseman at the Turkish trenches around Beersheba wielding their bayonets on horseback.
The last photo shows the Commonwealth Military Cemetery at Beersheba where men who fell during that fateful day are buried and remembered.
