The last charge

ONE hundred years ago today, the

4th and 12th Australian Light Horse conducted the world’s last great cavalry charge, capturing the wells of Beersheba for Allied forces in World War I’s Palestinian conflict.

In what is now part of Israel, Beersheba was a major strategic victory and forced the Turkish army to retreat and opened the way for the fall of Jerusalem. It was the last mounted cavalry charge ever conducted in the history of warfare. The 4th and 12th Light Horse casualties amounted to 31 killed and 36 wounded. At least 70 horses also perished. The Turkish defenders suffered many casualties and between 700 and 1000 troops were captured. According to a 90th anniversary article in the Jerusalem Post on October 29, 2007 “the Australian victory at Beersheba in 1917 set in train some remarkable events; the liberation of Jerusalem, the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the British Mandate in Palestine and ultimately the establishment of the State of Israel.” Commemorations are being held this week in Israel and Australia.

Commissioned by the Pratt Foundation, 90th anniversary bronze created by Australian sculptor Peter Corlett, Park of the Australian Soldier, Be’er Sheva (Beersheba), Israel. (Photo by Ian Nellist) View of the camp at the Anzac Receiving Station at...