Members of the Australian Light Horse unit commemorate 100-year anniversary of Battle of Beersheba

MEMBERS of the Australian Light Horse unit are readying to mark the 100th anniversary of one of the Anzacs’ greatest victories at the Battle of Beersheba.

HUNDREDS of Australians have arrived in Israel for a week-long celebration to mark the 100-year anniversary of one of the Anzacs’ greatest victories at the Battle of Beersheba.

Members of the Australian Light Horse unit, including relatives of those who fought in World War I, have travelled to the city in the Negeve desert of southern Israel to remember those who fought in the decisive battle.

Members of the Australian Light Horse unit attend a memorial ceremony at the old Ottoman Tzemach Railway Station, on the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee. Picture: AFP

Hundreds of members of the Australian Light Horse unit have travelled to Israel. Picture: AFP

The Light Horse have begun their week-long trip to the Middle East to commemorate the battle. Picture: AFP

Allied victory led to the conquest of the city and the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

The group will attend commemoration services at the British War Memorial and Turkish Memorial in Beersheba, the official opening of the new Light Horse Museum in the city and a civic reception.

A re-enactment of the charge itself will be held on the official anniversary date of October 31.

The Battle of Beersheba was part of the Palestine campaign in the latter stages of the war and saw Allied forces tasked with seizing the heavily fortified city 43km from Gaza.

The ‘Thunder of a light horse charge': The charge of the 4th Light Horse Brigade at Beersheba. Picture: AAP/Australian War Memorial

The historic charge was the focal point of the battle and helped break the Turkish lines, allowing the Australians to enter the city and secure its water supply.

The 4th, 8th, 9th, 11th and 12th Australian Light Horse Regiments were employed in the attack, in which soldiers used their bayonets as ‘swords’ with their rifles on their back, and the Imperial Army Corps.

The surprise nature of the attack overwhelmed the Turkish defence who had more than 1000 killed or wounded. The Allies lost 171 men and captured around 2,000 prisoners.

Victory at the Battle of Beer Sheva led to the end of the Ottoman Empire. Picture: AFP

The battle has been described as one of Australia’s last great cavalry charges. Picture: AFP

THE BATTLE OF BEER SHEVA

* The one-day conflict occurred on October 31, 1917 between British Empire forces and those of the Ottoman and German empires.

* Took place at Beersheba in modern-day Israel.

* Australian soldiers from the 4th and 12th Light Horse regiments conducted a mounted infantry charge using bayonets rather than rifles — often described as one of Australia’s last great cavalry charges.

Originally published as Members of the Australian Light Horse unit commemorate 100-year anniversary of Battle of Beersheba