Australians in Israel honour Beersheba cavalry charge

THOUSANDS of Australians gathered to watch the re-enactment of the charge of the Light Horse at Beersheba that contributed to the creation of Israel.

History enthusiasts, many of them descendants of soldiers who fought in the Australian Light Horse Brigade, take part in a re-enactment of the charge on Beersheba. Picture: AAP.

IT was billed as a re-enactment of the charge of the Light Horse at Beersheba but it ended up being a gentle walk.

Thousands of Australians had gathered in stands at a dust bowl called Be’ersheva River Park, where the Australian mounted troops began the charge that stormed the town a century ago.

A band played the Australian classics On The Road To Gundagai and Click Go The Shears along with a modern composition of bush poetry set to music which described the ride.

Chants of “Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!” filled their air at regular intervals.

History enthusiasts, many of them descendants of soldiers who fought in the Australian Light Horse Brigade, take part in a re-enactment of the charge on Beersheba. Picture: AAP.

One by one dignitaries arrived to cheers from the crowd with the biggest applause reserved Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

All except Israel’s minister for culture Miri Regev who for mysterious reasons was roundly booed to the amusement of the Israeli journalists present.

The official party was seated. In the distance a line of horses appeared in the distance walking slowly towards the crowd.

Malcolm Turnbull, centre left, stands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, centre right, as they pose with two Australians wearing uniforms from the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade from World War I, including Avon Moffatt, right, from Armidale, NSW. Picture: AP.

The crowd waited. The horses kept walking. They were a magnificent sight in their Light Horse uniforms, a magnificent if slow moving sight.

The riders reached a white line in the dirt. At an order from their commander, they wheeled right and walked off.

The loudspeaker thanked us for coming. The stands began to empty. Cameramen packed up their equipment. Cigarettes were lit.

Then it was noticed the official party had moved seats on the stage with a clear view to the East — the direction from which the Light Horse had charged on that October day in 1917.

Members of the Australian Light Horse association ride near Beersheva in the southern Israeli desert on October 31, 2017 during a re-enactment of the historical fight of the ANZAC where forces captured the area from the Ottoman Empire during the First World War. Picture: AFP.

Were they coming back? In the distance a cloud of dust rose from beyond the horizon. They were coming back! Down the rise a smaller group of riders came at a canter. It was magnificent to behold. At a gallop they would have been terrifying as no doubt their ancestors were.

The riders pulled up before the white line, turned and trotted back up the hill.

It was dusk as we made our way back to the buses and off to a second service of remembrance of the day at the Park of the Australian Soldier.

Musicians from the Israeli army orchestra perform as members of the Australian Light Horse association ride through Beersheba, in the northern Israeli desert. Picture: AFP.

Earlier after attending the main service at the Commonwealth war cemetery Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his wife Lucy joined Mr Netanyahu and his wife Sara along with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and his wife Chloe to watch a parade of Light Horse Association riders through the modern city of Beersheba.