31 October 1917 - Beersheba and Bill the Bastard:

Introduction:

On this date the Australian Light Horse successfully charged and captured Beersheba, which is located on the northern edge of Israel's Negev Desert 115 km south-east of Tel Aviv and 120 km south-west of Jerusalem. In 1917 Beersheba was part of the Ottoman Empire. So, who were these Lighthorse?

They were mounted infantry, though erroneously they are often referred to as cavalry. They had their foundations prior to Australia's creation on 01 January 1901, previously the British colonies Down Under had sent such mounted units to the Boer War, 11 October 1899 – 31 May 1902.

In practice the Lighthorse would ride to contact, dismount, and then attack in the manner of British Infantry. The distinction from cavalry is somewhat academic as in practice they performed calvary duties: Reconnaissance, scouting, skirmishing, such things were in the Lighthorse saddle bag. One difference? The Lighthorse were not armed with cavalry sabres. At Beersheba the Aussie Trooper adapted by charging with their 17 inch (43 cm) British 1907 pattern bayonet sharply glistening in the sun.

Surprise Attack:

With the more formal British attack on the West of Beersheba failing to make progress, the Lighthorse were ordered to take it. The sun was setting, drinking water was almost gone, thirsty exhausted troopers and their mounts. See the Lighthorse had the previous night forced marched through the desert and taken positions on the East. They sheltered where they could through that long thirsty day as they were shelled and strafed by German aircraft. Some moved straight from their arduous night march into successful attacks destroying Turkish observation posts and forward artillery.

With a few hours of daylight remaining, with the Western Sun in their eyes, the Lighthorse squadrons assembled in extended line, and went right up the guts, at the Turkish trenches. Several miles of machine gun and artillery fire, scything through their ranks. This time there would be no dismount, something it seems the Turkish/German forces expected, after all these scruffy Aussies always dismount.

Under the artillery fire, the squadrons spurred their horses to the gallop, straight at the trenches. By this stage the Turkish soldiers seemed to panic. This is not what our officers said these Australians would do. Besides, we've already seen our German and Turkish senior officers skedaddling off to the North.

And then they were on us! Some Aussie troopers threw themselves into the trenches and went to work with the bayonet. Others jumped the trenches and raced into Town, stopping demolition of precious water supplies. Before sundown the fight was over. Beersheba had fallen to Australian daring do.

Credit: The Lighthorsemen. 1987. Directed by Simon Wincer.

Let me now introduce Bill the Bastard who represents the four-legged heroes of Beersheba:

Bill the Bastard:

Bill was an Australian ‘Waler,’ a War Horse, an Aussie Iconic image: stout, ugly, tough, loyal, and resilient war horse unique to Australia. Lighthorse Troopers considered them mates. Bill had his origins in the English Thoroughbreds and Arabs the English Government shipped Down Under, along with an awful lot of Convicts. This was a tough new land; no fine English blood line would cut it. After introducing some ‘mongrel’ blood from South Africa and Timor: Bill appeared. A tough new breed, just the thing for: Beating the toffs at the Local Races, pulling the wife and kids in a buggy to Sunday Mass, riding to the pub: And fighting a war!

What a contrast. Turkish calvary represented the upper segments of their society, mounted as they were on highly trained thoroughbred horses. Australian's troopers, well they were the other end of the social spectrum. They had the characteristics required for success. What Australians will still describe as:?"You gotta have some mongrel in you to succeed.".

Other Ripping Yarns:

I've always been fascinated by the Australian Lighthorse, probably because my Uncle Les, was mounted on a Waler just like Bill the Bastard and fought through this episode of history. He sent a Postcard back to my Great Grandmother from Egypt in 1916.

Maadi Camp Egypt Feb 2, 1916. Dear Annie, with best love from Les.

You would never accuse my Uncle Les of verbosity.

I've written further about Uncle Les in my blog, available at this link, 'National Myths - Bastard Horses and Scared Heroic Young Men'.

And what other Lighthorse daring exploits wrote them into history? Well 11 months later on 1 October 1918, they actually liberated and took the surrender of Damascus, and you thought Lawrence of Arabia did that.

I discuss this adventure, available at this link, 'Lawrence of Arabia and more genuine Lying Bastards'.

Conclusion:

Let's not forget the bravery and sacrifice of the Australian and Turkish boys who fought that day at Beersheba. It seems so long ago. Yet peace and restfulness still escape this part of the World and many others.

Lest We Forget.