Flight Lieutenant Kathy Mortimer (Ret’d) from the Bellinger River RSL Sub Branch delivered an informative and moving Beersheba Day Address that told the story of the battle as well as giving some personal details about the two young men from Bellingen who were among the 31 soldiers killed.

Her speech is reproduced in full here:

During WW1 there were three main theatres of war - Gallipoli in Turkey, the Western Front in France and Belgium, and the Middle East. Egypt in the Middle East was of great importance to England and its allies because whoever had control of the Suez Canal which linked the Red and Mediterranean seas had a strategic advantage in moving troops and equipment.

Palestine  to the northeast of Egypt had been part of Turkey’s empire for hundreds of years and was a threat to the security of the region. The city of Gaza in southern Palestine was the centre of the Turkish defensive position and twice the allies had unsuccessfully attempted to capture it.

The town of Beersheba is located not far from Gaza. In WW1 it was part of Palestine. However, post war it remained a contested region by both Arabs and Jews. In 1948 it became part of Israel, and to the Israelis is known as Be’ersheva. The name means ‘the well of the seven’ and by capturing the town in 1917, the allies would have water they desperately needed for their horses and troops. It also meant that they could outflank the Turkish defensive line, and weaken the Turkish defence of Gaza. When the Australians captured Beersheba, Gaza fell to the allies within a week.

The British had launched an attack on Beersheba that had commenced at dawn on the 31st of October with little success. Intelligence gathering indicated that the water wells had been readied for demolition. If Beersheba could not be taken that day, then the wells would be destroyed. A cavalry charge was a very daring but last chance opportunity for the allies to succeed. Lieutenant General Sir Harry Chauvel gave the order to commence the charge at 4.30pm over five kilometres of open desert and through the trenches of the superior Turkish force.

The battle or charge of Beersheba is remembered as the last great and successful cavalry charge in world history. However, the Lighthorse were not cavalry – who traditionally ride and fight on horseback – but highly mobile mounted infantry. Typically Light Horsemen would dismount and advance on the trenches with rifles. But doing so on nearing Beersheba was not possible because anyone approaching the town could be seen for kilometres and there was no cover.

Of the Australian Light Horse regiments surrounding the Beersheba area, 800 men of the 4th and 12th regiments were best positioned to mount an attack. The horses with their riders brandishing their bayonets and with rifles slung across their backs bore down at a full gallop on the town as the sun dipped low in the sky. It would have been an imposing sight to those defending Beersheba.

To the Australians’ advantage they had the element of surprise at such a bold tactic - they were in plain view and were recognised as Lighthorsemen, so many Turks thought they would wait until the Australians dismounted before firing. The speed of the charge also meant that when the Australians continued coming, many Turkish rifle and gun sights could not be altered quickly enough to allow consistently accurate firing. However, the men and their horses still rode into a barrage of rifle and heavy artillery fire with only their drawn bayonets and covering artillery as protection. The battle was won within the hour, making it one of the shortest in recorded history.

For the bravery of the men, a number of military decorations were awarded including six distinguished service orders, four military crosses, five distinguished conduct medals and 12 military medals.

Many creatures have been used in times of conflict to help gain the military advantage. However, the place for most animals including horses has gone. But in WW1, there was a formidable partnership between the Australian Lighthorsemen and their horses. Other members of the Australian Imperial Force thought the Lighthorsemen, who were mainly country boys and on enlisting already knew how to ride and shoot, had charisma and they aspired to be like them. Their horses were a mixture of thoroughbred, Arab, Timor pony and wild brumby. They had been bred to endure harsh conditions and had become known as ‘Walers’ after having first been bred in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales.

Due to quarantine requirements and the cost involved, only one horse which belonged to a  senior officer was ever returned to Australia. Various stories suggest that all the remaining horses were killed. Whilst still a very moving story, the reality is not as grim. The horses were divided into four categories by veterinary staff. Those that were old, sick or injured were humanely put down after they had been groomed, fed and watered. The remaining horses were transferred to allied armies, allaying fears of some of the Lighthorsemen that the horses would become the property of nomadic desert tribes and be mistreated.

The charge on the 31st October 1917 was a great victory for our nation and our allies. However, it still came at a cost of 31 young Australian lives as well as the  loss of 70 faithful Waler horses.  Thirty-eight men and a number of horses were also wounded. This loss of young men was also personally felt in our small town. You will find the names of two men on our cenotaph who died at Beersheba. Their names also adorn the roll of honour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. These men were more than names on a wall. They were fit and young and they could have been expected to raise families and contribute to our community.

Trooper Joseph William Smith, who served with the 12th Australian Lighthorse, died of gunshot wounds during the charge. He was a 25-year-old, fair-haired, single man, and his records show that in the old imperial measurements he was 5 feet 71/2 inches high, and weighed 154 lbs. His mother Eliza lived in Bellingen.

In November 1917 she wrote a poignant letter to the army - ‘Yesterday I received a telegram telling me my son was killed in action. Could you supply me with the information where he was when he was killed, what happened to him and could you give me the address of his officer or anyone that could tell who was with him when he was killed?’

Fredrick Michael Carney enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 25th January 1915 when 29 years old. He was a deeply religious man who prior to enlistment had been a Salvation Army officer. His next of kin came from Fernmount.  He stood 5 foot 9 inches tall, and had blue eyes and brown hair.

Cpl Carney first saw action in Gallipoli and during his army service he was transferred around various Lighthorse regiments - the last being the 4th Lighthorse field ambulance where his role was to assist battlefield casualties. He was killed on the 1st November whilst assisting some of the soldiers injured in the charge. The unit war diary stated ‘a hostile plane bombed and machine gunned the ambulance, killing four and wounding eight.’ This was in contravention of international humanitarian law.

Cpl Carney and Trooper Smith lie in the Beersheba military cemetery. Those of us who have had the honour of visiting such cemeteries will attest to what beautiful and peaceful resting places they are.

To the children here this morning, you have heard about some of the tragedies of war. Take such knowledge with you as you journey through life. It is your generation who must continue to honour not only the men of Beersheba and all those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom, but also you who can help keep our community, our nation, and the world safe from the devastation of war.

Lest We Forget