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Charge of the Light Horse on Beersheba MemorialPrint Page 
The sculpture commemorates the charge of the 4th and 12th Australian Light Horse Regiments on the town of Beersheba in World War One. It was unveiled on the centenary of the charge.
Beersheba, a heavily fortified town 43 kilometres from the Turkish bastion of Gaza, was the scene of an historic charge by the 4th Light Horse Brigade on 31 October 1917. Beersheba anchored the right end of a defensive line that stretched all the way from Gaza on the Mediterranean coast. After two failed attempts to attack Gaza frontally it was decided to outflank it by turning the Turkish line around Beersheba. The attack was launched at dawn on 31 October but by late afternoon the British 20 Corps had made little headway toward the town and its vital wells.
Lieutenant General Harry Chauvel, commanding the Desert Mounted Corps, thus ordered the 4th Light Horse Brigade forward to attempt to secure the position. Brigadier William Grant responded by ordering light horseman of the 4th and 12th Regiments to charge at the unwired Turkish trenches. Employing their bayonets as "swords" the momentum of the surprise attack carried them through the Turkish defences. The water supplies were saved and over 1,000 Turkish prisoners were taken. The fall of Beersheba thus opened the way for a general outflanking of the Gaza-Beersheba Line. After severe fighting Turkish forces abandoned Gaza on 6 November and began their withdrawal into Palestine.
Location
| Address: | Brook Street, Median Strip, Muswellbrook, 2333 |
|---|---|
| State: | NSW |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -32.263407 Long: 150.889491 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
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| Monument Theme: | Conflict |
| Sub-Theme: | WW1 |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 31-October-1917 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 31-October-1917 |
| Artist: | Brett Garling |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Tuesday 31st October, 2017 |
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Muswellbrook Shire Council
Charge of the Lighthorse on Beersheba Memorial was officially unveilled on the occasion of its centenary on 31 October 2017 by five Mayors of Muswellbrook
The Hon John Jobling, OAM, MStJ 1st Mayor of Muswellbrook (1974 - 1986)
Ian Wolfgang 2nd Mayor of Muswellbrook (1986 - 1989)
Ian Seymour, OAM 3rd Mayor of Muswellbrook (1989 - 1999)
Brig (ret) John Colvin, AM, RFD, ED 4th Mayor of Muswellbrook (1999 - 2008)
and Martin Rush Mayor
and dedicated by the Rev`d Scott Dulley Anglican Rector of Muswellbrook
Cr R. Scholes Deputy Mayor
Cr S. Bailey Cr M. Bowditch Cr J. Eades Cr J. Foy Cr M. Green Cr J. Ledlin Cr R. McNeill Cr S. Reynolds Cr S. Ward Cr B. N. Woodruff
S. McDonald General Manager
