The Battle of Beersheba, 31 October 1917 

My Great-Grandfather, Hugh Cummins, took a bullet to the knee in this offensive. He rode with the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade. He survived only to have a fragment of that bullet cause him a stroke in 1970 which caused him to pass. Lest we forget 🙏🏻

Nice presentation of the course of the battle. My grandfather served in the 1st Light Horse Regiment. He survived.

Served in the 1970s with 10th Light Horse who were part of the Battle of Beersheba and had the privilage of meeting several veterans from that era. Each year we have a dinner as close as possible to the 31st of October with serving members.

The photo on the bottom right from 0:11 to 0:56 of Australians with Bedouins at a well in Khelasa contains an image of my great grandfather. Sapper Arthur Nilsen. Along with his mates. From left to right: Cpl McGiugan DCM, Sapper Arthur Nilsen, Cpl Samuel Dawson MM, and Cpl Richard Cyril Nicholson. At Makhadet Hajla on the night of 21-22 March 1918, They were responsible for constructing a pontoon bridge across the Jordan River. Cpl Samuel Dawson swam across the fast flowing river with a rope to help secure a line under enemy fire. He was later joined by my great grandfather, Spr. Arthur Nilsen, who also swam across, and the rest of D troop in constructing the bridge while still coming under heavy enemy fire. It turned out to the be the first crossing of the Jordan River made by allied forces. And the first bridgehead for forces conducting operations on the east bank of the Jordan River on their way to Amman. Corporal Samuel Dawson received the Military Medal for his actions that night. It’s the only known photo of my great grandfather during WW1. (He also served in WW2) So imagine my shock and pride when I saw it. Thank you so much Tom for keeping his and his mates legacy alive. It means so much to me to see him immortalized in this video. Lest we forget.

I was watching a clip from a movie about this battle and noticed the link to this video. It's so nice to get all the information about the battle that movies can gloss over.

Thank you. My great Uncle was among those killed from the 4th light horse.

Thank you for that explanation of events a nd battles of long ago. My grandfather used to talk of Beersheba. From Australia.

And this morning they were remembered. Thank you for a project very well done.

Lest we forget indeed, but don't forget the horses either. Walers were the best mount a horse soldier could ask for.

My paternal grandfather participated in the charge at Beersheba, I cannot appreciate what they experienced, I struggle to express my appreciation/admiration of the brave souls who prosecuted this action, may they be always remembered for their courage and always celebrated. Lest we forget. RIP Grand Dad.

My great grandfather Thomas joesph canny was a Australian light horseman in Palestine at beersheba on famous charge of beersheba 31st October 1917

Brilliant summary, so often it's hard to understand how these battles unfold.

The Jews should remember the courage of the Australian and New Zealander Light Horsemen's charge braving machine guns fire from the Turkish and German trenches of Beersheba. Their role at this turning point Battle of Beersheba in liberating Palestine in 1917 from Turkish's control in WW1 made paved the way for General Allenby successful reconquest of Jerusalem since the First Crusade, without a shot fired and the independence of the Modern State of Israel in 1948 is a forgotten chapter by the world at large.

Good, clear explanation. I was surprised to see the very great size of the Commonwealth force.

Well done. Thank you. Peace my brothers.

How wonderful is this. Bravo

My great grandfather Thomas Joseph canny was a lighthorseman in 9th light horse regiment at battle of Beersheba in first world war and he got got shot at lone pine at Gallipoli and shot in the arm at Beersheba in the first world war

Tom, did you ever get photos of the cemetery at Beersheba?, I am looking for a photo of the grave and headstone of RSM WO1 Alex Wilson, 4th Light Horse, KIA during the Charge.

One of the most successful offensive cavalry charges of the 20th century was not conducted by cavalry at all, but rather by mounted infantry (from Wiki). As the movie shows, the defenders held their fire, waiting for the infantry to dismount.

I am Australian and proud of it, but I also think that if you were related to one of those 4400 Turks you should also be proud.

This battle took place 50 years to the day that I was born. God bless the ANZACS and the Light Horsemen!

Does anyone have a photo of the grave and headstone of RSM WO1 Alex Wilson at Beer sheva war cemetery? He was Killed in Action as his horse cleared the trenches on the outskirts of Beersheba during the Charge. As Alex's horse leaped the trenches on the outskirts of Beersheba, a Turkish soldier apparently spun around and shot him from behind. Later he was found still astride his horse, dead from gunshot. I would love to see a photo of his grave with some flowers placed near the head stone. Two days before the Charge, he must have had a premonition because his good mate Sgt French from Maffra Victoria relayed after the war that Alex had told him during the approach to Beersheba - 'I think there is a bullet for me at Beersheba'. Alex was RSM 4th Light Horse Regiment and rode beside the CO, Lt Col Murray Bourchier in front of the lead Squadron. I'm in touch with Alex's relatives (Alex's nephew and his family) and would love to give them a photo of Alex's grave. Alex was killed in action age 24. He was from Drouin Victoria and enlisted the same month as war was declared - August 1914. Murray Bourchier was a lieutenant in that month and was Alex's troop leader in 1914. I had the honour to serve with the descendant Regiment of the 4th Light Horse - 4/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment RAAC in the 1980s and 90s.

I absolutely respect that charge I got real emotional horses really are one of Manson best friends go aussies

My great grandfather fought in Beersheba and Gallipoli survived both and he saw some terrible things yet the hardest thing he said he had to do was shoot his horse because they couldn’t bring them back from Australia

From across the pond. Very well presented. Here we don't learn or overlook the non European campaigns. I do know there were campaigns in the Mediterranean, African Colonies and probably elsewhere. Will you be addressing these other engagements. Narragansett Bay

Commenting for Algorithm because this video deserves more views

What program do you use for animation?

Im driving down to Beersheva next week and staying for 3 nights. I'ii be driving and walking the old battlefield sites and taking loads of pictures.

THANK YOU FROM ISRAEL

Lest we forget

👍

.......good video but the audio level is a pain

What about the two Turkish cav regiments in the NE???

my grandfather rode in the charge he said it was pretty scary jumping over trenches bristling with bayonets, you didnt mention one very critical detail, that the German officers in the trenches saw the umu feather plumes and knew they were mounted infantry, and would stop some distance away and then fight on foot, so they had all the gun sights set at 800 yards, and once the ANZACs had pased that point the Turks and Germans were shooting over their heads good video btw

The Digger knew what to do.... See he was true Blue..... Running through lead and shot ....For his mates who had already dropped ....Blood and guts never do you mind ,.....Under their Flag, One unified kind, .........Now memories fading fast , ......All we have now ,a generation of self centred Ass, The digger knew what to do unity under their Flag see they were true Blue,......Now the Dunny needs flushen, its sad to say .........Due to the fact the vast majority have turned Yellow or have become pommy Cattle talken shit all Day ......

How much blood has soaked into the Holy Land of Milk and Honey ... only a wise man may truly say. Too much by far I say.😢

Sadly, many of the survivors died later, of dysentery and the Spanish flu. They deserved better.

Excellent video where was us

Have you attacked to 4000 enemy with 50 000 soldiers while having tech advantage. What a bravery!

Hey mate didn't the Australian's light horse fight that battle mate the Australian's won that battle

. Ice😊

sound to low

Love the Turkish soldiers fought like warriors, bloody legends

Very good representation. Though I have hard time understanding why a 1/10 victory with overwhelming artillery superiority is singled out as unseen valor. It must be political rhetoric rather than military.

The Turks apparently did better at Gallipoli than in Palestine. Soldiers generally do fight better defending their own country.

As always the anzacs get the worst job! Steep hills with machine guns on top.

Oh the poor Palestinians .... Long live Palestine, from the Mountains to the Sea, fr. Australia

Sad you are not a trained soldier mate. You get your corps, divisions and battalions/regiments a tad confused.

Fuck this is boring. Can you use total war simulations to remake this? Is there a WW1 mod?

why are you speaking so quiet?