Craig Kelly (Hughes, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last Monday was the 99th anniversary of the charge of the 4th Australian Light Horse Regiment at Beersheba, late in the afternoon on 31 October 1917, which is remembered as the last great cavalry charge. With light fading and with Beersheba's defences held by over 1,000 Turkish riflemen, nine machineguns and two aircraft, General Grant gave the orders personally to the 12th Light Horse Regiment. He said:

Men, you’re fighting for water. There’s no water between this side of Beersheba and Esani. Use your bayonets as swords. I wish you the best of luck.

With skill, daring, surprise and courage they stormed the trenches. They suffered 31 killed and 36 wounded, with over 70 horses killed. They captured the town of Beersheba as well as over 700 men, and a week later the British troops were able to enter Jerusalem.

I was honoured to attend a service of this 99th anniversary at Remount Park in Holsworthy in my electorate, which is part of the original remount depot of the Australian Light Horse. I would like to thank the Australian Christian Nation Association for organising the commemoration. I look forward to next year when we will be commemorating the 100th anniversary of this most important event in our history.