Epic Charge of The Australian Light Horse - Battle of Beersheba 1917

[@cassandraburton6132]

My grandfather was there. He was the vet, caring for the horses of the lighthorsemen. I am 75yrs old and have his sword.❤️🦋🇦🇺

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching & for sharing your family story.

[@theinigosilvastation6232]

Kudos to you and your horses 🫡

[@dianewarner7505]

Mine too

[@angelashort1331]

4 horses got back to nz , after the war. My husband's father was part of all this , he was a Mounted Wellington Expedicionary Force Rifleman . The most famous horse ofthe 4 is Bess , commemorates each ANZAC day , at FLOCK HOUSE , in the Manawatu .This is a great story , and it changed The Future for Israel , All part of prophesied hope for that country . We're proud of our family's part in THE HOPE , THAT IS IN GOD'S LAND . 🙏 ❤️ 🙌

[@cassandraburton6132]

@ Yes, so true. Israel is where He has put His name. Thankyou for posting this. I too am glad my grandfather played a part in liberating His people. ❤️🇮🇱🇦🇺🇮🇱🇦🇺🇮🇱❤️

[@CraigWilsonAust]

Watching this on a special day here in Australia. 11/11. Lest we forget. I had the fortune of meeting one of the last surviving members of the lighthorse when I was younger. His name was Stuart. I only wish I had learnt more from him back then. He was trying to set up a war museum & of course, red tape & lack of insurance shut him down. RIP.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & your comment.

[@deanb5693]

@@TheHistoryChap In 2005 I was deployed to MFO Sinai and was fortunate enough to travel "officially" throughout the area. Point of note there is only 1 well left standing back then. Trust me people I walked some of that area and it is a very, very harsh terrain.

[@Sw-nv4hw]

My great great uncle was in the 4th light horse on that day in beesheeba. Lest we forget.💜

[@deanb5693]

@@Sw-nv4hw Hat off, a knee taken to all!

[@sherylannett492]

My Great Uncle, Walter Kinghorn was one of the 31 that was killed in the charge - 27yo farming lad from SWest Victoria. RIP

[@jonkirk1309]

My cousin Royland Huband died at Beersheba, charging the machine guns as he was part of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles. He is buried in Jerusalem...

[@jamesgollan8602]

It was a pity that NZ Mounted Rifles were not under Allenby’s command, the English Commander had no idea what he was doing and considered the colonials to be cannon fodder. The movie The Light Horse men highlights that fact

[@danieltynan5301]

Lest we forget

[@mattyallen3396]

​@@jamesgollan8602 Winston Churchill was the same

[@jamesgollan8602]

@ Churchill was the brains behind Gallipoli.

[@mattyallen3396]

@jamesgollan8602 as well as sending troops to Greece in WW2. If the 8th Army had kept the momentum they would've cleared north Africa out before the Germans had the chance to get there

[@uncleheavy6819]

The charge of the Australian Light Horse at Beersheba is a breathtaking piece of cinematography. Well worth watching.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Up there as one of my great war movie snippets

[@jlmfoy365]

Couldn't agree more.

[@brianford8493]

Yep in with the bayonets boys

[@danieltynan5301]

No better and appropriate words than Bloody Oath

[@joeadams1225]

​@@TheHistoryChapHeroes

[@Jean-g4t]

Thank you for making sure our Australian history is never to be forgotten ❤️ 🇦🇺 Last We Forget

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & your comment.

[@oguz74000]

En Turquie on ne vous oublie pas, vous etiez un ennemi honorable ,on apprecie ceux qui nous attaque de face ,

[@cmhf5776]

My great uncle was Light Horse and at Beersheba. Thank you for this presentation. It was beautifully done and quite the memorial to such brave men.

[@Primaate]

One sad consequence of ANZACs in ME, with wars end their beloved 'Waler' horses were slaughtered, rather than give (would be mistreated/eaten no doubt) to locals because returning to Australia impossible.

[@AndrewFishman]

My Great Uncles, Percy and Edgar Richardson, were also in the Charge. Lest we forget. Percy used to quip - "It was an infantry charge, we just took our horses with us..."

[@Ballistol22LR]

An incredible act of gallantry that deserves much greater recognition than it receives. Australians 🇦🇺 can rightly feel proud of their brave sons involved in this action and I thoroughly recommend watching the film “The LightHorsemen” if you have yet to see it. Respect from the UK 🇬🇧

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching & for your feedback.

[@BruceDrury-gs8vn]

I have huge amount of pride and respect for for my grandfather was there in the charge. He didn't carry a gun, but a medical bag. He administed first aid to the ones who were injured. Thank you for keeping their memory alive.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & your feedback.

[@lloydwoodroofe3781]

The Kiwis dismounted and took 30 casualties taking the highly fortified Tel El Saba causing the Turks to begin evacuation of Beer Sheba and allowing the successful cavalry charge . Funny how this guy washes over that critical factor .

[@kidsyx]

My grandfather Wilfred Raymond Knight fought in the battle of beersheba. He was a light horseman 160 Tpr 12 LH Rgt, who survived to die of old age in hospital. I could not be any more proud to be descended from that great and fearless man.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for sharing your interesting family story.

[@petereyles9458]

A few years ago, I heard an old interview with one of the Lighthorsemen who was in the charge. He asked if the interviewer knew why they charged so hard. He went on to say that they'd misheard the orders at the briefing. They thought the officers told them that there were beer and sheilas at the other end. Aussie sense of humour at its best.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & for sharing your story.

[@jon9021]

The movie was excellent. The charge still gives me shivers..

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for taking the time to share your feelings

[@Jumbo-k4t]

I cannot watch it without getting teary when I see the horse still going for it Without the rider Realising there's a job to be done . Great movie

[@harryshriver6223]

What an incredible story of bravery and unorthodox tactics. The light horsemen charging an entrenched fixed position is nothing short of brilliant because it was the one thing that rhe Ottomans were not prepared to defend. Well done amigo add kudos to you for finding another interesting story to bring to life.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Hi Harry, I’m glad you enjoyed this one. Saluting our Australian cousins.

[@BeastofCaerBannog]

I think a lot of people assume that horse cavalry was completely outdated by WW1, but I'm not convinced. It's use just wasn't adapted properly, at least early in the war. Even by 1918, it was still the fastest way of getting a decent sized force over rough country quickly.

[@AndrewFishman]

@@BeastofCaerBannog They were not Cavalry. They never had sabres. They were infantry and used their Bayonets in this, their only charge. The usual tactic was for 3 out of 4 to dismount, the 4th controlling the other 3 horses. He was the "driver". His job was to keep the horses in easy range of the fighters to enable a quick mounting in times of repositioning etc. My great uncle, Percy Richardson, service number 516, was the HQ driver for the 12th Lighthorse. He would quip - "It was an infantry charge. We just took our horses with us..."

[@catholicmilitantUSA]

"We're gonna charge Beersheba mate!" Thanks for another amazing video Chris-I always love to hear that customary "keep well, and I hope to see you again very soon!" accompanied by that customary beam!

[@lawrencema1985]

My great uncle was in the Australian Light Horse then assigned to the Imperial Camel Corps in Dec 1916. Fought at Magdhaba, Rafa, 1st and 2nd Gaza but got really sick with typhus in the summer and was in hospital during Beersheba and was invalided back to Egypt, then Australia. Thanks for this video.

[@petercastles5978]

Often these blokes were the " naughty boys" of various units. The brass would get sick of them and send them to the Camel Corps. No tougher blokes could be found than most of the Camel fellas. I think too that the CC was eventually disbanded before wars end because the Australian horses were leaving them for dead. Camels were too slow, and they couldn't handle the forced marches like the Light Horse could.

[@paulwallis7586]

Still baffles me that anyone thought they could keep mounted armed Australians away from anything called "Beer" with mere artillery and machine guns.

[@chowderpilot3843]

I love how your mind works. Carry on Sir...

[@TheHistoryChap]

Ha ha

[@thelandofnod123]

Especially when the town was for some reason called Beer and Sheilas. It would be like calling a German town in 1945 Fish and Chips.

[@paulwallis7586]

@@thelandofnod123 I see some franchising opportunities...?

[@jackrobson2553]

The legend lives on!

[@Skipper.17]

Harry Chauvel doesn’t get anywhere near the credit he deserves. Most of the honours go to sir John Monash. Chauvel was the first Australian to be promoted to lieutenant general and the first Australian to command a Corp which included the British. Another thing that people probably don’t know, is that his nephew, Charles Chauvel directed the 1940 movie 40,000 horseman which was about the battle.

[@Skipper.17]

@inominate2024 what exactly is your point

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for sharing.

[@stephenanthony6508]

​@@inominate2024Monash, underrated and over looked. The man who showed the world how to fight a mechanised war.

[@shaneblack4862]

The campaigns in the Middle East and Africa are often neglected when the Great War is discussed. Admittedly they did pale in comparison to the colossal scale of the conflicts on the Western, Eastern and Balkan fronts, but they were just as crucial.

[@donaldjones8881]

John Monash was probably Australia's greatest soldier.He had a lot to contend with because of his Jewish ancestorige.People like Charles Bean the historian didn't make things easy for him​@@stephenanthony6508

[@cbrhubs9245]

I just finished reading The Desert Column, written by a Lighthorseman. Gripping and sobering - so brave.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for sharing details of the book.

[@basilpunton5702]

Written by Ion Idress, who heard the actual charge from some distance away. A really great book that gave more information than official records of the desert part of the war.

[@vickiepower6201]

Thank you for this amazing Australian history, I come from a Veteran family from 1st World War through to Vietnam. Thank you to my country and all the men and women who have served ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.

[@guymckinnon7582]

When Aussies, Kiwis, Safas and Rhodies rode with the Poms in the great cause! The Sun Never Sets 🇬🇧

[@padmendrashekhawat4806]

Who are Safas?

[@thelandofnod123]

@@padmendrashekhawat4806 South Africans

[@billybunter3753]

Yeah nah, you've got it backwards mate! You pommie bastards rode with us! Cheers 🍻 🇦🇺

[@phil6025]

Thank you for your very sensitive rendering of the Light Horse' charge at Beersheba.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.

[@robstafford8306]

From the uk. Never heard this story before…….brave, well trained and determined Aussie Calvary men….thank you for this presentation. RIP to the guys who didn’t make it,

[@郑颍]

They were not cavalry. They were mounted infantry. There is a difference.

[@robstafford8306]

@ I bow to your better knowledge. But in my humble opinion they charged on horses, used their bayonets to make a breakthrough and then dismounted to secure the town…

[@River.E.M]

​@@郑颍they acted as cavalry on this occasion, and they adopted swords later on.

[@郑颍]

@@robstafford8306 Just a technical definition ... Cavalry do not use rifles when charging (though there was the 16th century caracole). The Light Horse fought in the Dardanelles campaign as infantry.

[@evangiles4403]

Yes Brits are much like the yanks you always seem to think you won both worlds wars entirely on your own Very similar to Milne Bay which ended any further advance of Japanese in the pacific but it is never mentioned

[@gregnewberry1147]

Thankyou, Chris, for remembering our brave young men. It's nice to hear this coming from the other hemisphere. A nice tribute not only to the Aussies, but to all the Allies including Britain.

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@shanemossmoss]

As an Australian this charge is a matter of great pride. As was said we must not forget the sacrifice of the NZs and the other allies in this battle and the Middle East conflict of WW1 and tragically WW2

[@TheHistoryChap]

Nice comment. Thank you.

[@PETER-c4n]

Meant to say HistoryChap - outstanding presentation. Thank you. The AIF have been my passion since the 1981 Gallipoli film, where my then girlfriend really went to see Mel Gibson, but ended up sobbing her heart out at the end! I've been to all their WW1 battlefields except Beersheba. Maybe one day!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Hope you are able to get to Beersheba some day soon.

[@AGoad-te5fh]

Thank you for sharing this. This is more than a moment from a movie, it truly is one of the greatest efforts of our forefathers and deserves to be remembered in history!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video, glad you enjoyed it.

[@petercastles5978]

The Australians who were at Beersheba spoke of "getting under the guns" . Idriess has recorded this in his marvellous account of his time with the Australian Light Horse. In all the excitement of the charge the Turks had forgotten to allow for the dropping of their sights. Idriess said that the Anzacs had experienced this phenomenon before. Also these blokes weren't going on a picnic. They were screaming their lungs out, waving their bayonets, and having their horses flat chat beneath them. The Turks knew what they were in for too. Yes they fought successfully against the Anzacs at Galipoli, but every contact ever after with Australians gave them a bloody nose. On Gallipoli Johnny Turk had called the Australians "The Mad Bushmans".The Diggers of the first light horse had 36 battles, 36 victories. Tough men from a tough country, and the men briefly mentioned as the Camel Corps, were among the toughest of the lot! The Australians sacked Cairo at wars end generally making baskets of themselves. So much so that during WW2, the Pommy brass were very reluctant to allow the AIF back in, at least initially. Another point too is that at this stage of the war the Anzac troops were in rags not beautifully dressed as the are in the movie.

[@davis07ful]

Sir, as an Australian it brings a tear to my eye to my eye to read this. My great grandfather was in the light horse and I’ve never been so proud to be an Australian

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & for your informative feedback.

[@aussiebg2628]

Yes, the "psychological warfare" of a madly screaming and trhundering herd of mounted horsemen certainly played a part in causing chaos amongst the defenders. They knew what was coming as you mentioned and the fear must have been contagious.

[@Linda-it6ci]

WHAT IS UPSETTING..ALL THE HORSES WERE NOT ALLOWED TO RETURN TO AUSTRALIA. EVERY ONE WAS PUT DOWN...THE AUSSIE BLOKES WERE BROKEN AND GRIEVING BIG TIME...THE BRASS SHITES....

[@janebrown1706]

I worked as a temp at British Rail in the 70s. Their engineers, to get to know me, told of their experiences with the aussies in WW2 in the desert. They loved moving forward with us, but were horrified in camp as the aussies gambled away almost everything apart from a pair of shorts - and boots. Adored the movie, and the fact they walked 10 miles to spare their horses.

[@andrewnewman8850]

A cavalry charge against machine guns. Incredible that they succeeded, thanks for covering this.

[@mombaassa]

I've been told that galloping at full speed meant the Turks were constantly a few seconds late in resetting their sites. I don't know much about gunnery, but I suspect that resetting your sights, against fast but extended cavalry charge requires specific training & rehearsal. At a time when cavalry were were becoming obsolete, newer Turkish conscripts, might not have had that training.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching. my video

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed my video

[@SnoopReddogg]

My great grandfather was a sergeant in the 8th Light Horse Regiment and witnessed the charge, having served with the 8th from Gallipoli ( luckily arriving in the peninsula 2 days after The Nek) and rode his horse all the way from Egypt to Syria. I've got his war diaries, administration notes, aerial recon photos and original map of Beersheba. I know a number of families from my local district in Western Victoria who had members in the 4th LHR that took part in the charge. In a lot of ways, it was a highlight of an otherwise lousy war.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for taking the time to share your family connection to this battle.

[@AndrewFishman]

SnoopeReddogg - There were many moments for the Australians in the nightmare that was WW1. Even the withdrawal from Gallipoli was flawlessly executed. Before Beersheba, there was Romany, August 1916 - "This victory by the 52nd (Lowland) Division and the Anzac Mounted Division of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) over a joint Ottoman and German force, which had marched across the Sinai, marked the end of the Defence of the Suez Canal campaign, also known as the Offensive zur Eroberung des Suezkanals and the İkinci Kanal Harekâtı, which had begun on 26 January 1915. " And then there were the first and second battles of Gaza, where the Australians shone. "The first battle of Gaza ended in debacle, according to Pugsley, when the Anzac Mounted Division "knew they were winning, and saw victory snatched away from them by the order to withdraw." "In itself the engagement was a severe blow to the British Army, since it affected the troops on both sides to a degree out of all proportion to the casualties suffered, or to the negative victory gained by the Turks. There was not a single private in the British infantry, or a trooper in the mounted brigades, who did not believe that failure was due to staff bungling and to nothing else." And then there was the ANZAC Light Horse Flying Column formed to chase down the Turks that ultimately captured Constantinople and took the Ottoman surrender so that Lawrence could ride in later and claim glory. On the Western front, it began with a debacle at Fromelles. and then the first real movement on the front in 2 years was achieved then the Australians took Pozieres. Then Moquet Farm. Then Menin Road, Passchendaele, St Quentin when the rest of the allies were running from the German counter offensive and the Australians stood and won the day. "The Battle of Menin Road was an offensive operation, part of the Third Battle of Ypres on the Western Front, undertaken by the British Second Army in an attempt to take sections of the curving ridge, east of Ypres, which the Menin Road crossed. This action saw the first involvement of Australian units (1st and 2nd Divisions AIF) in the Third Battle of Ypres. The attack was successful along its entire front, though the advancing troops had to overcome formidable entrenched German defensive positions which included mutually supporting concrete pill-box strongpoints and also resist fierce German counter-attacks. " But, possibly greatest of all was Monash combining aircraft, infantry and tanks into the first combined assault. The Battle of Hamel saw the Australians take the entrenched German positions in under an hour and overwhelmed the defences so entirely that a German commander took the plan away and developed it into the Blitzkrieg that stormed across Europe 22 years later. Australia had the "most able field marshal of the war" as Monash was described by the King, who knighted him in the field, the first in several hundred years to receive this honour. So, please, learn about our history and do not dismiss the lads. We will Remember was a promise, not a slogan.

[@AndrewFishman]

@@TheHistoryChap My Great Uncles, Percy and Edgar, were chargers in the battle. Percy was in it from 1915, first reinforcements at Gallipoli, to end of play in 1919 after the Uprising in Palestine. Edgar was a later enlistment due to age. My Grandfather, Kenneth, was on the Western Front at the time, sitting in the mud as a telegrapher/sharpshooter in the 2nd Division AIF Pioneers Battalion. Supported by the artillery, they were the first into an area to set up communications to bring in the rest of the pioneers to set up duck boards etc to bring in the infantry. What a horror that must have been. He was 16 when he signed up, 17 when he arrived in France and turned 18 and 19 in the trenches. The 2nd Pioneer battle honours read like a field map of the worst of the war. Starting at Pozieres. Thankfully, they missed the slaughter of Fromelles. From Wiki - "Assigned to the 2nd Division, the 2nd Pioneer Battalion fought in most of the major battles that the AIF participated in between mid-1916 and the end of the war in November 1918. It was subsequently disbanded in early 1919."

[@peterixon8708]

On the 90th anniversary of the charge, I, a former cavalry officer, stood at the cemetery in Beersheba with MAJGEN Molan. I was a dad with a 3yo then and I still think today, almost 20 years later, of the sacrifice of one father and son; both were buried in that cemetery. Commonwealth War Graves maintains their last resting places and does a great job of that; their families can remain proud. The thing is, as I stood there, it was another moment where I was reminded that the sacrifice of others is why I enjoy the lifestyle and freedoms I do today. As an Australian, thanks for covering this Chris.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your interesting feedback.

[@thegrahamsullivanshow566]

This is what makes WW1 such a fascinating topic, The stark difference between combat on the Western Front and in the Middle East leaves the historian with a plethora of fresh and different scenarios to study.

[@elephantintheroom7102]

My grandfather was with the Australian Light Horse at Beersheba. He was with the 4th Division from Victoria. I grew up listening to that story, but never from him. He did not speak a word about his service

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & for your feedback.

[@pierremainstone-mitchell8290]

As an Aussie, who's also ex Australian Army, I've got to say thank you for a very informative video!

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@Outbackvintagevehicles]

I had 2 grandfathers and my wife 2 grandfathers at Beersheba. I had a special bond with one of my grandfathers and we would often be seen chatting about all sorts. We had 19 family and extended relatives pay the ultimate price for our freedom mostly in France. One a fighter pilot has never been found and was lost over France. 2 grandfathers were 12 LH and 2 9th LH. Thank you for a well put together piece of history.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it & thanks for sharing your family story

[@ravenfeader]

All the Aussies heard was " there's beer in sheeba " the boys were thirsty and the rest is history .

[@TheHistoryChap]

outrageous🤣🤣

[@AlanDavis-ez5jr]

No there’s beer and Shiela’s at the wells.

[@phil6025]

@@AlanDavis-ez5jr This is deffo the authentic take lol

[@Phalerus1]

Brilliant.

[@river9994]

Thanks for covering a part of our history, I am Australian and extremely proud, my Grandad and his brothers were on the Western front, he wrote in a letter to my Grandma that the victory at Beersheba gave a boost to moral to all fighting

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@robertmansfield7656]

I must have watched "The light horsemen" at least 20times growing up. The charge scene is brilliant. Worth a couple of hours.

[@Lassisvulgaris]

One of my favourites, too.....

[@TheHistoryChap]

Totally agree. Love the build up to the charge.

[@Jumbo-k4t]

Excellent presentation . Love the energy and the fact that we're seeing you not big headphones or microphones at all . Well done It is a story we are very proud of

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for that nice feedback

[@johnedreslin]

Light-horsemen is a great movie. Thanks for the actual facts behind it.

[@WalterReid-zm2hb]

thank you my grandfather served in WW1, though on the western front. Great respect and love to all those brave soldiers

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & your comment.

[@mrgongs]

In the 80's I had the honour to meet an old Light horseman who was at the charge. He said the British on the other side of the town took the brunt of fire. Their horses were mad with thirst and once they smelt the water in the wells they couldn't be stopped so they just hung on for the charge.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for commenting.

[@deanworsley5208]

Very proud Australian veteran watching this a couple of days after Remembrance Day, I remember this story being told to me at a very young age be my dear old dad. Still very proud of all Aussie diggers and anyone who serves their country, lest we forget.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Nice comment. Thanks for watching.

[@veridian79]

Great narration, well done.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks or watching my video & your comment.

[@GM-fh5jp]

A fine story beautifully told (as usual) Thanks for posting, Chris.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@ankles632]

Footnote. Sadly not 1 of the horses used by the Australian light horse ever returned to Australia. Quarantine laws and the cost involved prohibited their return . All over 12 years old were deemed "unsuitable" and shot. Some were sold to the British Army for use in India. Others were sold locally and a few were shot by their riders rather than have them go to the locals. A poem " Trooper Bluegum" by Oliver Hogue tells of the sentiment felt by the men about their horses.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

The Horses used in the Middle East were put down by army vets not by soldiers. Also none were sold off to the locals as the donkey and the camel were much more suited to the region and had been so for millennia. Horses are far too highly strung for the drudge of the local work conditions.

[@ankles632]

@@anthonyeaton5153 Army vets , being part of the army are in fact soldiers.

[@petergraves2085]

One horse from the 136,000 did make it back to Australia. www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/horses/sandy#:~:text=The%20only%20horse%20to%20return%20from%20the%20First%20World%20War&text=One%20horse%20from%20the%20136%2C000,who%20had%20embarked%20for%20Gallipoli. Sandy belonged to Major General Sir William Bridges, who subsequently died at sea of wounds he had received at Gallipoli. The body of General Bridges was (initially) the only one to be returned to Australia - he was buried at Duntroon, where he had been the initial Commondant. Subseqently "the Unknown Soldier" from WW1 was disinterred in 1993 and re-buried at the Australian War Memorial.

[@trevorlewis847]

One horse came home I think,general bridges horse sandy was brought home after gen bridges was shot n killed Gallipoli 1915,a bit of trivia there🙂

[@petergraves2085]

@@trevorlewis847 You're right. More about "Sandy" and his life after WW1 until 1923 here - www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/horses/sandy#:~:text=The%20only%20horse%20to%20return%20from%20the%20First%20World%20War&text=One%20horse%20from%20the%20136%2C000,who%20had%20embarked%20for%20Gallipoli.

[@timec2002]

Fantastic Chris..!! Glad you’ve covered this. Apart from the film “The Light Horsemen” there’s not been much coverage of this very brave and well executed action.

[@winstonsmith7801]

This amazing feat could not have been achieved without the Australian bred Horse called the "Waler" .Walers were a type of horse that originated in Australia's outback and were well suited to the hot, dry conditions of the Middle East. They were known for being sturdy, hardy, and able to travel long distances with little water.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & your informative feedback.

[@winstonsmith7801]

@@TheHistoryChap No worries .Loved your video.

[@Tom_Cruise_Missile]

"Calvary charge an entrenched position? That's suicide!" "And that's why they'll never see it coming!"

[@TheHistoryChap]

A very cunning plan 😀

[@oldmanriver1955]

The 4th Regiment ALH, commanded by Brigadier Grant, actually practiced this exact concept in 1915 before being sent to Gallipoli. Chauvel's "Put Grant straight at them." was based upon this knowledge. Each regiment knew its roll. The charge was also supported by their own Regimental field artillery, which is often not mentioned. Tel el Saba was very much a NZ Mounted action and the key to the success. Terry Cotter is the only Australian test cricketer to die in WW1.

[@drtimsmith]

Fantastic ! Another story of daring courage ! Superbly told, as always.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@garymcdermott8748]

The Australian have always including right today have been damn good, hard, smart soldiers.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@smythie27]

Yes we are extremely proud of the Charge of The light horse brigage. The movie is pretty epic also

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & your comment.

[@SteamRailPatreonR761VR]

Thank you Chris for such a well presented video my relative James Gilkinson was a member of the light horse he was injured while training in Egypt and he ended up Building Palestine Railways before returning to Armidale NSW (In 1919) he never spoke of his experience in Palestine but his son Edward said that he would tremble at the mention of the name James would eventually serve in the home guard during WW2 and in the event of invasion by the Japanese he was to detonate explosaives burried in the mountain side near his farm as a last ditch effort Edward would go on to serve at the battle of Milne Bay during world war 2 where he served with my relatives Hilton and Arthur have a great day- Cyrus

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for sharing the story of James Gilkinson, your relative.

[@rosalynmoyle3766]

My great uncle was in the 12thLH. This charge was pivotal. There was pressure on the chap organising it by the higher ups not to go ahead. But as he pointed out the Brits had failed twice. Once the horses had the smell of water in the town. There was no stopping them. The Australian soldiers were feared and revered after the charge. They were not allowed to bring their horses home so many a soldier took their horse out and shot them because they'broke a leg ' or some such reason,rather than allow them to be brutalized by the locals.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & for your feedback.

[@AlfredoCalalang]

Thank you for your furthermore presentation ,is very educational, besides from the film I watched and books I read😊

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video.

[@roslynnorish3552]

Thank you for an excellent coverage of an amazing part of our history .....thank you for getting it right.😊

[@thegrahamsullivanshow566]

I don't think it is that amazing, over 60,000 Australians died, double that wounded. How is that Amazing? We fought well at Beersheba, but to say WW1 was an amazing part of our history is lunacy, there is nothing amazing about war.

[@FranciscoPreira]

One of the great moments of that campaign, nice to see their memory and sacrifice remembered, great video by the way, thanks you for sharing.

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@annwilliams2075]

There are two excellent Australian films made about this action. One made in the 1940s the other in 1980s. Both called The Lighthorse Men.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Think I referred to the second one in my opening of this video

[@mictss6602]

I've seen them they are very good

[@ean9081]

The one in the 40s was called forty thousand horsemen, made by Harry chavels brother Charles it stared chip's rafferty

[@annwilliams2075]

@ you are correct, I mixed up the two similar titled Chip Rafferty films, Rats of Tobruk and The Desert Rats with the Lighthorse films. Still building my Australian film library so do confuse titles from time to time. Well quite often really, thank goodness for My Movies Pro 5 !!! As a by the by: think The Rats of Tobruk is the better of the two ‘Rats’ films as it concentrated more on the Australian defenders and less on the British actors. Also like Chip in The Overlanders, again based on a true wartime story. Have just managed to buy a Region 2 dvd of the Eureka Stockade film he made in 1949. Still looking for a Region 2 version the 1984 mini series with Bryan Brown, one will eventually turn up. 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

[@ean9081]

@annwilliams2075 I obtained a copy of forty thousand horsemen from a company in Los Angeles they held the rights to it .I have a copy distributed by umbrella entertainment, bought on ebay

[@mickofmorden]

Another enjoyable video if that is the right thing to say about a battle story. Two films were the second a remake of the first. The battle was also covered in an episode of Young Indiana Jones. So much of the fight against the Otterman Empire gets forgotten. There is a story to tell about what happened to the prisoners the British forces took.

[@Buurba_Jolof]

Great Thanks. I knew this charge by cinema, now you explains me its historical context.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching my video

[@goodshipkaraboudjan]

Worth a mention they were issued with cavalry swords after Beersheba.

[@NigelDeForrest-Pearce-cv6ek]

A Great Story Brilliantly Told!!!

[@maxreed2343]

YES, THIS is what we've been awaiting ya since I believe last Monday's update on the disastrous naval battle at Coronel when ya mentioned of it in your reply to my review on there, Chris old bean, and WHAT a lesson this sure was indeed on this, the Charge of the Australian Light Horse Brigade at Beersheba 1917, WOW is what I certainly say to the true bravery and determination of those young Australians performing, I think I can't resist saying considering that I just LOVE the highly amazing Peter Jackson LOTR movie trilogy, WW1's own Ride of the Rohirrim in LOTR: ROTK, with bayonets for swords against the German and Turk Orc comparisons, LOL. And you certainly saved me reading the Wikipedia page about it too, I should add, our British military history superstar chap, cos THAT is a LOOOONG one with the battle details, you've saved me all that time with just thirteen minutes of video, hahaha. Now I HAVE to ABSOLUTELY see the film of 'The Lighthorsemen' from the 80s, which I discovered about when I looked up about this wowsome event, and VERY thankfully is here on KZbin, cos it ain't anywhere else at all online for me to see and the DVD of it is too expensive to purchase, so THANK HEAVENS for KZbin, woohoo. And I certainly wonder and ask what's gonna be next from ya, Chris me old mucker bucker- guess we'll find out in no time at all soon

[@PETER-c4n]

You'll enjoy the film for sure. The charge is one of the best scenes in movie history.

[@adriang6259]

Great video. From Oz.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching.

[@westwood6246]

Thank you Chris, absolutely made my day!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad to hear it!

[@andrewnewman8850]

Thanks

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your support & for watching my video.

[@brianspendelow840]

Good to see this little known campaign get a mention. Thank you.

[@LoganTellsHistoryZW]

Very fascinating story. Overall, great video, chris!. Enjoyed very much Cheers-

[@sopwithpuppy]

The bridge that takes pedestrians safely across Anzac Parade from Central Station to the Sydney Cricket Ground is named the Tibby Cotter Bridge. It was completed in 2015 in time for the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your interesting feedback.

[@JoeRitchie-e5l]

Thank you for talking about this amazing history. I had never heard of this before

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.

[@andrewsteele7663]

Thanks Chris, fantastic story and as always well told, Cheers

[@keithad6485]

I have heard it said that the reason the Aussies were so successful at Beersheba is the word 'beer' is in the name of the town and gave them hope of quenching their thirst! dunno if it true or not, but us Aussies love a beer!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & your feedback!

[@Warhead-haggis]

Thank you. This was a great story and one I had not heard before.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@wilsontheconqueror8101]

Amazing power of a cavalry charge against an entrenched enemy position! Against machine guns, no less! Brilliant!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for taking the time to watch my video and also for taking the time to comment

[@jamesgollan8602]

@@wilsontheconqueror8101 32 fatalities, courage personified . Exclude the scenery of the movie as it was filmed in South Australia, look at the scenes in the photos and see how the Jewish Homeland built Gaza

[@way2dumb]

My great grandfather was there, not in the charge but nearby. He was in the Queensland Light Horse.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & your feedback.

[@davidwoods7720]

Thank you so much Chris

[@skwervin1]

The saddest part was that after the war, they had to leave their horses behind as there was not enough money to bring them back. Many of the soldiers had to put down their horses before leaving as there was no one to care for them. Read the book "The Desert Column" which was written by the famous writer Ion Idriss from his diaries of his time at Gallipoli and the African campaign. When he released the book not long after the war, it was a detailed account of the fight in Gallipoli and Africa and at the end he listed the names of those he served with. He copped a lot of flack for his honesty and not hiding just how bad the lives in the trenches was or how bloody the battle was. My family had five men go to Gallipoli, two never returned and the three left went on to Africa and France in the end before returning home. One was my godfather, a lovely but rather eccentric man who never threw anything away because it could always be repurposed. His two brothers, one was like him, changed but generally silent of his war years but the third brother was totally shattered and turned his back on the world. He ended up unable to work, in and out of various mental hospitals until he was one day killed by a car as he got off a tram in Melbourne. I met them all as a child but they were all deceased by the time I was in my teens. We will never forget them.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & your comment.

[@danielponiatowski7368]

i read that book years ago, really good value. im pretty sure it was idress who wrote about a time when having been in the saddle for many hours at night he watched a soldier marching next to him but he carried ancient weapons. he mentioned that many of the routes they used were the same used by armies for thousands of years, you reckon he was seeing things or had a glimpse of the past? my great grandfather was a 10th light horseman, WA, dont recall his full name but his horse was tommy. my grandfather was in north africa in WW2, he was a mechanic and, although i dont expect anybody to believe it, he and his mates did a kellys heroes and used an armoured vehicle for a bank job. it made sense as i got older, not many mechanics could take ocean cruises every year and own race horses yet work on cars at home for a living.

[@11buster1000]

As an ex member of the 4th cav reg, and proud Queenslander and Australian. When looking back at the first WW and seeing how Australia punched far above it's weight.

[@thegrahamsullivanshow566]

We didn't punch above our weight, we fought averagely. We didn't even fight as Australia, and you should know that an an ex servicemen, they fought under the British Empire, under the Union flag not the Australian one. Please read up the real history, the mythology of the ANZAC needs to stop

[@11buster1000]

@thegrahamsullivanshow566 Australians wanted to fight as Australian, the brits fought tooth and nail against it. Like the New Zealanders, they change everything. I love the pic from back to the 17 and 18 Australian flags everywhere. When we finally fought as Australian battalions the brits were pissed. They couldn't take the credit for the dominion troops under the union jack. Australian and New Zealanders afyer Gallipoli hab a huge mode change about empire, and the class system, still in place. History write by the Imperial war museum and that from Charles Bean differ, i go with the official Australian war historian.

[@thegrahamsullivanshow566]

@@11buster1000 some perhaps, but the majority considered themselves British. We were barely an independent nation, Britain still had direct control of our nation's parliament. ANZAC was in the British army, we were forced into the war by law and we fought officially under the Union flag, those are the facts

[@11buster1000]

@thegrahamsullivanshow566 it's true. Right up to the point when we found out that a good lot of the generals were shot. And used the colonials as cannon fodder. At this point, the Australians made that historic true, and from there classified themselves as Australian. I don't disagree with the Australians starting the war as feeling British to the core, but it didn't end that way.

[@vladvostok1723]

THANKS CHAPPY FOR ANOTHER HISTORICAL BLASSSST FROM THE PAST.......KEEP THEM COMING, UR DOING A GOOD JOB!!

[@jasoncornell1579]

"Forward the Light Horse and not a man dismayed"

[@TheHistoryChap]

Harry Flashman would have had 40 fits🤣

[@douglasbanks3318]

2 of my Relatives were Lighthorse men in Beersheba and the Boer War ,also i have Breakfast with the 13th Lighthorse Brigade in VIC every Anzac Day before i March. The Anzac Bloodline runs strong in my Family .There is Beach named after them near Ballina in the N.S.W north coast .Lest we Forget

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your very interesting feedback.

[@douglasbanks3318]

@@TheHistoryChap The Beach is called patch's Beach

[@michaelmalone9062]

Another outstanding video. Factual and to the point. Hooah!

[@Thoraandchris]

An excellent episode on a fascinating action. Some encounters I’ve had with the commemoration of this battle: 1. The cadet’s bar at the Australian Defence Force Academy Mess is named for this action. Remarkable, and fitting, that it was chosen to be honoured out of all the actions Australian forces have been participated in. 2. Rev. Joseph Best was an Anglican Minister from Ballarat who served in the Great War, at Gallipoli and Gaza. From his limited notes he was with one of the ambulance units which followed the charge. Before Rev Best left for the war his congregation gave him a chalice and plate to use, they travelled with him throughout his time in active duty. After the war he returned to Ballarat and back to his parish for the remainder of his ministry. When he retired in the 1920’s he gifted the chalice and plate back to his parish church where they remain in use to this day.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you so much for takng the time to add this additional information.

[@River.E.M]

Finally. A good youtube video about this gallant charge- goes to show that cavalry wasn't outdated by ww1! 😉

[@Mark-wv6sg]

My grandfather was in the charge. he was in 12 lighthorse. A squadron RC Burgess

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video

[@keithad6485]

I served with the descendant regiment of the 4th Light Horse (4/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment). RSM Alex Wilson was killed in action at the Charge of Beersheba he was aged 22. He and the CO , Lt Col Murrary Bourchier lead the 4th LH Regt from in front of A Squadron during the Charge. According to the nephew of Alex Wilson, who is still alive, Lt Col Bourchier visited his family after the war and told them how Alex had died. As Alex's grey horse cleared one the Turkish trenches, a turk spun around and shot him from behind. After the battle, Alex was found still astride his horse, dead. A few days before the Charge, Alex told his mate Sgt Jim French (from Maffra Victoria), 'I think there is a bullet for me at Beersheba' The Regiment's diggers club at Melbourne is named in Alex's honour. Alex Wilson Club.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & for your informative feedback.

[@dougburt2449]

Thank you very much. I wasn't familiar with this battle.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Hope you found it interesting.

[@johnhudghton3535]

Great story telling. Thank you.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@aussiebg2628]

For a detailed read about this event and the whole Light Horse war I highly recommend "The Australian Light Horse" book by Roland Perry. It focuses on Harry Chauvel. For the Western Front I would also recommend his other book "Monash: The Outsider Who Won A War". I know I am a biased Aussie but for many years the achievements of the colonial/imperial troops were cloaked under the term "British victories". A lot of the Western Front successes in 1917-18 were due to the Aussie and Canadian efforts, most important of all the battle at Villers-Bretonneux in April '18, which turned the Germans back when they were on the cusp of gaining the heights over Amiens and therefore artillery dominance over the Allies' logistical hub, which would have ended the war. Indeed, Monash was the first non-American direct commander of their troops when they arrived in France as the Aussies had to show them the ropes after a few bad results on their own.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching & for your interesting feedback. Thanks also for sharing the details of the books.

[@christopherwarren9439]

Chris i loved the story of the light horse . I got the film the Light horse it.s a great film . Keep making the great videos

[@christopherseivard8925]

My words exactly! Thanks!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks, will do!

[@russellsmith4638]

Great story well told. The Lighthorse troops were mostly country lads I believe and were good horsemen. The sad part is they had to leave the horses behind when they returned to Australia after the war and there are plenty of stories of soldiers taking their charges out to the desert and sadly shooting them. I believe only one horse returned to Australia and that was the commanding officers horse.

[@Intel3]

The horses always pay, unfortunately 😕

[@River.E.M]

Indeed. They were used as meat or overloaded pack animals.

[@seanlander9321]

Quarantine prevented the horses from being returned and the Australians saw how the Arabs treated their animals so they shot them instead. Unlike the other forces, enlisting in the Light Horse meant bringing your own mount.

[@chrisschofield8680]

Fantastic

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.

[@Morgs0046]

Thanks for telling this story

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for listening.

[@adamhuglo111]

Well done Lad

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for watching.

[@user-lv5bt3nt3r]

I’ll add a sad post-script. The Australian horses were all sourced from Australia. Bigger and tougher than european horses they were known as Walers. Many of them were obtained and supplied by an officer named AB “banjo’ Paterson - a name most Australians should instantly recognise: poet of the bush, journalist, war correspondent, author - among many other classics, Banjo wrote ‘waltzing matilda’. As a younger man, Banjo performed the same job of sourcing horses - unofficially - during the Boer War, which landed him the role of war correspondent during that war (he was deemed too old for that in WW1, and the job went to Charles Bean). At the end of the war, the Walers were not permitted to be sent back to Australia. Most were therefore shot and the rest were sold to egyptians. The entire event sparked outrage and near mutiny throughout the light horse regiments, not least because, at the end of the war, almost all the light horsemen requested permission to keep their horses and pay the cost of shipping them home. A memorial for the Walers stands in Tamworth, new south wales.

[@TheHistoryChap]

thanks for watching my video & for your interesting & informative feedback. Thanks.

[@buckgulick3968]

Well done video! I liked how it was portrayed in "The Lighthorseman" as well. Love your channel. TOPIC SUGGESTION: In keeping with the theme of WW1 could you do one on the siege of Kut Al Amara (7 December 1915 - 29 April 1916) in Mesopotamia? Very stirring epic of British history.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Kut has been requested by another viewer whose ancestor fought there in the Indian army.

[@philparkinson462]

I've just subscribed to your superb channel and will work my way through your back catalogue which seems incredibly interesting. Are there any posts devoted to 'The Great Game' that I might have missed?

[@markjohnston9017]

Had 2 great uncles in the 12th light horse, they were from Gerringong, NSW.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@AndrewCastlemaine]

Thanks for this one. It is special

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it, thank you for watching.

[@truesouth4784]

I served in the (2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment) Queensland Mounted Infantry during the 1990s. We didn't have horses or bayonets. Well we did have bayonets but we couldn't fix them onto our austeyrs as there was no bayonet lug because they were F88Cs (carbines) and the barrel wasn't long enough to accommodate one.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & for your very interesting feedback.

[@RailfanDownunder]

Squadron line extended..... How done have forgotten Beersheba here in Australia as we focus on Halloween ..... Light Horse also served on the Western Front too (may be another story you can tell) .... later in this campaign, the Light Horse were issued sabres too. Thanks for this programme😊

[@CallsignEskimo-l3o]

My uncle, a WW2 veteran, was an extra the making of the film Forty Thousand Horseman. The Australian army had agreed to provide troops to act as background extras. His primary memory was, while playing enemy solders, spending a week repeatedly being killed by attacking 'Australian' troops on the sand hills of Cronulla.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & for sharing your interesting family story.