[Editor: This article, regarding the Battle of Beersheba (1917), which took place during the First World War (1914-1918), was published in the Bendigo Independent (Bendigo, Vic.), 15 November 1917.]
Australian Light Horse Engaged.
(Reuter’s Service).
A despatch has been received from Lieutenant-General Sir Edmund Allenby (the Commander-in-Chief) detailing the operations in Palestine on Thursday last.
He states that the Turks on October 27 made a strong reconnaissance south-westward of Tel el Sheria, with two regiments of cavalry and 3000 infantry. The London and Yeomanry Brigades holding the outpost covering the rail-head, fought gallantly until the arrival of the infantry when the enemy was repelled with great loss. The London troops and the dismounted Yeomanry, in a dashing attack on October 31, gained the whole of the Turkish first line of defences at Beersheha. The fighting lasted all day long, and the Turks in the evening held trenches a mile to the eastward. The 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade charged these, which were eight feet deep and four feet wide, and galloped over them, ending all resistance. The “tanks” successfully co-operated, and the Scottish and East Anglican troops captured the first line of defences at Gaza.
Two Turkish divisions repeatedly attempted to cut off the Beersheba water supply. Our troops, including Welsh and English county regiments, behaved splendidly. They beat off the enemy, inflicting enormous casualties. All troops have shown a determined fighting spirit, and there has been good staff work, whilst the co-operation of the naval forces has been of the greatest value. Prisoners counted to Saturday night numbered 5894, of whom 286 were officers.
Source:
Bendigo Independent (Bendigo, Vic.), 15 November 1917, p. 5
Also published in:
The Bendigo Advertiser (Bendigo, Vic.), 15 November 1917, p. 5 (entitled “The Palestine front: Recent operations: Australian Light Horse engaged”)
The Evening Echo (Ballarat, Vic.), 15 November 1917, p. 1 (entitled “Operations described: Commander’s despatch”)
The Echuca & Moama Advertiser and Farmers Gazette (Echuca, Vic.), 17 November 1917, p. 4 (entitled “The Palestine front: Recent operations: Australian Light Horse engaged”)
Editor’s notes:
Edmund Allenby = Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby (1861-1936), 1st Viscount Allenby, a British general who commanded British and Commonwealth forces during the First World War (1914-1918); he was promoted to the rank of Field Marshall in 1919
See: “Edmund Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby”, Wikipedia
tank = an armoured military fighting vehicle, using a large-caliber gun as its main armament, mounted in a rotating gun turret
[Editor: Changed “county regiments” to “county regiments,” (added a comma).]
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