The charge at Beersheba: The last great cavalry victory of WWI

By the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Britain was firmly entrenched in Egypt, which was strategically vital due to its control of the Suez Canal.

This canal, which had been built in 1869, provided a crucial maritime route between Britain and its empire, particularly India, which was central to British economic and military interests.

After Britain occupied Egypt in 1882 under the pretext of restoring order during a period of political instability, it established significant administrative and military control.

Although Egypt remained nominally part of the Ottoman Empire, British influence dominated it.

When the Ottoman Empire entered the war as an ally of Germany in October 1914, Britain declared Egypt a protectorate.

This allowed Britain to use Egypt as a base for operations in the Middle East, primarily to ensure the defense of the Suez Canal.

The British Army quickly stationed troops in Egypt and establishing logistical networks.

When the Ottoman Empire had joined WWI as a German ally in October 1914, it was therefore at war with Russia, France, and Britain.

Since Australia was a part of the British Empire at the time, by extension, the Ottoman Empire was also at war with Australia as well.

In early 1915, the Turkish army launched an attack on the Suez Canal, which was under British control in Egypt.

The Ottoman forces, primarily composed of Turkish and Arab units, were led by a German commander named Kress von Kressenstein.

The British forces successfully repelled the attackers but didn't pursue them because of the size of the Sinai Desert that they had to cross in order to reach Palestine.

Very little happened in the region for the rest of 1915, as British forces based in Egypt were used in the failed Gallipoli landings from April to December of that year.

Following the withdrawal of British forces from Gallipoli, there was a significant return of manpower to Egypt. This resurgence enabled Britain to prepare for an offensive against the Ottoman-held territories in the Middle East.

In January 1916, General Sir Archibald Murray led the British Army's 'Egypt Expeditionary Force'.

The most famous units that made up this force included the Australian Light Horse and the New Zealand Mounted Rifles.

The Australian Light Horse Brigade relied heavily on their Waler horses, known for their endurance in harsh desert conditions.

Murray planned an attack on the Ottoman Empire that would take the British forces along the Mediterranean coastline, which could keep him in contact with supplies by ship and rail. 

The most important resources during the entire campaign would be water. The Middle East is a dry and arid region, with few rivers and lakes. The men and horses needed daily access to clean drinking water.

The first operation that Australian troops were involved in was a reconnaissance mission on Wadi Um Muksheib on the 21st of March 1916, followed by an attack on the 13th of April, which led to the capture of Jifjafa.  

On the 3rd of August, Ottoman forces attempted to disrupt British control of the canal and push deeper into Egypt by attacking at Romani under the command of von Kressenstein.

A new unit, called the ANZAC Mounted Division was formed, led by Australian Major General Harry Chauvel, which encircled the advancing Ottomans.

By the morning of August 5, the Ottoman forces were in full retreat.

The Battle of Romani was a significant victory for the British forces, and it was the start of the Allied push out of the Sinai towards Palestine.

Throughout the remainder of 1916 and into 1917, British forces pressed on northward, capturing towns along their path.

Yet, the critical issue of access to water dictated which settlements were captured and when.

In early 1917, British forces were unsuccessful in seizing the key port city of Gaza during two separate battles: the first in February, and the second in April.

During the subsequent months of minimal combat, the Ottoman forces fortified their defenses and enhanced their communication systems in the area.

It created the so-called 'Gaza Line', which was a heavily fortified series of Ottoman defenses stretching from Gaza to Beersheba

General Edmund Allenby assumed command of the British forces in June 1917 and wanted to try and break the stalemate around Gaza.

So, an attack was planned on the inland settlement of Beersheba, now called Be'er Sheva.

This settlement was defended by approximately 3,000 Ottoman soldiers, supported by a network of trenches and artillery positions.

On the night of October 30, 1917, British forces embarked on a surprise march under the cover of darkness towards the town.

To ensure the success of the Beersheba attack, the British forces executed a series of deception operations, including fake troop movements and staged attacks near Gaza, which diverted Ottoman attention away from the real attack.

At dawn the next day, artillery bombarded Beersheba and its 5 kilometres of Turkish trenches.

However, securing the water wells at Beersheba was critical, as they provided a much-needed supply of fresh water for the advancing British and Commonwealth forces.

Luckily, by midday, British troops had captured the outer town defenses.

The ANZAC Mounted Division maneuvered to the south-east and east of Beersheba, while the 2nd Light Horse Brigade took a key road to the north. 

Despite their efforts, the Turkish defenders remained steadfast, and by 3pm, it seemed the British might not capture the town within the day. 

With daylight dwindling and the need to secure the town's water wells by dark, Chauvel commanded the 4th Light Horse Brigade to charge directly at Beersheba as he was aware that the Turkish trenches were not protected by barbed wire. 

At 4:50pm, the brigade charged the 6 kilometres to reach Beersheba.

This marked the first instance where the Australian Light Horse served as a true cavalry division, rather than as mounted infantry.

The attack began as a trot, and then a gallop, a speed that was too fast for Turkish artillery to target the attackers. 

Three kilometres from the town, machine guns fired at the horsemen, but supporting British artillery neutralised them.

The Light Horsemen leapt over the first trench and then the primary trench, before some troops dismounted and engaged in combat using rifles and bayonets. 

Other horsemen pressed forward, seizing the last line of trenches, and then the remainder advanced into the centre of Beersheba.

Australian losses were thirty-one killed and thirty-six wounded, with over 700 Ottoman soldiers captured.

In fact, the charge of the Australian Light Horse Brigade at Beersheba is often cited as the last successful cavalry charge in modern military history.

Following the victory at Beersheba, the British captured 60 miles of Ottoman territory within weeks and led to the subsequent capture of Gaza on November 8th and Jerusalem on December 30th, 1917.