The last great cavalry charge in history happened on Halloween 1917 in the Middle East

As the world teetered on the edge of the 20th century, a series of complex alliances, escalating tensions, and nationalist ambitions coalesced into a conflict of unprecedented scale and devastation.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in June 1914 set off a chain reaction of events that led to the outbreak of World War I.

This conflict involved nations across the globe, including the relatively young nation of Australia, which was just over a decade old as a federated country.

In 1914, Australia was a member of the British Empire, and it was through this connection that it found itself involved in the global conflict.

When Britain declared war on Germany in August of that year, it was understood that Australia was at war too.

Though geographically distant from the European theatre of war, Australia saw this as an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to the empire and its readiness to assist in the common cause.

Tens of thousands of Australian men enlisted to fight, shaping the young nation's identity on the world stage.

Australia's soldiers, or 'Diggers' as they came to be known, saw action in various theatres of the war.

This included the disastrous Gallipoli campaign and the bloody attrition battles on the Western Front.

However, it was in the heat of the Middle Eastern deserts, specifically in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, that the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade would write a page of history all its own.

The Sinai and Palestine Campaign, running from 1915 to 1918, represented a crucial theatre of operations in World War I.

At the heart of this campaign was control of the Suez Canal, a lifeline of the British Empire, which provided a direct maritime route between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean.

The Ottoman Empire, aligned with Central Powers, posed a significant threat to this strategic asset.

Thus, the British command deployed forces, including troops from Australia, New Zealand, and India, to engage and push back the Ottoman armies from the Sinai Peninsula.

The campaign was a grueling test of endurance for the forces involved, with troops having to grapple not only with a determined enemy but also with the harsh environmental conditions of the region.

Initially, the focus was defensive, aiming to safeguard the Suez Canal from Ottoman attacks.

However, by 1916, following failed Ottoman offensives, the strategy shifted towards an offensive push across the Sinai desert into Palestine.

By late 1917, the British-led forces had gained significant ground but still faced stout Ottoman resistance.

The fortified town of Beersheba, situated at the edge of the Negev Desert, emerged as a critical objective.

It held an important strategic position due to its water wells, essential for both men and horses in the arid environment.

It was the gateway to Jerusalem and held a significant stronghold for the Ottoman-German forces.

The British high command realized that to effectively progress northward and secure a definitive advantage, Beersheba had to be taken. 

The Battle of Beersheba, which unfolded on 31 October 1917, was a significant part of the wider third Battle of Gaza.

The aim was to break the Ottoman line near Gaza and advance into Palestine.

However, this was easier said than done.

The Ottoman forces had heavily fortified Gaza, making it an impregnable fortress and a source of major trouble for the British-led forces.

Therefore, an alternative was sought: Beersheba.

Located southeast of Gaza, Beersheba was the key to unlocking the wider defensive network.

However, the challenge lay in its distance from the main British position and the fact that it was held by a considerable Ottoman-German force.

The battle plan developed by the British command, General Edmund Allenby, was a dual one: a feint attack towards Gaza to hold the majority of Ottoman forces, and a strong flanking move towards Beersheba.

The infantry began their movements in the night of 30 October, hoping to reach the outskirts of Beersheba by dawn and launch an attack.

On the morning of 31 October, the infantry assault began. Despite their valiant efforts, the town's fortifications and the stubborn Ottoman defense meant progress was slow and costly.

As the day wore on, the strategic necessity of capturing Beersheba's wells intact became increasingly pressing.

In light of this, the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade, a mounted infantry rather than a traditional cavalry, was called upon to execute a daring and potentially decisive action.

The 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade, a part of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), was formed in March 1915.

Comprised largely of men from the rural areas of Victoria and New South Wales, this unit was unique in its composition and capabilities.

The men of the Brigade were not professional soldiers; they were stockmen, farmers, and bushmen, accustomed to a hardy outdoor life, excellent horsemen with a deep bond with their mounts.

This connection between man and horse was a defining characteristic of the Brigade.

Their steeds were "Walers," a breed of horse from New South Wales known for its hardiness, endurance, and versatility.

These horses, like their riders, were well-adapted to the challenging environments they would face in the Middle Eastern theater.

The men were armed with rifles and bayonets, not the sabres or lances of traditional cavalry, and they typically fought dismounted.

Their horses were instrumental for rapid movement across the battlefield, allowing them to approach quickly, dismount to engage the enemy, and then extract swiftly.

However, it's important to note that despite their proficiency and adaptability, the Brigade was not trained or equipped for the type of full-frontal cavalry charge that was planned at Beersheba.

Such a tactic against entrenched positions defended by machine guns and artillery was fraught with danger and could result in heavy casualties.

Nonetheless, the combination of the dire strategic situation on the afternoon of 31 October 1917, the unique capabilities of the Light Horsemen, and the daring of their commanders, led to the decision to employ the Brigade in a way that it was never intended.

As the day wore on in Beersheba, it became clear that the British-led infantry assault was progressing more slowly than anticipated.

The town's strong fortifications, combined with the tenacious defense by the Ottoman-German forces, resulted in a stalemate.

Time was of the essence. The desert town's all-important water wells needed to be captured intact before nightfall, when the defenders could potentially destroy them.

In the face of this pressing challenge, Lieutenant General Harry Chauvel, commanding the Desert Mounted Corps, decided to order a direct charge by the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade.

This was a high-risk strategy. The Light Horsemen were essentially mounted infantry, not true cavalry, and they were ill-equipped for a traditional cavalry charge.

Moreover, the Ottoman defenders had machine guns and artillery, which could wreak havoc on a charging force.

Yet, there were several factors that influenced Chauvel's decision. He knew the Light Horsemen, skilled riders all, could close the distance to the enemy quickly.

The element of surprise was also on their side; the Ottoman troops would not be expecting a charge by mounted forces late in the day, as cavalry charges were typically launched at dawn.

With these considerations in mind, Chauvel gave the order, and Brigadier General William Grant, the commander of the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade, set about arranging his men for what would become the last great cavalry charge in history.

At around 4:30 PM, the 4th and 12th Light Horse Regiments, arranged themselves into three successive lines, roughly five yards apart.

Each man fixed a long bayonet - their primary weapon for the charge - to his rifle, lending the scene an eerily archaic feel in contrast to the mechanized warfare that had come to define the Great War.

As the bugle call rang out, nearly 800 horsemen urged their Walers forward. At first, they moved at a trot, then a canter, and finally, with the town of Beersheba less than a mile away, they broke into a full gallop.

The sight of these mounted troops charging across the open plain was an astonishing spectacle.

The Ottoman defenders reacted with shock and disbelief. They had been expecting another slow push by infantry, not a fast, relentless charge by mounted troops.

As they scrambled to respond, the sun, low in the western sky, was in their eyes, making it difficult for them to aim accurately.

Despite this, the Ottoman machine guns and artillery opened fire on the charging Light Horsemen.

Dust kicked up by the horses, combined with the glare of the sun, created a smokescreen-like effect, further shielding the Australians from accurate enemy fire.

The speed of the charge was such that the brigade was upon the trenches before the defenders could sufficiently lower their artillery to target the fast-approaching horsemen effectively.

Some members of the 4th Brigade dismounted and engaged in fierce hand-to-hand combat with the defenders in the trenches, while the majority galloped through the lines and into Beersheba.

The town's capture was swift, and by nightfall, Beersheba was in Allied hands.

The charge, which lasted barely an hour, was a bold and risky gamble that paid off spectacularly.

It was later recognized as a masterstroke, a moment of daring and innovation that marked a turning point in the campaign and underscored the potency of audacious tactics even amidst the brutal realities of modern warfare.

The charge of the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade at Beersheba was an unqualified success.

The Brigade not only captured the town but also secured the all-important water wells intact.

This meant that the advancing British-led forces would have a secure water supply, facilitating further operations in Palestine.

The Brigade remarkably lost only 31 men, with 36 wounded. This was an incredibly low number given the risks involved in the charge and the nature of the enemy defences.

The Ottoman forces, on the other hand, suffered significantly, with a large number of soldiers taken as prisoners.

The victory at Beersheba had immediate and far-reaching implications. It marked a turning point in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign by enabling the British to finally break the Ottoman line near Gaza.

This, in turn, paved the way for further advances into Palestine, including the capture of Jerusalem in December 1917, a significant morale booster for the Allies.

The success of the charge also had a profound impact on the men of the 4th Brigade and the Australian forces in general.

It boosted morale and contributed to the growing legend of the Australian 'digger' – a tough, resourceful soldier capable of taking on and defeating the enemy under the most challenging circumstances.