The Beersheba charge–the last successful cavalry charge in world history–thrilled Australians.
During my 2024 travels on the continent, I watched for elements or remembrances of the charge.
I found them and even heard them.
When I brought up the historical World War I event, people were surprised I knew about the Battle for Beersheba.
They were intrigued as to why.
It had to do with Oswald Chambers, of course.
Oswald Chambers and the Beersheba charge
I wrote about the WWI Charge of a Light Brigade here.
Many years ago, a reader wrote asking me to look into how Oswald Chambers ended WWI.
Skeptical, I asked questions.
According to her, the Chambers-led revival among the ANZAC troops at Zeitoun, Egypt, resulted in many ANZAC soldiers becoming believers.
As a result, when they were ordered to charge on Beersheba, they were not afraid to die.
That’s why the Beersheba charge was a success.
“Because they took Beersheba, and then Jerusalem, they knocked out the German southeastern flank during the war,” she explained.
“As a result, the Allies consolidated their efforts in other parts of the world–like France.”
The war ended a year later.
(I think other considerations were in order. The horses were dying of thirst; the men were following orders. Was their ultimate salvation an element?
(Who can know? Chambers-influenced men were there, including Philip Hancock and Peter Kay.)
Historical observations?
The charge is considered the last successful cavalry charge in history.
You can watch a video version of it here:
I do not know if my correspondent had read 800 Horsemen: Riders of Destiny by Col Stringer.
The book is out of print now and unavailable in the US. I found it in Australia, and in reading it, I discovered where her idea came from.
Stringer’s popular book linked religious events in Palestine to Biblical prophecies, in particular as related to the ANZAC troops.
It’s an interesting read of firsthand accounts.
One story about the ride up to Jerusalem after the Beersheba charge recounted a night sky full of angels and unusual sights:
“From General Chauvel down to the officers and troopers, visions of ancient buildings, lighted villages and angelic being were being witnessed enmasse. . . . Reports of angelic beings appeared during the fighting occurred up to the cessation of hostilities in 1918 . . . Statements were taken from captured enemy officers who had witnessed this manifestations. Gen. Allenby called for detailed reports and interviewed witnesses himself.”
The AIF in Sinai and Palestine, page 155.
Why was the Beersheba charge important to Australians?
1.3% of the entire Australian population (about 60,000 people) died while fighting in WWI.
They were a quiet nation far from the headlines. Often overlooked by other countries, Australia’s army saw a large percentage of death in their able-bodied men.
Yet, those men led a brave charge that helped change history.
If the ANZAC horsemen had not taken Beersheba, they would have fought a bloody, desperate battle.
And General Allenby would not have peacefully walked through Jerusalem’s gates a month later.
The nation felt proud to have participated in such an undertaking.
It’s part of their history.
Newcastle Memorial Walk
Knowing of my interest in this story, my friend Anna took me to see a remembrance.
The Newcastle Memorial Walk features steel silhouettes of ANZAC triumphs.
This line-up is on the east side of the walkway. The horsemen are facing east.
During a trip to New Zealand many years ago, I noted ANZAC memorials stood in every small town.
They were WWI ANZAC soldiers in full kit, facing east.
Why east?
Because that’s where they left their hearts and their lives, fighting far from home.
When a nation loses so many men fighting a battle few understand, it leaves a mark.
Whether Oswald Chambers influenced the men to fight their way to Jerusalem or not, the charge was significant.
And many people have never forgotten.
Including me.
Tweetable
Was Oswald Chambers really responsible for the end of WWI? Click to Tweet
Thoughts? Reactions? Lurker?