Outback hosts Beersheba re-enactment
AS the countdown continues to the October 31 Battle of Beersheba Centenary commemoration in Israel, the people of Central West Queensland got into the spirit by turning out in droves on the streets of four outback towns to witness last month's In Pursuit of Beersheba tour.
AS the countdown continues to the October 31 Battle of Beersheba Centenary commemoration in Israel, the people of Central West Queensland got into the spirit by turning out in droves on the streets of four outback towns to witness last month’s In Pursuit of Beersheba tour.
Featuring almost 100 riders, the tour included parades and commemorative services in Barcaldine, Ilfracombe, Longreach and Winton, ending with a spectacular re-enactment at Bladensburg National Park of the famous Charge of Beersheba by the 4th and 12th Australian Light Horse regiments that proved to be a turning point in the Sinai-Palestine campaign.
Hosted by the Queensland Mounted Infantry Historical Troop and the 5th Light Horse Winton Troop, the event struck a chord with the locals because, although the Light Horse brigades were comprised of volunteers from all over Australia, many who joined were experienced horse riders, young drovers, station hands and farmers from western Queensland.
Tour organiser Jed Millen told ABC Western Queensland, “The significance of the area – the amount of people who were involved and enlisted in this region is astronomical.”
Winton District Historical Society member Helen Collins said the synchronised re-enactment provided a unique opportunity for the people of Winton to recognise the service, bravery and sacrifice of the 600 locals that joined Australian Light Horse regiments and served in the Middle East during the Great War.
“The population has been estimated at approximately 2500 from Winton and district [at the time], so that equates to about 24 per cent – I believe it is one of the highest [contributions] per capita.
“The tour included six riders from the New Zealand Mounted Rifles charitable trust, including Jeanette Rock, the granddaughter of Patrick Rock who participated in the Battle of Beersheba with the Auckland Mounted Rifles.”
SHANE DESIATNIK
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