Analysis of the battle of Beersheba
History learning task
The Battle of Beersheba was fought on 31 October 1917, when two infantry and two mounted divisions of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF), attacked units of the Yildirim Army Group garrisoning Beersheba. This EEF victory began the offensive, which six weeks later resulted in the capture of Jerusalem, during the Sinai and Palestine campaign of World War I. I think that the Australian soldiers were very effective in winning Beersheba although the charge was born of the desperation of having no water and needing to capture the wells in Beersheba.
(Wikipedia 2013)
(Australian reserve forces council 2013)
50,000 British troops attacked the Turkish defenses around Beersheba on October 31 1917 they were supported by tank and artillery but failed. With sunset approaching there was little hope of taking Beersheba before night if ever but the many horses that were bought with had been ridden across the dessert in 50-degree heat without water for 48 or more hours. It was in these circumstances that brigadier William Grant of the Australian light horse approached General Harry Chauvel with a suggestion of a frontal charge across 5.5km of open ground towards 4,400 Turkish soldiers with a total of 60 machine guns and 28 field guns. The German officer commanding the Turkish defenses described it as “madness” but general Chauvel decided it was their only hope of taking the town before nightfall and gave the order. So it was then that the 800 men of the 4th, 11th and 12th light horse mounted their horses and set off to face a more numerous, better armed force with superior positions we will never know what made them do this with no complaint it may have been thirst or just listening to an instruction but we do know it was very courageous.
(The Australian, 2007)
In source 1 you can see the overall view of the charge and though it may look like there are many more ANZAC light horse the Turks outnumber the Anzacs about 6 to 1. The Turkish
The Battle of Beersheba was fought on 31 October 1917, when two infantry and two mounted divisions of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF), attacked units of the Yildirim Army Group garrisoning Beersheba. This EEF victory began the offensive, which six weeks later resulted in the capture of Jerusalem, during the Sinai and Palestine campaign of World War I. I think that the Australian soldiers were very effective in winning Beersheba although the charge was born of the desperation of having no water and needing to capture the wells in Beersheba.
(Wikipedia 2013)
(Australian reserve forces council 2013)
50,000 British troops attacked the Turkish defenses around Beersheba on October 31 1917 they were supported by tank and artillery but failed. With sunset approaching there was little hope of taking Beersheba before night if ever but the many horses that were bought with had been ridden across the dessert in 50-degree heat without water for 48 or more hours. It was in these circumstances that brigadier William Grant of the Australian light horse approached General Harry Chauvel with a suggestion of a frontal charge across 5.5km of open ground towards 4,400 Turkish soldiers with a total of 60 machine guns and 28 field guns. The German officer commanding the Turkish defenses described it as “madness” but general Chauvel decided it was their only hope of taking the town before nightfall and gave the order. So it was then that the 800 men of the 4th, 11th and 12th light horse mounted their horses and set off to face a more numerous, better armed force with superior positions we will never know what made them do this with no complaint it may have been thirst or just listening to an instruction but we do know it was very courageous.
(The Australian, 2007)
In source 1 you can see the overall view of the charge and though it may look like there are many more ANZAC light horse the Turks outnumber the Anzacs about 6 to 1. The Turkish
Bibliography: Wikipedia 2013, Wikipedia, 13 July 2013, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Beersheba_(1917) Australian reserve forces council 2013, RFD, 13 July 2013, http://www.rfd.org.au/site/beersheba.asp ‘Jerusalem’s Aussie delivers 1917’, The Australian, 27 October 2007 Lancers 2013, royal new south wales lancers, 18 July 2013, http://www.lancers.org.au/site/1st_Gaza-Beersheba.asp