Trooper Elliot on patrol
Saw dust cloud from his fox hole
Five hundred mounted men
Scared Elliot from his den
Beersheba was the ultimate prize
Turks were in for a surprise
Battle weary, scarred and torn
Australians rode out early morn
Horses up to their knees in burning sand
Soldiers galloped across the land
Turks set gun sights for the kill
Laughing loudly - enjoying the thrill
Five hundred horsemen mounted the charge
The wells at Beersheba loomed large
Two miles were quickly covered
Clouds of dust quickly smothered
Hot machine gun fire killed many men
The Essex battery shelled again and again
Turks were out of action - gameplay
The wells at Beersheba taken that fateful day
Elliot threw his hat in the air
Stood in his stirrups brushing his hair
The battle of Beersheba fought and won
Last great mounted charge - over and done.
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Author Notes
The battle for Beersheba October 31, 1917 was the last mounted charge of the first world war. Elliot survived and was heard to say "It was the bravest, most awe inspiring sight I've ever witnessed, and they were...yelling, swearing and shouting. There were more than 500 Aussie horsemen...As they thundered off past my hair stood on end. The boys were wild-eyed and yelling their heads off. The water wells at Beersheba (now part of Israel) were the most important source of water for the Australian/English troops - without it, Turks would have won the battle. The 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade are now written into history.
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