Australians honour Light Horsemen
Indigenous advocate and former Senator Nova Peris and Australian Colonel Michael Scott spoke at a ceremony last week to mark the 108th anniversary of the Battle of Be'er Sheva.
A ceremony to mark the 108th anniversary of the Battle of Be’er Sheva was held at the Park of the Australian Solider in Be’er Sheva on October 31, where Indigenous advocate and former Senator Nova Peris spoke, alongside Australian Colonel Michael Scott. Both have been prominent Australian advocates in support of Israel and against antisemitism.
They then attended the Be’er Sheva War Cemetery with Australian Ambassador Dr Ralph King to lay wreaths in remembrance of the 800 Australian Light Horsemen who successfully broke the Ottoman line. Other Australians attending the ceremony were October 7 survivor Danny Majzner (brother of the only Australian-Israeli murdered on October 7 2023 Galit Carbone), and musicians Alma Zygier, Gabriella Cohen and Sara Yael.
The Battle for Be’er Sheva was part of a wider British offensive known as the third Battle of Gaza. The final phase was the mounted charge of the 4th Light Horse Brigade, which captured the town of Be’er Sheva enabling the British forces to break the Ottoman line during WWI.
Discussing its significance, Colonel Scott posted, “this wasn’t just another Campaign in a long and painful War (WW1) but was pivotal in the Balfour Declaration being announced two days later on 2nd November 1917.”
A poem by Peris was recited which included:
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