To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE


SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

A Dream Reborn: 100 Years since the Victory at Beersheva Restored the Hope of Israel

Julie Stahl, Chris Mitchell : Nov 15, 2017  CBN News

"[The battle] was important in geopolitical terms because it was the action that broke the back of the Ottoman Turkish Empire." — Barry Waters, Australian Light Horse Association

(Beersheva, Israel) — [CBN News] The Israeli city of Beersheva (Beersheba) is marking the 100th anniversary of an epic World War I battle that gave Great Britain control of the city. It's important because that victory helped set the stage for the reestablishment of the Jewish state. (Screengrab via CBN News)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, MP, and New Zealand Governor-General Patsy Reddy to commemorate the victory of British, Australian and New Zealand soldiers and the Light Horse Regiment a century ago.

"Nearly 4,000 years ago, Abraham came to Beersheva, the city of seven wells," Netanyahu told dignitaries and visitors at a ceremony marking the anniversary.

"Exactly 100 years ago brave ANZAC [Australian and New Zealand Army Corps] soldiers liberated Beersheva for the sons and daughters of Abraham and opened the gateway for the Jewish people to re-enter the stage of history," he said.

"And they spurred their horses through that fire, those mad Australians, through that fire and took the town of Beersheva, secured the victory that did not create the State of Israel but enabled its creation," Turnbull told the crowd.

The battle for Beersheva was a turning point in the British conquest of the Middle East. That enabled British General Edmund Allenby to walk through the Jaffa Gate of Jerusalem's Old City less than three months later on December 11th as the victor in the battle for Jerusalem.

Allenby, the first Christian conqueror in centuries, entered the gate on foot out of respect for the Holy City.

Australian light horsemen made that possible. Australian author Kelvin Crombie explained.

"The charge of the Australian Light Horse was significant because they were never trained to do this," Crombie told CBN News. (Screengrab via CBN News)

"They were what we call mounted infantry. They go up to the frontline on horse, get off and go in as infantry. So it's something completely new. They'd never trained for it. Upwards of 600 of these men were given the order and they did it," Crombie said.

"Earlier in the day the British infantry achieved their goals to take the trenches on the western side [of Beersheva]. And the New Zealanders and some Australians captured the significant Tel el Saba, but they had to get into Beersheba before the sun went down because the Turks were going to destroy the water wells," he explained.

Crombie teamed up with the director of the Australian Light Horse Association, Barry Waters, to spearhead efforts to reenact the charge on Beersheva for centenary commemorations sponsored by the city of Beersheva.

Marking the Anniversary

More than 100 uniformed horsemen rode in the event, which took place on the anniversary of the battle, October 31.

"[The battle] was important in geopolitical terms because it was the action that broke the back of the Ottoman Turkish Empire," Waters said.

At the same time, a monumental decision was being made in Britain.

"So all that happened on one day," Crombie said. "But what's so amazing is that on the same day at about the same time as the event took place the members of the British war cabinet were meeting in London and they voted for that great decision, which we now know as the Balfour Declaration that the British government views with favor the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine."

Proud of their Contribution

Australians and New Zealanders are extremely proud of their role in Middle East history, like Australian Lance Corporal David Wood. (Screengrab via CBN News)

"My great-grandfather was a member of the first Light Horse regiment who held the backdoor open and stopped off the Turkish retreats," Wood told CBN News.

It was Wood's first trip to Israel, the country for which his great-grandfather acting Corporal Alfred Joseph Marsh had unknowingly fought.

"You feel proud and you feel a bit overwhelmed to be around and to have been at the cemetery this morning and seen all the gravestones of my great grandfather's mates is amazing and humbling," Wood said.

Earlier in the day, those celebrating watched the Light Horsemen parade down Beersheva's main street.

"To be here at the place where the Australian victory occurred, it was an incredibly gutsy effort for both men and horses," Australian Lt. Col. Robert Patterson said.

"It's all part of our national psyche," said Robin Forward of Queensland, Australia.

"So I think it's another display of [God's] awesomeness and how history is made with Him in this scenario and God being God in who He is and everything He represents. We get to be a part of it being Aussies," said Deanne Moren.

Australia's prime minister summed up the part his countrymen had played.

"While those young men… no doubt did not foresee the extraordinary success of the State of Israel, its foundations, its resilience, its determination, its indomitability against overwhelming odds, their spirit was the same and like the State of Israel has done ever since, they defied history, they made history and with their courage they fulfilled history," Turnbull said.







SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News

SEE IT: Ancient Coin with 'Face of Jesus' Discovered

In Far-left San Francisco Area: California MassResistance Activists Force Drag Queen Story Hour to Clean Up Its Act

Democrat School Board President Sworn in on Sexually Explicit Books Instead of the Bible

50-Year-Old Man Once Again Competes With Teenage Girls in Ontario Swim Competition

Federal Judge Hands Huge Victory to Trump in Bid to Remove Him from Arizona Ballot

Ivy League Facing Lawsuits: 'Professors Encouraging Students to Engage in Genocidal Chants'

Israel Gains Key Intel by Capturing Hundreds of Hamas Terrorists; US Pushes Israel on Gaza Casualties

Hunter Biden Hit With Federal Charges for Evading Tax; Faces Up to 17 Years in Prison

'The Unborn Have No Voice' Says Elon Musk in Response to Jane Goodall's Pro-Population Control Video

California Governor Cancels Public Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

Arizona Sheriff Mark Lamb: Every Illegal Alien Crossing Border Received $5,000 Gift Card (VIDEO)

Riley Gaines Torches the Dems' Gender Deniers in House Fight for Girls' Sports

On Eve of Hanukkah, Israel Gains in South; More Evidence of Hamas Sex Crimes Uncovered

4th GOP Debate: Vivek Mops the Stage Floor with Other Candidates, Throwing Truth Bombs and Defending Trump

Famous Rapper Turns to Jesus: 'Christ Lives in Me'

Judge Voids Democrat Election Win Due to Fraudulent Ballots

Tucker Carlson, Michael Shellenberger blast John Kerry's 'Anti-human' COP28 speech

4 Big Moments from the Trump-Hannity Town Hall Event

Kevin McCarthy Says He Will Resign from Congress at the End of the Year

20 States Seeking to Expel Foreign Students Amid Rising Concerns of 'Terrorist Activity'



Search the Articles Archives

Keyword:  
Author:  
Words Posted On:  
Day Month Year



BCN Plus

Follow BCN on Twitter
Are You Praying for Our Government Leaders?
BCN Staff

Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, Managing Editor
Founder and Owner


Aimee Herd
Aimee Herd, Editor


BCN Plus
Are You Praying for President Trump?
 
 

All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.


Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved


Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.

editor@breakingchristiannews.com