Australia’s Largest Christian News Site

Most Australians know of the Battle of Beersheba, but far fewer realise that its architect, Sir Harry Chauvel possessed a sincere Christian faith.

The horses were restless, pawing the ground in the relentless heat.

A shimmering haze hung over the desert, taunting the waiting riders and their thirsty steeds with the promise of water.

In the distance, a pall of dust obscured the fighting. But the dust cloud was crawling aimlessly, not flying forward.

It was obvious that the attack had failed — just as two previous attempts on nearby Gaza had been repulsed.

Fights over this oasis on the edge of the desert had been ongoing for nearly 4000 years. Abraham’s argument with Abimelech over water rights had been settled with an oath and seven ewes at this spot: the wells of Beersheba.

Now, on 31 October 1917, another history-making moment had arrived. Men from the youngest nation on earth at the time had drawn their horses up outside the Turkish-held stronghold of Beersheba.

Smarting from the defeat of Gallipoli, they were keen to engage the Turks on a new battleground.

Lieutenant-General Sir Harry Chauvel

In charge of the Australian troops was Harry Chauvel. Under his command were 34,000 horsemen and cameleers from various parts of the British Empire as well as France and Italy.

This is considered by many to be the largest body of mounted troops since Alexander the Great over 2000 years before.

An early morning bombardment and an attack by the British forces on Tel Sheva, achieved their objectives.

In the afternoon, the baton was handed over to the New Zealand troops who fought tenaciously to remove the Turks from their heavily fortified stronghold, thus neutralising the machine guns and snipers. These victories made the charge on Beersheba viable.

Chauvel, the first Australian to rise to Lieutenant-General within the British forces, thought there was still a chance to take Beersheba, this Turkish-held outpost.

With only one hour of daylight left he ordered the Light Horse regiments to charge.

Making History: the Charge of Beersheba

In they went. Just 800 of them.

They tore across the dusty plains so swiftly that the town’s gunners kept overshooting the oncoming charge. The attacking force overwhelmed the surprised defenders.

Thirty-one Australian horsemen were killed with 36 wounded in this remarkable victory.

On the other hand, the Turkish army suffered heavy casualties with many hundreds dead and wounded as well as 700–1000 who surrendered and were taken as prisoners of war.

The biblical significance of this battle, in the place still called by the name Abraham gave it, was not lost on the troops.

Shortly after the Battle of Beersheba, the ANZACs were instrumental in retaking the city of Jerusalem. In his scrapbook, Chauvel wrote the word ‘Prophetic’ under a photo of Jerusalem.

The Liberation of Jerusalem

The city had been under Muslim rule since the seventh century.

Emperor Hadrian, in the first century, ordered Jerusalem razed to the ground. Christians and Jews were forbidden to enter on pain of death.

Yet God had promised in the Bible to return his chosen people to their own land.

According to an article in the Jerusalem Post on 29 October 2007,

“…the Australian victory in 1917 set in train some remarkable events—the liberation of Jerusalem, the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the British Mandate in Palestine and ultimately the establishment of the State of Israel.”

The same article highlights a little known fact: the timing of the Light Horse charge at 4:30 pm appears to have coincided with a historic decision made in London in support of the establishment of the State of Israel.

Although not officially made public until three days later, it seems that — allowing for the time zone difference — this decision was made at the same hour as the attack on Beersheba on October 31.

The Faith of Sir Harry Chauvel

Harry Chauvel’s strong personal faith can be traced back to France in 1685.

His Huguenot ancestors were forced to flee across the English Channel under threat of death because of their faith in Jesus Christ and their unwavering belief in the Bible.

Chauvel’s Christian faith was vibrant.

On all his campaigns, he carried a copy of the Bible, which he read regularly. This wood-bound, engraved copy of the Scriptures which he sought inspiration in difficult times is kept and treasured by his family.

___

Source: Extracts from his daughter’s letters.

New International Version (NIV) Bible:
Jeremiah 30:1-4
Amos 9:14-15

For more information, visit Beersheba100.

Recommended reading VICTORY Beersheba 100^th Anniversary Author Jill Curry

Click ANZAC War Horses PP for PowerPoint presentation.

___

Originally published on DIDUNO. Image by Bidgee on Wikimedia Commons.