Horsemen to honour Beersheba charge

Honouring the courage of their forebears, the Bunbury 10th Light Horse Troop will later this month attend services in Dardanup and Albany to commemorate the famous charge of Beersheba.

The battle of Beersheba broke the German and Turkish lines during the Palestinian campaign, with the charge of the Light Horse at 4pm on October 31 leaping over the trenches to take the town.

On Tuesday, October 31 at 11am, a service will be held in Dardanup at the War Memorial with members of the Bunbury troop forming the colour guard.

Organisers Kingsley and Carol Dyson, of Dardanup, said the service would be similar to Anzac Day services to be conducted by a WA ADF Army chaplain.

Mr Dyson said Dardanup held a special significance for the Light Horse as it was the location of the regiment’s training camp from 1913.

Bunbury troop president Harry Ball and at least 10 riders would form the guard and march in to the song Beersheba by Lee Kernaghan.

“As we leave we’ll march off to the regimental marching tune of the 10th, which is Marching Off to Georgia,” Mr Ball said.

“We’re hoping to get as many horses and riders to Dardanup as we can.”

Mr Ball will also be a guest speaker at the service and said he would do so from horseback.

The service will be followed by a morning tea jointly hosted by a number of South West Country Women’s Association branches.

Members of the troop will also be in Albany on October 27 for a parade down the main street to commemorate the charge.

In addition, riders will perform light horsemen skills such as tent pegging and sword exercises.

“It’s the first time they’re commemorating Beersheba in Albany,” Mr Ball said.