A flag once flown from the Beersheba Post Office to mark the successful Light Horse charge 100 years ago will make an appearance at Lithgow’s Anzac Day march today.
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The flag was kept as a souvenir of the engagement by a Victorian Lighthorseman, who passed it down through his family to Greg Johnson of Hartley Vale.
He will be part of the Lithgow service today. Crowds gathered this morning for dawn services around the region to mark Anzac Day, Australia’s traditional day of remembrance for those who served their country in its military history.
The march will begin on Eskbank Street near Lithgow Public School at 10.30am and travel towards Queen Elizabeth Park for the 11am service.
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Mr Johnson will display the flag and speak at the service. The Union Jack flag has been passed down to Mr Johnson from his grandfather Alfred, who was part of the Beersheba force.
Mr Johnson will talk about the battle on October 31, 1917, which saw 600 Australian Lighthorsemen charge the defences of Beersheba, which was in the control of about 4000 Turkish and German troops.
The surprise and speed of their attack, made using bayonets in hands like swords, ensured their victory. The charge cleared the way for 60,000 Allied troops to move into the strategically significant town.
Mr Johnson’s grandfather, who was already a veteran of the Gallipoli campaign, was part of the charge.
“As they charged, they could hear the bullets whistling past them. The machine guns were on them,” he said.
“He sat as close as he could to his horse’s neck to try to protect himself.”
In celebration, the Union Jack was hung from the Beersheba Post Office.
“My grandfather, trooper Alfred Johnson who charged that day, thought it would look good hanging from his parents’ pub in Victoria, so that night it turned up in his saddle bags,” Mr Johnson said.
It did go on to hang in the Victorian pub in Creswick, a centrepiece and talking point for many years.
It, and the stories of that day, were passed down in the family.
Alfred Johnson was 22 at the time of the Light Horse charge at Beersheba. He had suffered wounds from a hand grenade explosion and was treated on the island of Lemnos before making his return to active duty.
He rejoined British troops in the Middle East despite his wounds continuing to cause health issues.
Alfred returned to Australia in 1918, deemed medically unfit to remain in the army.
Mr Johnson said Alfred went on to keep waler horses, the same breed of stockhorse as the mount that had carried him into battle in Beersheba.
He died in 1945, suffering from tuberculosis.
His stories and his Light Horse memorabilia, including his riding spurs, were passed on, first to his son, and then to his grandson.
Mr Johnson has become active in the Light Horse Association and he said more events were planned this year to mark the centenary of the Beersheba battle.