Centenary of Battle of Beersheba remembered at Launceston Cenotaph with Northern Tasmanian Light Horse Troop

James, or Jim, Saward was 28-years-old when he joined the 26^th reinforcement for Tasmania’s 3^rd Light Horse Regiment, leaving behind the quiet shores of Tasmania for Egypt.

He trained at Zeitoun Camp to become a 1^st class machine gunner, his career continuing through Beersheba and on to patrolling in the Jordan Valley and the raid at Es Salt in 1918.

But at Beersheba, he and his horse Jenny were part of C Squadron, charging and clearing the hill at Tel el Saba.

One hundred years later Trooper Saward’s son, Bernard Saward, laid the last remnants of his father’s army kit at the Launceston Cenotaph, marking the Centenary of Beersheba.

Mr Saward, 91, was joined by his daughter Angie Dicker and grandson Martin Dicker, at the commemoration ceremony on Saturday.

The Battle of Beersheba was fought on October 31, 1917, one of the last great mounted offenses against artillery and machine guns.

31 Australians died to break through the Ottoman lines.

Trooper Saward never spoke about his experiences in the war, and it was only a few years ago that Mr Saward discovered much of what his father had been through.

All that remains of Trooper Saward’s army gear is a kit bag and a hoof knife for clearing stones from the horses’ hooves.

“He didn’t talk at all about it, I’ve found out more reading books in the last two and three years about it,” Mr Saward said.

“All I can remember him saying about it is how at the Charge of Beersheba they galloped down and I take it he was probably in the second wave, because he said by the time they jumped the trenches there were white flags showing.

“Most of the old soldiers didn’t talk much about what they did.

“If we could have only asked, there’s a lot of questions I’d like to ask him now.”

Trooper Saward returned to the North-West after the war, to work on the land and as a blacksmith, but his own experiences on the front were rarely discussed in the family.

Mr Saward said he believed many of the men who returned simply wanted to “close it out of their minds” and return to the normality of Australia’s life as soon as possible.

At the Launceston Cenotaph on Saturday, the Northern Tasmanian Light Horse Troop in full World War I uniform, astride six horses, stood to attention for the Ode in honour of the fallen.

They marched through the streets of Launceston, surprising and delighting Saturday shoppers, to pay tribute to the sacrifices made during the War.

Coordinator Terese Binns said it had been wonderful to meet Mr Saward and hear his father’s story, and to see some of the last remnants of a Tasmanian soldier’s gear.

“That’s what it’s all about, the people that were there and honouring them,” Mrs Binns said.

Mr Saward said he read an earlier article in The Examiner about the planned ceremony, and called Mrs Binns to inform her of his family connection to the Battle.

Dressed in the scarlet and grey of the Australian Army Nursing Service, Mrs Binns and the troop gave an idea to the assembled crowd of what it was like to live and breathe through World War I, soldier or no.

Like their brothers and fathers and cousins, the Australian nurses volunteered to go to war and leave civilian lives behind, their role now outside the hospital confines and out in dire, thankless circumstances.

A Reserve unit of civilian nurses, all unmarried – and all in thick grey serge felt that fell far to the ground, starched white collars and cuffs, veils, a bonnet, and a bright red cape – was founded in 1902.

After Federation, individual nurses corps from the colonies came together to be united under one banner and one title.

The role of nurses in the defence forces was gradually expanded, and in 1906, four years after their foundation as a conglomerate force, a Lady Superintendent and and Matron were appointed in Tasmania.

In 1914, thousands of Australian nurses were called upon to begin a whole different life.

Young female nurses soon found themselves thousands of miles from home, following the armies through Egypt, France, Belgium, Palestine, India and further beyond.

Mrs Binns said the nurses played a critical role at Beersheba. “The nurses were in Egypt at the hospital … 8000 nurses actually left Australia,” she said, noting nurses’ duties went far beyond modern-day requirements, even to cooking meals for their patients.

Bass Labor MP Ross Hart spoke at the ceremony, paying tribute to the sacrifices made by Tasmanian soldiers.

“What stands this charge against so many others was these brave soldiers took different tactics forward in battle,” he said.

“During the now-famous last great cavalry charge at Beersheba, Tasmanians in the 3^rd cleared and held the hills to the right of the line.”

As wreaths were laid for the soldiers who fought and died, Mr Saward said his father was always very proud of his role in the Battle of Beersheba.