Remembering Palestine in Fremantle

Freo Today. 22 July 2025. The Fremantle War Memorial, on its eastern side, recalls Australian soldiers who served in Palestine in World War 1. The Battle of Beersheba, a garrison town then in Ottoman-controlled Palestine but now a major city of some importance in southern Israel, took place on 31 October 1917 – coming up just 108 years ago. It was part of the broader Sinai and Palestine Campaign, and marked a turning point in the British Empire’s efforts against the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East. 🇦🇺 One of the most iconic moments was the charge of the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade – often described as one of the last great cavalry charges in history. At dusk, they galloped across open ground with bayonets in hand, surprising the Ottoman defenders and securing the town and its vital water wells.