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NEWS |
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Dateline
- April 12, 2008
Light
Horse Veterans to honour forebears at Beersheba |
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Seven World War II veterans who served in Australian light horse
units will attend the dedication of a memorial to the light horse
in Be'er-Sheva, Israel, on 28 April, the Minister for Veterans'
Affairs, Alan Griffin, announced today. Mr Griffin, who will be
joining the veterans for the dedication, said they would be travelling
as guests of the Australian Government. "The 4th and 12th
Light Horse successfully charged the Turkish defenders at Beersheba
to take the town on 31 October 1917, a famous action which turned
the tide of the Palestine campaign in the First World War,"
Mr Griffin said.
A key feature of the memorial is a sculpture by Australian sculptor
Peter Corlett of a mounted light horseman in full flight as he
leaps the trenches during the charge at Beersheba (now called
Be'er-Sheva). It will be dedicated during a memorial service conducted
by the Australian Government.
The memorial is the centrepiece of the Park of the Australian
Soldier, an initiative of Australia's Pratt Foundation to recognise
the contribution of Australian service personnel in the Middle
East in the First and Second World Wars and subsequent peace operations.
The Park will be dedicated by the Governor-General, His Excellency
Major General
Michael Jeffery, and the President of Israel, Shimon Peres, on
April 28.
"The light horse is legendary in Australia and a mission
party of Second World War light horsemen is an appropriate way
to honour the light horse at the dedication of this memorial."
The members of the party are: |
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Mr Ernest (Bob) Archer, 6th Light Horse, Orange, NSW.
Mr Ronald (Ron) Hatch, 10th Light Horse, Lesmurdie, WA .
Mr Douglas (Doug) Lade, 20th Light Horse, Highlands via Seymour,
VIC.
Mr Edward (Ted) Mulligan OAM, 12th Light Horse, Guyra, NSW.
Mr Eric Nunn, 6th Light Horse, Orange, NSW.
Mr Dale Robertson, 2nd Light Horse, Peakhurst, NSW.
Mr John Stuart, 10th Light Horse, Merriwa, WA.
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