Guy Haydon rode Midnight in the famous Charge of Beersheba. Earlier they had been chosen to represent the Australian Light Horse against the British Calvary in the “Desert Olympics”, winning all three events and becoming heroes of the Light Horse.
The Charge of Beersheba was one of the last great victorious cavalry charges in history, which led to the fall of the Ottoman Empire and changed the course of World War One. 800 mounted Australian’s from the 4th and 12th Light Horse charged across open ground to captured the precious wells at Beersheba from 4,000 well-entrenched Turkish soldiers. Described as “insanely courageous” they charged directly at the enemy artillery, machine gun and rifle fire with only bayonets in their hands. Due to the sheer speed of their horses they managed to get under the enemy fire, jump the trenches and take the town in an historic victory. A British Calvary Officer recorded it “as the finest thing that I have ever seen mounted troops do”.
The 31 October 2017 marks the 100 Years of the Charge of Beersheba with extensive commemorations to be held locally, nationally and internationally. At Murrurundi the 12th Light Horse will conduct a ceremonial parade on 28 October, followed by a luncheon and the showing of “The Waler” documentary, the Historical Society will have an exhibition of memorabilia, Mark Greenwood will have a book stand for his children’s book “Midnight-the story of a light horse” and Frane Lessac the illustrator will display her original drawings and there will be an exhibition of school paintings inspired by the book. Tom Thompson will display his new book “To Beersheba 1917”.
To get the full Midnight Warhorse story please click here.