Albany RSL to host services commemorating Battle of Beersheba and the contribution of nurses at war

Albany will pause to remember those who fought at the Battle of Beersheba and honour the contribution of nurses at two services this weekend.

The Albany RSL sub-branch will host the two commemorative services on October 29 and 30, ahead of Remembrance Day on November 11.

To mark the 105th anniversary of the Battle of Beersheba, a service will be held at the Desert Mounted Corps Memorial atop Mt Clarence at 2pm on Saturday.

A transfer bus will be available to shuttle people to and from the service from the parking area at the bottom of Apex Drive.

On October 31, 1917 the Australian 4th Light Horse Brigade carried out its famous cavalry charge, capturing the town of Beersheba and helping British Empire forces break the Ottoman line near Gaza one week later.

The service holds strong ties to Albany as many horses which departed from Albany for World War I were bred in the region.

Only one horse returned to Australia after the war due partly to fears of importing animal diseases.

Albany RSL service director Michael Tugwell said the service would be run by the local RSL sub-branch on behalf of 10th Light Horse Troop Albany.

Mr Tugwell said the Battle of Beersheba commemoration was essentially “their service”, referring to the 10th Light Horse Troop Albany.

“A welcome addition to the service will be the attendance of members of the newly reformed 10th Light Horse Regiment based in Perth,” he said.

“They will be in Albany doing driver training on the modern-day steeds of the Light Horse, these being the recently introduced Hawkei vehicles which will be on display at the service.”

The second service will be held at the Nurses Memorial Gardens on Proudlove Parade at 2pm on Sunday to honour the contribution of Australian nurses.

”The service is held to recognise the service of all nurses, not just those who served in a military capacity,” Mr Tugwell said.

“The Ode on Sunday will be recited by a serving military medical officer from the Albany region, Lieutenant Pauline Treeby.

“Pauline is a member of the Royal Australian Medical Corps and works at the Albany Health Campus in her civilian employment.”

The service will be followed by afternoon tea at Albany RSL headquarters on Stirling Terrace.

For details contact Mr Tugwell on 0421 647 301 or mecto03@outlook.com.