Meggido to Damascus
1:1 scale diorama showing mounted trooper of 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment in Palestine 1918 and dismounted Ottoman soldier. This diorama is the central feature in the World War 1 Gallery - Middle East Campaigns sequence and shows typical uniforms and accoutrements of the Australian Light Horse and Ottoman infantry. L 5 metres W 3 metres H 3 metres.
The unit was raised as a squadron, then a regiment in October 1914.and formed part of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade in Egypt. The Regiment served dismounted in Gallipoli and fought at the charge at the Nek on 7 August 1915, and at Hill 60 on 29-30 August. The only Victoria Cross awarded to a Light Horseman recognised the valour of Lieutenant Hugo Throssell at Hill 60.
After Gallipoli the Regiment was bought up to strength to defended Egypt from the Ottoman Army advancing on the Suez Canal. Through 1916 they drove the Turks across the deserts of Sinai, participating in the battles of Romani and Magdhaba.
In 1917 as part of the Desert Column they advanced into Palestine and participated in the bloody battles to break the Gaza-Beersheba line and helped capture Jerusalem. They participated in the Es Salt Raid in May 1918. In August they were equipped with swords and retrained as cavalry. In this role they took part in the rout of the Ottoman army in the Jordan Valley, a campaign the light horse referred to as "The Great Ride". In September the 10th was the first formed regiment to enter Damascus.
Turkey surrendered on 30 October 1918. After the end of the war, the regiment saw action in putting down the Egyptian uprising of 1919. The Regiment was one of the few to return home as a formed unit.
History of 10 Light Horse Regiment in World War 1 including "The Great Ride"
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51044/
History of Australian Walers as war horses in World War One
https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/horses
How did Light Horse differ from Cavalry?
https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/military-organisat…
A bus shelter to honour a Victoria Cross recipient?
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/military/display/60561-c….
The Great Ride remembered – Trooper Ned Moriarty
https://www.swtimes.com.au/news/south-western-times/great-ride-remember…
Experience of the Ottoman soldier in World War One
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/ottoman-empire/turkish-soldier-experience
Reflections on the charge at Beersheba
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/postcolonial-blog/2017/oct/3…