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Those Marvellous Bloody Horses
Those Marvellous Bloody Horses
History’s last great cavalry charge by some 800 Australian light-horsemen of the 4th & 12th Regiments of the 4th Light Horse Brigade on the 31st October, 1917, Beersheba.
As one light-horseman would later say, “It was the horses that did it; those marvelous bloody horses. Where would we have been but for them.”
“Those Marvelous Bloody Horses”
The original drawing was in graphite and some one wanted a print coloured in which Chris did twice and we went into print with this coloured version.
Unframed Limited Edition Prints 1917, Signed and Numbered by Chris
Size 880 x 560 mm or 1190 x 790 mm either in colour or graphite
A Certification of Authenticity is given which each print
A Commended Award at “Drawing - the Essential Art” AGRA Gallery, Camberwell
History’s last great cavalry charge by some 800 Australian light-horsemen of the 4th & 12th Regiments of the 4th Light Horse Brigade on the 31st October, 1917, Beersheba.
As one light-horseman would later say, “It was the horses that did it; those marvelous bloody horses. Where would we have been but for them.”
“Those Marvelous Bloody Horses”
The original drawing was in graphite and some one wanted a print coloured in which Chris did twice and we went into print with this coloured version.
Unframed Limited Edition Prints 1917, Signed and Numbered by Chris
Size 880 x 560 mm or 1190 x 790 mm either in colour or graphite
A Certification of Authenticity is given which each print
A Commended Award at “Drawing - the Essential Art” AGRA Gallery, Camberwell
This pencil drawing was inspired by Chris McClelland on hearing of the proposed establishment of a memorial in Hay to the Australian Light Horse in time for the centenary of the Charge of Beersheba, 2017. This was history's last great cavalry charge by some 800 Australian light-horsemen of the 4th & 12th Regiments of the 4th Light Horse Brigade on the 31st October, Beersheba, 1917. The original drawing was donated to the Hay Light Horse War Memorial Association and raffled to raise funds.
Neither cavalry nor professional soldiers, the men of the Australian Light Horse gallantly rode into history. They were frontier Australians of a generation which we will sadly never see the like of again.
Approaching the entrenched enemy at a trot, then canter, down a broad sloping valley, three squadrons of mounted infantry spaced 300 metres apart and each stretching 1100 metres across, began their audacious charge at a gallop just under 2½ kilometres from the Turkish trenches and guns.
The classic cavalry charge formation of horsemen swept across the rock strewn plain with wild yelling, even laughter; their handheld sharpened bayonets glinting in the setting sun. Men and horses met violent death and wounding from enemy rifle, machine gun and artillery fire, and attack from two German aircraft. Regardless, they galloped on with great courage and terrible ferocity to hurtle over the enemy trenches to capture and claim the vital wells of Beersheba. Thirty-one Australians were killed, 36 wounded. At least 70 horses died.
The charge against the Turks at Beersheba on the 31st October 1917 was the last great wartime cavalry charge by mounted infantry. The audacity and ferocity of it stunned an otherwise formidable enemy into capitulation.
As one light-horseman would later say, "It was the horses that did it; those marvellous bloody horses. Where would we have been but for them."
AWARDS: Highly Commended Award in 2012 “Drawing the Essential Art’ Exhibition, AGRA Gallery, Camberwell Melbourne.
A graphite print of this drawing is hanging in the official residence of the Governor General of Australia, Peter Cosgrove, Yarralumla, Canberra.