Not to charge and take the town this time, but to support an Australian contingent of veterans and other dignitaries in Israel to dedicate a memorial to the Australian Light Horse.

A contingent of 35 personnel are going to Beersheba including the 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers from Tamworth, Muswellbrook and Armidale and the 4th/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse based in Victoria.

They will travel with a Department of Veterans Affairs commemorative mission which will dedicate the memorial in the Park of the Australian Soldier.

The park was developed as a tribute to the contribution of Australian service personnel in the Middle East in World War I and World War II and in peace operations since, by Australia’s Pratt Foundation in conjunction with the city of Be’er-Sheva (Beersheba) as a gift to the people of Be’er-Sheva.

Before arriving in Israel the contingent will visit places of significance in Singapore then travel to Tel Aviv via Frankfurt and will be based in Jerusalem.

For Anzac Day they will support a service at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Jerusalem on Mount Scopus.

“For the majority of those going from the 12/16 Hunter River Lancers it’s their first time representing the unit outside Australia so everyone’s very excited and very honoured to be chosen to represent the regiment,” 2nd in charge of the contingent, Major John Millerd said.

“Beersheba has great significance for both units because they trace their lineage strait to those in the charge and are the custodians of the battle honours of the units so it holds great significance for

those going.

“Going to Beersheba has a similar significance as a trip to Gallipoli or walking the Kokoda Track because it’s where the major battles took place.”

The contingent will also include seven veterans of Light Horse units who served in World War II.

“The 4th and 12th Light Horse regiments 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,” Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin said.

The memorial, a bronze sculpture of a light horseman in full flight leaping the Turkish trenches at Beersheba, was designed and crafted by Australian sculptor Peter Corlett.

It will be unveiled by the Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery, and the President of Israel, Shimon Peres, during a dedication service in the park on April 28.