Remembering Fallen ANZAC Soldiers

Remembering Fallen ANZAC Soldiers

Leaving Jerusalem by Route 1, when traffic is moving, is a wonder.

So many cars, so much construction with new wider roads and multiple lanes.

Oh the contrast, remembering the early days of one lane winding up and down the mountain.

Road and rail construction near Jerusalem Israel

Alongside the highway, light rail construction is even more impressive.

Next to Jerusalem route one rail construction

Rising up and over the valley and stretching into the entrance to Jerusalem are new train tracks.

Driving south to Beer Sheva on Route 6 is also a sharp contrast to the old days of narrow roads.

SodaStream factory in southern Israel

Not only has SodaStream in the Negev grown in size,

Industrial park near SodaStream factory in southern Israel

but from barren sand, a new industrial park is growing next to the SodaStream complex.

ANZAC museum in Beer Sheva

The Beer Sheva ANZAC Museum opened two years ago in time for the 100 years commemorations.

ANZAC Museum in Beer Sheva

Inside is a display of World War I military items, boots, hat, and a trumpet.

ANZAC Museum poster display

While our guide Colin explained the ANZAC (Australia New Zealand Army Corps) role in the 1917 war in Palestine, I was fascinated by digital posters.

AMZAC Museum in Beer Sheva poster dislpay

Why would these young, very young, Australian and New Zealanders travel halfway around the world to fight in a war so far away from home?

ANZAC Museum in Beer Sheva posters

But they did enlist. And the Light Horsemen from Down Under came to assist the British army fight the Ottoman Empire.

Having toured Beer Sheva in the past, Allenby’s place in the story of Beer Sheva is well known.

ANZAC Museum video

However, the video in the ANZAC Museum was new.

ANZAC Museum in Beer Sheva

Old black and white photos from World War I do not tell the story as effectively.

Scene from video in ANZAC Museum in Beer Sheva

The war was not going well for the British army before the ANZACs arrived by boat with their magnificent horses.

ANZaC Museum in Beer Sheva

Without water. In the desert heat with flies and sand and lice, the options were few and demanded immediate action.

Blurry photo of Light Horsemen riding to Beer Sheva

They charged. Those crazy Aussies and Kiwis! Sorry, I could only get a blurry photo from the video, they were galloping too fast.

ANZAC cavalry arrive in Beer Sheva, and reach wells for water

The Light Horsemen charged mounted on their prize horses to the surprise of Turkish soldiers – right at them, jumping over the shocked enemies heads and out of weapon range.

They made it to Beer Sheva, to the wells, which were found safe and intact.

ANZAC Museum in Beer Sheva

The Australians lost 32 soldiers.

The New Zealanders lost 31 soldiers.

From the victory in Beer Sheva, the British forces went on to turn back the last of the Ottoman Empire, arriving in Jerusalem on December 9, 1917.

Each year on October 31, there is a memorial ceremony in Beer Sheva.

In 2017, there was a major 100-year ceremony and commemoration.

ANZAC and British cemetery in Beer Sheva

I thought it appropriate to take a minute to remember those young ANZAC soldiers who never made it back home.

Beer Sheva: Old and New City

So much in Jerusalem, Israel, is old and new.

We used to joke that a good friend is defined as

someone who leaves Jerusalem to visit you in Beer Sheva.

With family in Beer Sheva, over the years,

we have visited the desert city many times.

ANZAC cemetery Beer Sheva

I used to say the only place that was green was this cemetery.

The Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery,

or the ANZAC cemetery, as most of the British soldiers

buried here were Australian and New Zealanders,

who fell in the World War I battles against the Turks,

ending the domination of the Ottoman Empire.

But things are changing, 

Carasson Science Park in Beer Sheva

Carasso Science Park opened in 2013,

and is the largest science park in Israel.

Park in Beer sheva

Remembering the British,

monument to Allenby in Beer Sheva

is Allenby Garden.

The park was established in early 1900s by the Turks,

After WWI, it became a memorial to General Edmund Allenby,

was destroyed during the Arab uprising in 1929,

and was finally rebuilt in 2014.

Allenby park and trail

One day when it is not so hot,

ANZAC trail Beer Sheva

it would be interesting to follow the ANZAC trail.

Art Museum in Beersheba

Across the road is the Negev Museum of Art,

the main art museum in southern Israel,

housed in what was the 20th century Governor’s house.

The current exhibit is called,

“Pulp and Fiction”

where all pieces are made out of paper.

Pulp and Fiction Lost Forest by Jan Fairbairn-Edwards from  France

“Lost Forest” by Jan Fairbairn-Edwards of France

The Burmese Story by Naamoa Aaronson

and “The Burmese Story” by Naama Aaronson of Israel

are just two of the works.

Who knew that paper art was started 35 years ago

at the Beer Sheva Station of the old Turkish railway?

large mosque in Beer Sheva

More of the old city and new

in the same area is the one mosque,

seal on mosque

built by the Turks.

It went unused as a mosque for decades,

and was the city’s Archaeological Museum.

Since 2011, it has been home to the

Museum of Islamic and Near Eastern Cultures.

stone in courtyard of Beer Sheva mosque

Ancient stones with Thuluth, Arabic and Kufic script

are in the courtyard.

Inside the restored mosque,

paryer rugs on display in Beer sheva mosque

is the current exhibit of old prayer rugs,

special lamps with Arabic writing

with new glass lamps decorated in Arabic hanging above them.

Turkish flag in Beer Sheva

A Turkish flag flies at the Train Yard Compound

which was restored and opened in 2014.

Bedouin man

Bedouins are still around.

Beer Sheva old and new

Going into and out of Beer Sheva

one can see the old and new,

with the new train track over the old Turkish one.

But it is at Be’er Avraham,

Abraham’s Well,

Abraham's well in Beer Sheva

located near the Beer Sheva River,

that one can really appreciate the old and new.

An international visitor center,

showcasing the life of Avraham Avinu,

in a 3D presentation, opened in 2013.

In old days, to get to Beer Sheva,

it seemed it took as long as a camel trip,

standing on those Egged buses

on hot Friday afternoons.

With the new modern highways going to Beer Sheva,

 it is not like it used to be,

 see the Old City and new neighborhoods.

but we will have to find another way to define good friends.