Cruising through Australia’s rugged conditions in an ASLAV (Australian Light Armoured Vehicle) with its eight wheel drive function is what modern-day cavalryman, Ryan Abil is familiar with in his army service.
It’s a bit more comfortable than the steed the 24-year-old lieutenant from the 2/14th Light Horse regiment, Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, guided through the desert in Israel last week.
He was one of two Australian Army representatives selected to honour the sacrifices of the soldiers of 100 years ago who changed history when they charged the strategic Turkish stronghold of Beersheba in Palestine in the first World War.
The other was Corporal Rob Conway, from the 4/19th regiment, based in Victoria.
Both units trace their lineage back to the 4th and 12th Light Horse regiments that made history at Beersheba.
“Neither of us had much riding experience before this, and my bum’s pretty sore,” Ryan, the officer-in-charge of a six-vehicle ASLAV troop of 20 soldiers, said as he dismounted in an Israeli wadi.
“I’m the first of my generation in the military – but this is a once in a lifetime experience, to walk in the footsteps of our past soldiers.”
He and Rob were given the opportunity to ride by the Israeli-based international defence electronics company, Elbit Systems, which Ryan described as a heavy supporter of the Australian Army.
“When I first got told I was doing this, it didn’t sink in, but now I’ve come here and seen the harsh conditions the soldiers coped with, and knowing that someone was shooting at them – you should never get too comfortable in life, you’ve got to work for things.”
Guidons retired
While undertaking the three-day ride that recreated the feint of the Light Horse 100 years earlier, Ryan and the other 98 troopers were visited by Lieutenant-Colonel John Molner, the commanding officer of the 4/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse from Victoria, complete with the guidons of the 4th and 12th regiments.
“That was a pretty big deal,” Ryan said. “Those guidons – it was the last occasion they saw service. They’ll get retired now.
“It was really about marking the history of what had happened.”