'History would have been very different'
THIS year marked the 100th anniversary since the Battle of Beersheba but the 11th Light Horse Warwick-Montrose Troop are now gearing up for another major milestone.
Next September will mark 100 years since the taking of the canon at Samakh by the Australian 11th Light Horse Regiment.
The canon was being held by the Germans and the Turkish and the Australian soldiers were the first in the war to charge them under darkness.
A spokeswoman from the troop said the 11th Light Horse Regiment in the First World War was made up of soldiers from the Darling Downs, with many from Warwick taking part.
"It was the worst and biggest battle on foot for the 11th Light Horse," she said.
"They were outnumbered four to one and it was just sheer determination."
The soldiers rode in on horses and then got off to fight by sword, under enemy fire.
"If it wasn't for them doing what they did, the Germans and Turkish would have won and history would have been very different," she said.
"To me that's important because it was the 11th that took it."
The troop have been operating since 2012, but numbers have dwindled in recent years.
The group plans to focus on promotion in the lead up to the anniversary to try and raise participation again.
For more information, visit the 11th Light Horse Warwick-Montrose Troop Facebook page.
