Park of the Australian Soldier in Israel

[Anonymous]

Just another example of getting someone else to fight your battles.

Source for dates
US declares War
Allenby and Jerusalem

As I have studied the Balfore Declaration it came to my attention of the military orders that were given to capture Palestine and Jerusalem. In fact there was even a song written about the British capturing Jerusalem.

Lusitania Sunk - Friday 7th May 1915

December 10 1915
The first meeting between Weizmann and Samuel takes place in London; the first step on the long road to the Balfour Declaration.
Weizmann, a medium-ranking Zionist leader, begins to pave his way to the leadership.

December 28 1915
Baron Edmond de Rothschild meets in Paris with Dr. Chaim Weizmann. He tells him, surprisingly, that now that Turkey has entered the war, the cautious activity in Eretz Israel must stop and that Jews must work openly and demand the establishment of a Jewish state.

Zimmermann Telegram - Feb 24th 1917*** the official reason US joins the War*****

March 26-28 1917 The first British assault on Gaza takes place, ending in defeat for the British.

U.S. Declaration of War with Germany, 2 April 1917

April 17-20 1917 The second British assault on Gaza brings tremendous force to bear on the city, but again the British are repulsed.

British Start attack on Palestine Oct 2 1917

Balfore Declaration - Nov 17, 1917

Capture the holy city Dec 11th 1917

some times a timeline says it all.

In a fantastic historical coincidence, the government approved the declaration on October 31, 1917, the exact same day that the great British attack in southern Palestine (which led to the conquest of this area and of Jerusalem within six weeks) took place.

Park of the Australian Soldier dedicated in Israel 29 April 2008

Hundreds of Australian guests, war veterans and expatriates resident in Israel participated in the dedication on Monday of The Park of the Australian Soldier in the Negev city of Beersheba.

The Park and playground facilities feature a centre piece, life size, bronze cast sculpture of a mounted light horseman created by Australian sculptor Peter Corlett.

The recreational facility was sponsored and established in the heart of a residential suburb by the philanthropic Pratt Foundation as a gift to the residents of Beersheba to commemorate the charge of the Australian Light Horse Brigade in the victorious battle of Beersheba against the Turks in October 1917.

"The Park is a tribute to the bravery and determination of the Australian soldier," and symbolizes the "permanent connection between Israel and Australia," the Governor-General Michael Jefferey said, describing in detail the historic battle at an almost personal level.

Israeli President Shimon Peres said the battle for Beersheba was one of the last "courageous and romantic battles of our times. The Turks lost the war but gained their future." Until this day there is "a deep, permanent and sincere feeling in Israel for the Australian soldier," Peres said.

Sam Lipski, CEO of the Pratt Foundation, said the park marks a 90-year story of Australia's readiness "to fight, defend, sacrifice and hope for peace in the Middle East." The bronze sculpture represents the Australian soldier as a "valiant warrior," and the children's playground a symbol of "ardent peace making," Lipski said.

Mr Corlett described his dramatic sculpture which took him 16 months to complete and two visits to the site, as an "heroic" piece portraying the dashing Light Horseman. The triangular plinth over a triangular pool symbolises the three Middle Eastern religions bound together in dynamic tension."

"My works usually portray a compassionate view of life," he said admitting to the deep influence Michaelangelo has had on his art. "This work was definitely quite different."

Lorna Bourchier, the 82-year-old niece whose uncle General Bourchier led the famous Australian Light Horse charge of the Turkish trenches at Beersheba in 1917 said that being in the city of Abraham "brought to life the biblical stories. Few people of my generation were told about the contribution Australian soldiers have made to this part of the world. I am glad that young Australians are now being taught this," she said.

The military ceremony was conducted in colourful pomp with the participation of contingents of the Australian Army and Multi National Peace and Observer Force in the Sinai.

Wreaths were laid at foot of the sculpture by the Governor General Jefferey, President Peres, the Australian and Turkish ambassadors and a representative of the Israeli Defence Forces.