The Wells of Beersheba
Encyclopedia
The Wells of Beersheba is a short romanticized account of the Battle of Beersheba which took place on 31 October 1917 in Palestine
during the First World War between the attacking mounted infantry
of Australia and New Zealand and the defending Turkish
garrison. It was written by the Australian author Frank Dalby Davison
who was not present at the battle, but had been in the British
cavalry during the war. Much of the book, which is more fictionalised reportage than novella, and in which no single character is drawn, reflects the codependency of horse and rider and the shock of battle.
It was originally published in Sydney
in 1933 by Angus & Robertson
under the title The Wells of Beersheba. An Epic of the Australian Light Horse 1914-1918, with illustrations by Will Mahoney.
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
during the First World War between the attacking mounted infantry
Mounted infantry
Mounted infantry were soldiers who rode horses instead of marching, but actually fought on foot . The original dragoons were essentially mounted infantry...
of Australia and New Zealand and the defending Turkish
Turkish Armed Forces
The Turkish Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of Turkey. They consist of the Army, the Navy , and the Air Force...
garrison. It was written by the Australian author Frank Dalby Davison
Frank Dalby Davison
Frank Dalby Davison , also known as F.D. Davison and Freddie Davison, was an Australian novelist and short story writer...
who was not present at the battle, but had been in the British
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
cavalry during the war. Much of the book, which is more fictionalised reportage than novella, and in which no single character is drawn, reflects the codependency of horse and rider and the shock of battle.
It was originally published in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1933 by Angus & Robertson
Angus & Robertson
Angus & Robertson is a bookstore chain in Australia. Its first bookstore was opened in 110½ Market Street, Sydney by Scotsman David Angus in 1884; it sold second-hand books. In 1886, he went into partnership with fellow Scot, George Robertson with whom he had worked earlier.- Bookselling history...
under the title The Wells of Beersheba. An Epic of the Australian Light Horse 1914-1918, with illustrations by Will Mahoney.