06/10/2026
The 31st of OCTOBER IS NOT JUST HALLOWEEN – IT’S BEERSHEBA DAY!
The 31st of October, is not just the date of Halloween, it’s also Beersheba Day, marking the famous and courageous Charge of the Australian Light Horse in 1917 at Beersheba.
Enjoy the fun of Halloween, but also take a moment to remember the courage and sacrifice of the Australian Light Horsemen, their mounts and allies.
FUN FACT: Halloween is not actually an American creation, it’s an ancient Celtic festival / celebration, and the many Light Horsemen of Scottish and Irish descent would have been likely to know about it, and also likely to have celebrated it as kids, as was the Celtic tradition that was brought with them into Australia.
BEERSHEBA DAY: On the 31st of October 1917, the Light Horse carried out a daring and strategically vital charge at Beersheba, helping to turn the tide of an entire campaign. This remarkable feat, immortalised in history and the classic film The Lighthorsemen, remains one of Australia’s most celebrated military achievements.
Beersheba Day, and the traditions of the Light Horse are proudly maintained today by units of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps, including the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) based at Enoggera. While their mounts are now tanks and armoured vehicles, their heritage and spirit remain the same.
The Gold Coast Light Horse Education Museum honours this proud legacy, preserving local Light Horse history at the historic Schmidt Farmhouse complex in Mudgeeraba, where many locals enlisted in the original 2nd Light Horse Regiment.
Lest We Forget.
