ABOUT 4000 people gathered around the cenotaph as the at Redland Bay to commemorate Anzac Day as the sun rose over Moreton Bay.
The dawn service was lead by Redland Bay South RSL sub-branch vice-president John Clifton.
Veterans were led into the service by piper Mathew Fisher, who later played the Pipers Lament. Bugler Peter Francis played the Reveille.
Members of the TS Diamantina Navy Cadets were in attendance and the Redland City Band played music during the wreath-laying ceremony.
The Mount Cotton State School choir sang Our heroes today, students from Redland Bay State School recited the poem In Flander’s Fields and Leah Lever sang the national anthems of Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Clifton spoke about events after Gallipoli, including the three Battles for Gaza in 1917.
“(Australian General Henry George) Chavel (known as Harry) quickly realised that to succeed in any battle in the desert with the light horse he needed a constant water supply for the horses,” Mr Clifton said.
“From aerial photos he became aware the small town of Beersheba with its wells had a good water supply and must be taken before he could hope to advance on Gaza.
“From the same photos he determined that there was no barb wire protecting the trenches surrounding Beersheba.”
Mr Clifton shared how Chavel had ordered Australian Brigadier General William Gant to attack Beersheba on October 31, 1917.
“… The light horse were mounted infantry, not cavalry and as such didn’t carry cavalry sabres enabling them to fight efficiently from horseback, nor had they ever carried out a cavalry charge.
“From their forming position six kilometres to the Turks lines, they started at a trot down a gentle slope to Beersheba.”
Mr Clifton said the Light Horse Regiment soldiers were at full gallop after three kilometres.
“...The Turkish machine gunners opened fire but were silenced by British artillery.
“The aim of the riflemen was high and wide and before they knew it the horses were upon them.”
Mr Clifton said 700 of the Turkish troops defending Beersheba were captured while 31 soldiers from the 4th and 12th Light Horse regiments were killed in action and 36 wounded.
Gaza fell a week later and on December 9, 1917, British troops entered Jerusalem.
Mr Clifton also talked about the Western Front, the Australian Imperial Force and encounters in July and August 1916.
“In six weeks of operations Australia suffered about 28,000 casualties. Battles became household names: Bullecourt, Messines, Ypres, Passchendaele, Villers-Bretonneux, Polygon Wood and the list goes on.”
The armistice was signed on November 11, 1918.
“From 1915 to 1918, 331,781 Australians served overseas,” Mr Clifton said.
“Of these 61,522 lost their lives and 181,000 were wounded. This equates to a casualty rate of almost 65 per cent, one of the highest casualty rates among the British Empire forces.
“This morning we honour them and pay tribute to their efforts, especially those who paid the supreme sacrifice in all wars.
“We cannot allow their legacy to face. It is up to us all to pass it on … Lest we forget.”
