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The Last Charge of the Australian Light Horse
- From the Australian bush to the Battle of Beersheba - an Epic Story of Courage, Resilience and Derring-Do
- Narrated by: Richard Bligh
- Length: 16 hrs and 48 mins
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Publisher's Summary
On 31st October 1917, as the day's light faded, the Australian Light Horse charged against their enemy. Eight hundred men and horses galloped four miles across open country, towards the artillery, rifles and machine guns of the Turks occupying the seemingly unassailable town of Beersheba. What happened in the next hour changed the course of history.
This brave battle and the extraordinary adventures that led to it are brought vividly to life by Australia's greatest storyteller, Peter FitzSimons. It is an epic tale of farm boys, drovers, bank clerks, dentists, poets and scoundrels transported to fight a war half a world away, and is full of incredible characters: from Major Banjo Paterson to Lawrence of Arabia; the brilliant writer Trooper Ion Idriess and the humble General Harry Chauvel; the tearaway Test fast bowler 'Tibby' Cotter and the infamous warhorse, Bill the Bastard. All have their part to play in the enthralling, sprawling drama of the Australian Light Horse.
Theirs was a war fought in an ancient land with modern weapons; where the men of the Light Horse were trained in sight of the pyramids, drank in the brothels of Cairo and fought through lands known to them only as names from the Bible.
The Last Charge of the Australian Light Horse traces the hard path of the Light Horse from the bleakest of starts - being deprived of their horses and fighting at Gallipoli in the tragic Battle of the Nek - to triumph and glory in the desert. Revealing the feats of the Australians who built the legend, it is a brilliantly told tale of courage, resilience and derring-do from Australia's favourite storyteller.
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What listeners say about The Last Charge of the Australian Light Horse
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- Anonymous User
- 11-01-2024
Iconic story
Ingenuity, persistence, and courage on horseback! This story gives a wonderful illustration of Australia’s Light Horse in WWI, with a considered and thoughtful prelude to the charge at Beersheba to set the scene and give some real insight into the soldiers themselves. I love Peter’s storytelling style and the narration was well suited.
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- Robbie
- 25-11-2023
LOVED IT
This is one of Peter’s best books yet. It doesn’t get bogged down in logistics and portrays these heroes on a most personal and emotional level.
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- tlcdc
- 14-11-2023
True Aussie hero’s.
Another great historical read. Our Aussies were truly a remarkable and gritty bunch of hero’s.
Lest we forget🇦🇺
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- Anonymous User
- 05-11-2023
Magnificent story of our Light Horse.
I wanted to listen to this as soon as I saw it’s impending release. My grandfather was in the West Australian 10th Light Horse. He was there. He came home.
My ancestors served in WW1 & WW2.
I have never had a true account of that campaign. This book goes into such great detail and story telling. The characters, the terrain, the Walers, the men. Peter has done justice to their achievements and legacy. Great work mate. Hurrah!
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- Russell
- 22-02-2024
A great story of a great Australian event
Sometimes a bit dragged out but all in all kept me listening and enjoying it
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- Kym Angrave
- 15-11-2023
Brilliant book
Another great read from the Master story teller of our age, cant wait for your next one
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- Anonymous User
- 02-12-2023
Makes the drive past the light horse exchange more meaningful !
Great story with great characters. Makes the drive past the light horse exchange on the m4 much more meaningful !
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- Amazon Customer
- 08-01-2024
Engrossing
History is depicted in a way that transports the reader through time and space to be captured by the epic journeys of the individuals and collective whole.
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