In1918 Palestine the Australian Light
Horse commenced a pursuit of the
Turks all the way to Damascus.
Carmel Charlton presents “The
Great Ride”
comprising images,
songs and dialogue. It is
based on
a letter written by Trooper
Ned Moriarty
to his sister Alice.
It also includes the verse of Louis
N. Weston of the 10th Light Horse
Regiment who wrote poetry about
the 10th Light Horse and their
journey to
Damascus. Some of the
verses have been arranged to
music by Carmel. The 10th Light
Horse Regiment was given
the honour of leading the 3rd
Light
horse Brigade into
Damascus
where Major Olden (a dentist from
Narrogin W.A.) accepted the
formal surrender of the city.
For most of the
push towards Damascus the 10th Light
Horse was the Advance Guard leading the Australian
Mounted Division. In
late 1918, with the Ottoman army
in tatters and its soldiers surrendering in
thousands,
Australian mounted troops rode into Damascus before
T. E.
Lawrence of Arabia. The Australians who swept
through Damascus and on to
Aleppo, Homs, Beirut and
nearby Tripoli, were part of "The Great Ride".
Commanded by the Australian lieutenant-general Sir
Harry Chauvel, it
involved the biggest column of
mounted men since Alexander the Great
traversed the
same deserts.
Email
carmel@carmelcharlton.com if you would her to present the show at
your venue or club. Suitable for all ages. Also includes visuals
and music. Visit
https://youtu.be/yCP0Bg5hHy8 for
the Great RideTrailer
A
brief
rest by the Sea of
Galilee
Comments:
WWI - the Great Ride - 1918 by Carmel Charlton
"A
thoroughly researched and well-presented exposé of the less-known offensive
of the Australian 10th Light Horse regiment aimed at liberating Damascus
during WWI. The chronicle of historical facts is given life by images from
various sources and the personal accounts of Private Ned Moriarty written in
a letter to his sister, as well as by Carmel’s poetic readings and simple
songs that are reminiscent of a trooper's story-telling and sing-along. Her
emotion-charged finale, “Horses Coming Home” brought many to tears.
Carmel’s presentation is one of the best I have heard, and it has inspired
me to learn more about my grandfather's involvement in WWI and the Great
Ride to Damascus."
— Dr Louisa Lawrance, Nedlands,
Western Australia.
"Carmel
held us spellbound as she took us on a journey through the history of what
has come to be known in military circles as The Great Ride. With photos,
excerpts from personal letters, maps and some beautiful poetry set to her
own music, Carmel told us the harrowing story of an incredible, successful
ride by the Australian Light Horse Brigade from Jaffa on the coast to
‘free’ Damascus, the last stronghold of the Ottoman Empire. We heard the
account as it was seen through the eyes of Trooper Ned Moriarty, related in
his letters to his sister Alice in Bunbury. The evening unearthed a lot of
local connections with the Mt Barker branch of the Moriarty family and
Carmel was especially thrilled to talk to people about these ties."
Judy Lill Mt Barker RSL
