Australian soldiers were to take part in a re-enactment of the charge of the 4th Light Horse Brigade at the Battle of Beersheba in Israel on October 31, the 100th anniversary of the desert offensive.

Troops had been marching through the desert for two days to arrive at Beersheba as part of the re-enactment.

“It’s absolutely amazing being on this ride. The experience I’ve gained, just through riding through the desert, and the heat, and just the environment, is absolutely amazing,” Lieutenant Ryan Abil of the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) said in video posted October 30.

The 1917 charge against Turkish defences left the city of Beersheba in Australian hands and opened up a route to Gaza. Credit: Facebook/Australian Army via Storyful