Memorial Walk CBD Secondary teacher resource.pdf

(10) Provide a brief overview of the campaign the Australian soldiers were fighting in
the Middle East from 1916 to the surrender of the Turks in 1918? Hint: Information
can be found at www.awm.gov.au/atwar/ww1.
This campaign began in 1916 with Australian troops participating in the defence of the
Suez Canal and the allied reconquest of the Sinai Peninsular. In the following year
Australian and other allied troops advanced into Palestine and captured Gaza and
Jerusalem; by 1918 they had occupied Lebanon and Syria. On the 30 October 1918,
Turkey sued for peace.
The objective of the campaign was to protect the Suez Canal from capture by German
and Turkish forces. After this achieved the principle aim was to drive Turkish forces
out of the areas of Syria and Lebanon which were held by them, thereby protecting
access to the Middle East oil fields, which were of growing strategic significance.
(11) What do you think might be the significance of the light atop the memorial?
The light was originally intended to be lit from sunset to sunrise during the period
between the “going down of the sun and the morning” in dedication to those who
served in the Australian Light Horse during World War I.
(12) Albert Whitmore was the last South Australian World War I veteran and the last
Australian Light Horsemen. He was born in 1899 and died on the 31 October 2002.
Hint: Refer to plaque on the steps of the memorial.
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARMOURED CORPS MEMORIAL
Read the plaque on the side of the Memorial
(13) The Royal Australian Armoured Corps was the successor to the Australian Light
Horse. What sort of vehicles do you think this military unit may have used during
World War II to replace the use of horses? (Hint: refer background information)
Motorised machine gunners, armoured cars and light and medium tank regiments were
formed in World War II replacing the original Light Horse Units.
Additional Information/Notes
Background information taken from the RSL brochure on the Light Horse and War Horse
Memorials. This brochure is available from RSL headquarters (ph. 08 8232 0322).
Some brief information about the activities of the Australian Light Horse during World
War I can be found at www.awm.gov.au/atwar/ww1.
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