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Beersheba Centenary Tour 27 October 2017

Today we started out on the Mount of Olives where we visited the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery and wall for soldiers with no known grave. In particular we found the names of Captain WL Rae, and Sergeant WJ Sharp. Captain Rae had an interesting time in Siani-Palestine. A 43 year old infantry Second Lieutenant, he arrived too late for Gallipoli and instead found himself in the Camel Corps. He served with distinction and was promoted to Captain. He was killed in the First Battle of Gaza, March 1917 and buried nearby. His grave has since been lost. He was the uncle of a friend of a tour participant. Sergeant Sharp was a storekeeper from Gerringong who served with the 6^th Light Horse and was killed in March 1918 whilst on patrol in the Hills of Amon. He was the great uncle of a tour member.

Then to Ammunition Hill where the Israeli army fought to take Jerusalem in 1967.

Nearby, we visited the National Museum of Israel where we had the model of Jerusalem at the time of the second kingdom explained in detail, and saw the Dead Sea scrolls.

Thence to Bethlehem where after lunch in a local restaurant, a local West Bank guide took us through the Park of the Shepherds, and the Church of the Nativity located where Jesus was most likely born.

Then to our hotel in Jerusalem, a well-earned drink and another great meal. Tomorrow Beersheba.

  

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