The Light Horse Charge of Beersheba was remarkable enough, but the daring and skill of Major Hyman who led the front line of the 12th Light Horse Regiment was nothing short of a miracle!

Major Hyman was leading A Squadron in the front line of the charge on Beersheba on the 31st October 1917 when they came under heavy sustained rifle and machine-gun fire. Dismounting from a full gallop in front of a redoubt of 100 entrenched Turkish soldiers with machine-guns and rifles blazing, he and thirteen of his men quickly dispatched 60 Turks before the remaining 40 surrendered. This action saved many lives among the Australian light Horsemen and their horses, because the succeeding waves of following squadrons of Light Horsemen that were following his, were able to pass unscathed to take Beersheba.

Such an action should have been impossible. A total of 14 men with a pistol, rifles and bayonets… in the open!... against 100 men with rifles, bayonets and machine guns protected in the trenches! Impossible! - but the impossible did happen! It was a miracle; One of many that day. For this he was recommended for a VC (Victoria Cross) by his superior officers, to recognize his gallantry, leadership and skill; but was awarded the DSO (Distinguished Service Order) instead.

“This officer is recommended for conspicuous gallantry and dash in action. He led his squadron at full gallop against a Turkish redoubt, which was strongly manned with enemy machine guns and rifles. The enemy opened up with a very heavy fire, but the charge was so vigorous and skilled that the enemy was overrun, and his fire silenced in a few minutes, thus enabling the regiment to carry on the assault and complete the capture of Beersheba.”
Brigadier General William Grant, General Officer Commanding the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade
Lieutenant Colonel Donald Cameron, Commanding Officer 12LH

Hyman was an Australian of Jewish heritage, one of four Jews known to have participated in this charge. The taking of Beersheba by the Australian Light Horse broke the line of Turkish resistance and their campaign led to the fall of the Ottoman Empire a year later and ultimately to the re-establishment of Israel as a nation in their ancestral land. Thus, was forged the irreversible connection of Australia with Israel.

[Gullett H S, The Australian Imperial Force in Sinai and Palestine, 1914–1918 (10th edition, 1941); 
Official Histories – First World War Volume VII; http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse/index.blog/1847471/gullett-account-about-the-fall-of-beersheba]