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Battle of Romani honoured at RSL Care’s Romani aged care facility

On the 107th anniversary of a World War I battle, Murray Bridge remembers.

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Aug 1, 2023 — 2 min read

This sponsored post is brought to you by RSL Care SA.

*Battle of Romani, 4 August 1916.* Image: George Lambert/Australian War Memorial.

RSL Care SA’s Romani aged care facility, in Murray Bridge, honours those who served during the battle of Romani, including the Light Horse.

The battle of Romani, fought between August 3-5, 1916, began when the Australian Light Horse and the ANZAC Mounted Division were attacked by a combined Ottoman, German and Austrian force advancing on the Suez Canal.

The Australian defences were sited amidst a series of towering sand dunes, 35 kilometres east of the canal, which the Turks tried to outflank to the south early on August 4.

Initially, only the 1st Light Horse Brigade was in position to meet the Turkish attack.

Heavily outnumbered, it was forced to fall back, but as the day progressed, both mounted and infantry reinforcements steadily arrived, allowing the position to be stabilised around a massive dune known as Mount Royston.

The position was held throughout the night and before dawn the next morning the 1st and 2nd Light Horse Brigades advanced on foot with bayonets.

The battle signalled the beginning of a bolder offensive strategy, as the British forces drove the enemy out of Egypt and into Palestine.

More than 1200 Allied soldiers became casualties during Romani, including 104 Australians killed in action.

A statue of Major Michael Shanahan, a veteran of the 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment, stands in a courtyard at Romani. Photo: RSL Care SA.

Romani in Murray Bridge, a beautifully designed, state-of-the-art facility, has lots of open space, natural light and direct access to peaceful courtyards and gardens from each bedroom.

In the central courtyard is a wonderful statue of the famed soldier Major Michael Shanahan and his horse, Bill the Bastard.

More information: Visit www.rslcaresa.com.au or call 8532 7600.

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