ALEX ANDER LAFONE VC
A cavalry squadron’s last stand and a Liverpudlian major’s act of selfless courage prevented the Ottomans foiling a decisive operation
As the Ottomans charged for the third time, Major Alexander Lafone of the 1/1st County of London Yeomanry knew that there was only one way he could buy more time for his wounded to escape.
For six long, hot hours his small yeomanry detachment had held off at least a regiment of horsemen. Calmly, he climbed from the shelter of his trench and stepped out with his weapon raised, firing until he fell, mortally wounded.
Lafone’s sacrifice held a wider importance than just giving his men a chance to escape. They were part of a long, thin screen protecting a vital secret: behind them, several infantry and cavalry divisions of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) were moving into position to launch a surprise attack against the fortified town of Beersheba, hoping to outflank the Ottoman line and break the deadlock that had gripped southern Palestine for most of the year.
Allenby’s ambition
In March 1916, the EEF had been formed from some of the troops who had been withdrawn from the failed campaign in the Dardanelles. Sir Archibald Murray had been appo…
