Below is a letter sent by Colonel Neville Reginald Howse (later Major General) giving instructions to Lieutenant Colonel Reuter Emerich Roth, the Officer Commanding 5th Field Ambulance about medical arrangements for the evacuation of Anzac and Suvla scheduled to take place over the nights of 19 and 20 December 1915. The arrangements are brief and the detail is in what was left out rather than included with the care of the non-walking wounded. The instructions indicated that medical facilities would be pared down to the minimum. The prayer was that the Turks would not attack during the evacuation as there were no facilities to care for mass casualties. One other unstated item related to the stretcher wounded - there was a commitment to evacuate these men if possible. The comment: "These wounded will be subsequently collected." is quite chilling and relied upon everything going smoothily and that they could be subsequently collected. The very nature of this order indicates that if things went wrong, the stretcher cases would be abandoned. The orders give no commitment to evacuate the stretcher cases unless able to be collected subsequent to the availability of stretcher bearers who were to be very thin on the ground. Luckily for everyon concerned, the stretcher bearers were not required and no one was left behind.

COPY - ANZAC 14/12/15.
From - D.D.M.S.    

To - Lt.-Col. Roth, S.M.O 2nd Australian Division
O.C. 5th Field Ambulance.

The following are the instructions of the D.D.M.S. Anzac

1.    Dressing Stations to be fully equipped with Dressings, Stretchers, Blankets, Food, and Lights.

2.    The following Field Ambulance personnel will in left as additional Bearers - 2 N.C.Os. and 8 (eight) bearers per 1,000 troops. You will detail the necessary personnel and consult with Divisional Headquarters as to their best disposal. I suggest attaching them to Battalions to work under R.M.Os.

3.    You are to instruct R.M.O.'s that on final night no seriously wounded case is to be transported to a Clearing Station, but, is to be dressed on the spot and left at one of the Dressing Stations or made comfortable at the place where he is wounded. These wounded will be subsequently collected.

4.     (?) Red Cross flags at each Dressing Station and Regimental Aid Post are to he erected on last evening. No fresh flags are to to put up till then.

5.     Great care is to be taken that no records, maps, Army lists., &c. are left to fall into the hands of the enemy.

6.    Send to this office by 1000 to-morrow (15.12.15) a map of your Divisional area showing position of Dressing Stations for information of S.M.O. left at Anzac.

Please acknowledge.

(SGD) N. R. HOWSE, Col.
D.D.M.S.

 AWM27 113/14 

Posted by Project Leader at 6:14 PM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 8 June 2008 12:25 AM EADT

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9th LHR, AIF

Pro Gloria et Honore - For Glory and Honour

Regimental March -  Marching Through Georgia

The Diary

1914

Saturday, June 6, 1914

See 4th Military District, South Australia for militia activities.

1915

Sunday, June 6, 1915

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Walker's Hill

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - No entry.

3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary - 0300 Attempted to induce Turks to expend more ammunition. Some ten men from 9th Light Horse Regiment went out and threw bombs. Rifle fire and maxims but no volume.

Inspection of Officers and supplies.

State today with 4th Reinforcements: 8th Light Horse Regiment, 25 Officers 470 Other Ranks; 9th Light Horse Regiment, 22 Officers 460 Other Ranks; 10th Light Horse Regiment, 17 Officers, 470 Other Ranks. Others, Signals, 1 Officer, 34 Other Ranks; Headquarters, 5 Officers, 24 Other Ranks; Field Ambulance, 5 Officers, 70 Other Ranks; Train 2 Officers, 23 Other Ranks.

One Squadron Wellington Mounted Rifles inlying piquet to strengthen post at night.

Interpreter, Adolph Pearlman to New Zealand and Australian Division Headquarters.

Casualties: 8th Light Horse Regiment, one wounded; 9th Light Horse Regiment, one wounded.

Carew Reynell Diary - No entry.

1916

Tuesday, June 6, 1916

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Roadhead Serapeum.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Routine Patrol and Training work carried out.

1917

Wednesday, June 6, 1917

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Um Urgan

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Brigade Operation Orders received for intention to capture enemy patrol known to visit the vicinity of Karm.

Regimental Operation Order 23 received.

Linacre, Lieutenant FJ; and, 40 Other Ranks selected from the three Squadrons are to ride out and hidden near Karm during night of 7th June 1917. Siekmann, Major TA, commanding “B” Squadron bringing in the parties led horses.

The Brigade, less fatigues, 9th Light Horse Regiment moved out at 2400 and was to occupy the line 550 north of Im Siri - Beit Abu Taha - El Buggar

1918

Thursday, June 6, 1918

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Ain Ed Duk

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Wastell, Lieutenant MF, with “C” Squadron patrol occupied Tel el Truny without opposition but shortly after was fired on from a party of enemy occupying Tel el Rishem.

1000 Patrol of eight Turks moved from Tel el Rishem towards Tel el Truny but were driven back buy a small patrol in charge of Wuchatsch, 504 Sergeant BG, sent out from the main Truny patrol. Situation on remainder of front very quiet. Slight enemy movement observed around Tel el Truny.

1400 Taking advantage of favourable wind Wastell, Lieutenant MF, burnt the dry scrub and grass in the vicinity of Tel el Truny. The fire progressed well up the Wadi Auja into enemy territory, dislodging an enemy patrol of eight who were lying concealed 1/2 mile north east of Tel el Truny.

1600 The wind suddenly changed causing a large area in rear of patrols observation posts to take fire. The whole patrol was forced to withdraw to Wick Post. The fire burnt itself out about 2200, after having cleared a big area of what had previously been difficult country for our patrols to watch.

1919

Friday, June 6, 1919

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Tel el Kebir

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - First heats run off at Zagazig run off in connection with 3rd Light Horse Brigade sports with several entries from 9th Light Horse Regiment still left in the running.

Previous: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 5 June

Next: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 7 June

Sources:

See: 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Contents

Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy

Further Reading:

9th Light Horse Regiment AIF

Bert Schramm Diary

9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour 

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Saturday, 7 August 2010 2:28 PM EADT

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Diaries of AIF Servicemen

Bert Schramm

6 June 1918

Bert Schramm

Bert Schramm

2823 Private Herbert Leslie SCHRAMM, a 22 year old Farmer from Whites River, South Australia. He enlisted on 17 February 1916; and at the conclusion of the war Returned to Australia, 10 July 1919.

During part of the course of his military service with the AIF, Bert Schramm kept a diary of his life. Bert was not a man of letters so this diary was produced with great effort on his behalf. Bert made a promise to his sweetheart, Lucy Solley, that he would do so after he received the blank pocket notebook wherein these entries are found. As a Brigade Scout since September 1918, he took a lead part in the September Offensive by the Allied forces in Palestine. Bert's diary entries are placed alongside those of the 9th Light Horse Regiment to which he belonged and to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade to which the 9th LHR was attached. On this basis we can follow Bert in the context of his formation.

The Diaries

The complete diary is now available on the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre Site at:

Bert Schramm Diary

Finding more about a service person. See:

Navigating the National Archives Service File 

Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 4 - 9 June 1918

[Click on page for a larger print version.]

Bert Schramm

Thursday, June 6, 1918

Bert Schramm's Location - Ain Ed Duk, Jordan Valley.

Bert Schramm's Diary -  Went into the trenches again last night but again have had a fairly quiet day. We are having a rough time working about twenty hours a day. Haven't had a decent night's sleep in the last month.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Ain Ed Duk, Jordan Valley.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Wastell, Lieutenant MF, with C Squadron patrol occupied Tel el Truny without opposition but shortly after was fired on from a party of enemy occupying Tel el Rishem.

1000 Patrol of eight Turks moved from Tel el Rishem towards Tel el Truny but were driven back buy a small patrol in charge of Wuchatsch, 504 Sergeant BG, sent out from the main Truny patrol. Situation on remainder of front very quiet. Slight enemy movement observed around Tel el Truny.

1400 Taking advantage of favourable wind Wastell, Lieutenant MF, burnt the dry scrub and grass in the vicinity of Tel el Truny. The fire progressed well up the Wadi Auja into enemy territory, dislodging an enemy patrol of eight who were lying concealed 1/2 mile north east of Tel el Truny.

1600 The wind suddenly changed causing a large area in rear of patrols observation posts to take fire. The whole patrol was forced to withdraw to Wick Post. The fire burnt itself out about 2200, after having cleared a big area of what had previously been difficult country for our patrols to watch.

9th LHR AIF War Diary, 6 June

Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924.

No Entry.

Previous: Bert Schramm's Diary, 5 June 1918

Next: Bert Schramm's Diary, 7 June 1918

Sources Used:

Bert Schramm's Diary

National Archives Service File.

Embarkation Roll, AWM8.

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

Nominal Roll, AWM133, Nominal Roll of Australian Imperial Force who left Australia for service abroad, 1914-1918 War.

War Diaries and Letters

All War Diaries and letters cited on this site should be read in conjunction with the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, War Diaries and Letters, Site Transcription Policy which may be accessed at:

Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, War Diaries and Letters, Site Transcription Policy 

Further Reading:

Bert Schramm Diary

Bert Schramm Diary, Album

Bert Schramm's Photo Album

9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF

9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, War Diary, Day by Day Account

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Citation: Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 6 June 1918

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 29 May 2011 9:33 AM EADT

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The Australian Militia

Area Officers

Military Order No. 304, 1910.

Military Order 304 of 1910 - creating the positions of Area Officers throughout Australia

At the commencement of the Kitchener reforms based upon the Kitchener Report of February 1910, the position of "Area Officer" was created to administer a specific geographic location. To give legal sanction to the position, Military Order 304 was issued on 20 September 1910. This specific order is transcribed below.

Applications for the positions of "Area Officers" 1910, (Temporary) will be received by District Commandants from members of the Defence Force now serving, persons who have had previous service in the Defence Force, and those who have held commissions in His Majesty's forces in other parts of the Empire. Particulars of such service will be included in the applications.

Qualifications being equal, preference will be given to members of the Defence Force.

2. All “Area Officers" must reside within their areas, and, when these embrace several localities, at such locality as is appointed.

3. Appointments will be temporary, and will be subject to termination at any time, either by the holder of the appointment or by the Military Board.

4. Applications, together with the recommendations of Military Commandants and Commanding Officers, must reach the Military Board by 11th October, 1910.

5. "Area Officers," while holding the appointment, will be seconded from their units. Promotion may be recommended to such officers in the ordinary course, up to the rank of Captain in their units, notwithstanding that they are seconded.

6. "Area Officers" shall not retain a higher rank than that of Captain while holding the appointment.

7. "Area Officers" not holding commissions on appointment may be recommended for the rank of Lieutenant on the Unattached List, subject to the regulations governing such appointments.

8. Those selected for appointment by the Military Board will be required to attend a School of Instruction for a period of six weeks (1st November to 15th December, 1910), at Albury, New South Wales.

Applicants from Queensland and Western Australia, however, will be required to state whether they are prepared -

(a) to attend such School of Instruction at Albury, New South Wales, or

(b) to attend a similar School of Instruction within their own State.

Travelling expenses, as for the rank of Lieutenant, will be allowed to and from the School, and subsistence thereat, in accordance with Financial and Allowance Regulations.

9. "Area Officers" will be at liberty to follow their ordinary occupation; they will receive no military pay during appointment, but will be granted an allowance at the rate of £150 per annum.

10. The above allowance will include "horse" and all other allowances, except "travelling", and is subject to the necessary provision being made by Parliament.

11. "Area Officers" will be assisted by one or more Warrant or Non-Commissioned Officers of the Instructional Staff (permanent).

12. The following will be the duties of an Area Officer:-

(1) Supervision and direction of the registration, and training of the Senior Cadets.

(2) Inspection of Junior Cadet training in the schools.

(3) Administration of troops (all arms) provided by his area, including equipment, clothing, pay, and transfers.

(4) Supervision of training of all recruits within his area.

(5) Duty in any military appointment (e.g., adjutant), and attendance at the training of the unit in which such appointment is made.

(6) Supervision of general registration and charge of records for all persons registered within his area.

(7) Organization of reserve units.

(8) Attendance at a School of Instruction for not more than 14 days in each year after first appointment.

(9) Supervision of the Warrant and Non-commissioned Officers of the Instructional Staff attached to his area, and visits to the training centres of his area, provided that he shall not be required to be absent from his place of residence more than five days per month on the average for this purpose.

(10) To obtain a thorough knowledge of the distribution of population, conditions of employment, industries, and all matters affecting the interests of those liable to training within his area.

(11) Generally to assist, as laid down in Standing or other Orders, the carrying out of the provisions of the Defence Act, within his area.

 

 

Further Reading:

The Australian Militia, Area Officers

Australian Light Horse Militia

Australian Infantry Militia

Militia 1899 - 1920

Posted by Project Leader at 7:36 PM EADT

Updated: Tuesday, 27 July 2010 2:00 PM EADT

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Diaries of AIF Servicemen

Bert Schramm

5 June 1918

Bert Schramm

Bert Schramm

2823 Private Herbert Leslie SCHRAMM, a 22 year old Farmer from Whites River, South Australia. He enlisted on 17 February 1916; and at the conclusion of the war Returned to Australia, 10 July 1919.

During part of the course of his military service with the AIF, Bert Schramm kept a diary of his life. Bert was not a man of letters so this diary was produced with great effort on his behalf. Bert made a promise to his sweetheart, Lucy Solley, that he would do so after he received the blank pocket notebook wherein these entries are found. As a Brigade Scout since September 1918, he took a lead part in the September Offensive by the Allied forces in Palestine. Bert's diary entries are placed alongside those of the 9th Light Horse Regiment to which he belonged and to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade to which the 9th LHR was attached. On this basis we can follow Bert in the context of his formation.

The Diaries

The complete diary is now available on the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre Site at:

Bert Schramm Diary

Finding more about a service person. See:

Navigating the National Archives Service File 

Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 4 - 9 June 1918

[Click on page for a larger print version.]

Bert Schramm

Wednesday, June 5, 1918

Bert Schramm's Location - Ain Ed Duk, Jordan Valley.

Bert Schramm's Diary -  Done outpost last night and returned to camp this morning. Things are fairly quiet. A little shelling last night.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Ain Ed Duk, Jordan Valley.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Masson, Lieutenant GG, with C Squadron Patrol after slight opposition from enemy snipers patrolled to Tel el Truny and remained in observation there all day.

Propaganda left there by the enemy intended for our patrol, on being translated contained the following information:

"Indian Troops are Mohammedans, so are we; therefore we should not be fighting against each other. Come and join us."

9th LHR AIF War Diary, 5 June

Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924.

No Entry.

Previous: Bert Schramm's Diary, 4 June 1918

Next: Bert Schramm's Diary, 6 June 1918

Sources Used:

Bert Schramm's Diary

National Archives Service File.

Embarkation Roll, AWM8.

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

Nominal Roll, AWM133, Nominal Roll of Australian Imperial Force who left Australia for service abroad, 1914-1918 War.

War Diaries and Letters

All War Diaries and letters cited on this site should be read in conjunction with the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, War Diaries and Letters, Site Transcription Policy which may be accessed at:

Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, War Diaries and Letters, Site Transcription Policy 

Further Reading:

Bert Schramm Diary

Bert Schramm Diary, Album

Bert Schramm's Photo Album

9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF

9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, War Diary, Day by Day Account

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Citation: Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 5 June 1918

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 29 May 2011 7:51 AM EADT

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