"At a mile distant their thousand hooves were stuttering thunder, coming at a rate that frightened a man - they were an awe inspiring sight, galloping through the red haze - knee to knee and horse to horse - the dying sun glinting on bayonet points..." Trooper Ion Idriess
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Regimental number 307 Religion Church of England Occupation Grazier Address Vermount, Warwick, Queensland Marital status Single Age at embarkation 30 Next of kin Henry Cory, Vermount, Warwick, Queensland Enlistment date 24 August 1914 Rank on enlistment Private Unit name 2nd Light Horse Regiment, B Squadron AWM Embarkation Roll number 10/7/1 Embarkation details Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board Transport A15 Star of England on 24 September 1914 Regimental number from Nominal Roll Commissioned Rank from Nominal Roll Captain Unit from Nominal Roll 4th Machine Gun Battalion Fate Returned to Australia 28 February 1919 Medals
Military Cross
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 57 Date: 18 April 1918
Bar to Military Cross 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in command of sixteen guns in a night attack on a village. Although his guns were all in position over a wide front, and he had very short notice of the attack, he had them all ready to move off at zero hour. He made a thorough reconnaissance of the forward positions, and sited his guns to cover the consolidation. He led his company in the attack on five different days, and always with good results.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 61 Date: 23 May 1919
Other details Medals: Military Cross, Bar to Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory MedalCitation: 307 Trooper William Montague Cory
Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 3 September 1918 Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
3 September 1918
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:
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Two Other Ranks left on Egyptian Leave.
Training and routine as per syllabus. An epidemic of influenza was now prevalent in the Regiment.
Sixteen Other Ranks were admitted to hospital and about 40 were classified as unfit for duty. The health of the Regiment after the long period in the Jordan Valley was by no means good and men in debilitated condition were unable to resist this influenza infection. The Regimental Medical Officer and staff had a particularly strenuous time attending to the abnormal number of sick.
During the morning training interval Turner, Captain Chaplain RC, lectured to Regiment on the Ethical Aspect of Venereal Disease.
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:
The following entries are extracted and transcribed from the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, the originals of which are held by the Australian War Memorial. There are 366 entries on this site. Each day has entries as they occurred from 1914 to 1919. In addition to the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, when appropriate, entries from the 3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary and other regiments with the Brigade will also appear. Entries from the unit history, Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924 will also appear from time to time. The aim is to give the broadest context to the story and allow the reader to follow the day to day activities of the regiment. If a relative happened to have served in the regiment during the Great War, then this provides a general framework in which the individual story may be told.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Took over trenches on Rhododendron Hill from Colonel Young of the Auckland Infantry.
Strength 125 of 9th Light Horse Regiment and 175 of 5th Battalion Suffolks, total 300 all ranks.
The outer line of defence has a frontage of 420 yards exclusive of a new trench to be dug which will increase the frontage to 530 yards. These trenches face generally towards the south east. There is also an inner line of defence facing the north east. This line is to be held if the position at the Apex on the slope of Chunuk Bair is forced by the Turks.
The six machine guns of the Brigade are in position on the hill.
Lieutenant Ragless and 21 others are holding the position on Table Top as a detached part to the right rear of the Rhododendron Hill.
Water and rations have to be carried up the hill from the valley, also all the stores.
Two reliefs of 30 each digging new trench at night on the right of the position.
9th Light Horse Regiment Routine Order No. 3
Para 132. Bathing. It is forbidden to bathe on the beach during daylight between the jetty north west of No. 3 Post and the barricade at foot of Walker's Ridge.
Para 139. It is notified for information that from a source at present unconfirmed the enemy intends to make a general attack about 5 September 1915. All ranks are to be warned accordingly, put on alert and dispositions made to strength in position as soon as possible.
11. New Position. A portion of the Regiment comprising:
a. Part of Headquarters Staff;
b. D Squadron; and,
c. Also 2 Officers and 174 Other Ranks of the Suffolk Infantry Regiment of the 54th Division.
All under my command took over the position on the Canterbury Slopes today.
12. Posts. The following posts have been established: No's 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the main fire trench round the south west and south sides of the position. A No. 5 Post mainly for lookout is established at the north east side of the position. Also F and G Posts at the extreme east of the position. All the Auckland troops have been withdrawn except at Posts F and G where our men will dovetail in with them for a few days.
13. Patrols. OC No. 1 Post will furnish the following patrols nightly:
a. Detached post of 1 sergeant and 3 Other Ranks to go out at 2000 and return at 2000 tomorrow. 24 hours rations and water will be carried.
b. No 2 Patrol and No 3 Patrol each of 1 Corporal and 3 men to patrol the valley in front of the position. Tour of duty from 2000 to 0400. Guides will be furnished to take patrols to their positions. All parties will report to Regimental Headquarters at 1930 to receive password.
15. Diggers. OC Suffolk Infantry will detail two reliefs of 30 men each for tonight's work. The 1st party to parade at 1930 and the relief at 2330. Fall in trench rear Regimental Headquarters.
16. Lookout Post No. 5. OC Suffolks will furnish 5 men and 1 NCO as a lookout at No 5 Post daily.
1916
Sunday, September 3, 1916
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Hod Nabit
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Carrying out Routine Work.
On alternate days, one Squadron takes over line of Outposts running from Bayed to Bada and thus connecting with the Imperial Camel Corps on right and New Zealand Mounted Rifles on left.
1917
Monday, September 3, 1917
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Abasan el Kebir
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - The Regiment, forming part of the Brigade, carried out a tactical scheme under General Officer in Command in the vicinity of El Gubba.
Brigade AIF Canteen opened.
1918
Tuesday, September 3, 1918
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Ludd area
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Two Other Ranks left on Egyptian Leave.
Training and routine as per syllabus.
An epidemic of influenza was now prevalent in the Regiment. Sixteen Other Ranks were admitted to hospital and about 40 were classified as unfit for duty. The health of the Regiment after the long period in the Jordan Valley was by no means good and men in debilitated condition were unable to resist this influenza infection. The Regimental Medical Officer and staff had a particularly strenuous time attending to the abnormal number of sick.
During the morning training interval Turner, Captain Chaplain RC, lectured to Regiment on the Ethical Aspect of Venereal Disease.
1919
Wednesday, September 3, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Adelaide
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Regiment disbanded.
Militia Distribution in Australia, 1914, 4th Military District, Part 5 Topic: Militia - LH
4th Military District
Staff Roster and Allocations
Staff and Regiment Lists, 1914, p. 30
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
After dealing with the structure of the 4th Military District, the next task is to fill in the headings with people. This page from the Staff and Regiment Lists, 1914 details the permanent commissioned staff who were appointed to oversee the implementatioon of the training schemes for South Australia. One quick look at the list and the reader will discover numerous names of people who served with distinction in the AIF after war was declare some seven months after this list was prepared.
Militia Distribution in Australia, 1914, 4th Military District, Part 4 Topic: Militia - LH
4th Military District
Staff Roster and Allocations
Staff and Regiment Lists, 1914, p. 29
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
After dealing with the structure of the 4th Military District, the next task is to fill in the headings with people. This page from the Staff and Regiment Lists, 1914 details the permanent commissioned staff who were appointed to oversee the implementatioon of the training schemes for South Australia. One quick look at the list and the reader will discover numerous names of people who served with distinction in the AIF after war was declare some seven months after this list was prepared.
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