"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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Another entry from the book written by Lieutenant Colonel Hüseyin Hüsnü Emir, called Yildirim. Every day, one page of the book will be posted. This is Page 73.
Gallipoli Signal No. 5, 3 June 1915 Topic: AIF - 3B - 3 LHB Sigs
One of the most complete set of Light Horse unit signals at Gallipoli belongs to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade. Signals provide a window into the unvarnished form of history. These are the comments made by people who had important needs that required immediate attention. As such, they tell a story about a campaign that existed before the occurence of the newspaper reports leading to the Official Histories and all the other works that followed. Since they do not originate in a vacuum, it is the immediacy of the signal in a dense communication transfer that gives it a unique currency. It is a moment in time. We need all the other items such as the War Diary, Routine Orders and lastly, the published books to get a fully appreciation of the humble signal.
To ensure that this appreciation is available to many, over the coming months, a series of signals will be posted commencing from April till December.
The following weeks will see the various pages from the Hotchkiss Portable Machine Gun Handbook, the official manual issued by the company for the use of troops in the field. The Hotchkiss Gun was introduced in the Light Horse formations during the early months of 1917. The introduction of this robust and portable gun gave the Light Horse Regiments additional mobile fire power which considereably added to their ability to sustain light combat situations and defend against vastly numerically superior forces. Apart from being an excellent weapon, it was in much demand by the Turkish forces who considered the capture of a Hotchkiss Gun well worth any risks involved in the process. This is a manual produced in 1917 and illustrates the method by which the Hotchkiss Gun was packed and moved throughout the Palestine campaign.
Orders for the relief of the 155th Infantry Brigade by the 12th LHR, 14 May 1916, page 1. Topic: AIF - DMC - Anzac MD
Orders for the relief of the 155th Infantry Brigade by the 12th LHR, 14 May 1916, page 1.
Orders for the relief of the 155th Infantry Brigade by the 12th LHR, 14 May 1916, page 1.
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
In a move to bolster the infantry presence within the Romani area, the relief of the 155th Infantry Brigade by the 12th LHR instead of the 157th Infantry Brigade at the Canal Zone defences tends to indicate the beginning of a consolidation process. These moves became very apparent when the battle at Romani commenced in August, 1916.
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 Location - Rhododendron Hill
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Norfolk detachment left re rejoined their unit.
The 7th Infantry Brigade under Colonel Burston now occupies the Apex position on our left having relieved the New Zealand Brigade.
Turks opened fire along the whole line at 1630 and maintained it for 45 minutes. This was replied to by all our guns and also the warships.
1916
Monday, September 18, 1916
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Salmana
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0430, Leaving for the Camp at Amara which was reached at 0800.
The total distance covered amounted to over 65 miles travelled in about 25 hours actual marching.
1917
Tuesday, September 18, 1917
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Abasan el Kebir
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Reveille 0430. Division moved from Abasan el Kebir and took over forward area.
Regiment moved from Abasan el Kebir 0800 and arrived at Um Urgan 1130.
Watered horses in wadi and moved to old bivouac site relieving City of London Yeomanry Royal Regiment.
Daly, Major TJ; and, one Other Rank returned from Zeitoun School.
Phelan, Lieutenant E, left on Cairo leave.
1918
Wednesday, September 18, 1918
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Ludd area
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Orders received that the Brigade would march out fully equipped for lengthy operations at 1900 and concentrate near Sarona and bivouac for night.
Several improvised packs had been issued to carry explosives and all off side horses of the transport had been equipped with pack saddles for use in packing loads over rough country if found necessary.
1845 The Regiment moved out 388 strong, joined remainder of Brigade and travelling at the rate of five miles an hour arrived in SqJ31 [Sheet 13] at 2245 where horses were off-saddled and bivouac made for night. Orders received were to get as much sleep as possible. Reveille at 0500 and after 0800 be ready to move out at half hours notice.
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary - On the evening of 18th September 1918, the Turkish 7th Army and Turkish 8th Army held an entrenched line from Tabsor on the coast to a point on the Jordan River about ten miles north of Jericho. The Turkish 4th Army held the hills commanding the Jordan Valley east of the river. It was the intention of the Commander in Chief to concentrate a superior force of Infantry on the coastal sector, break the line there, and push three of the four cavalry Divisions through the gap to the rear of the Turkish forces. This cavalry force was to then, capture or destroy the Turkish armies south of the line Damascus - Beirut. The fourth available cavalry division [Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division], with four infantry battalions, one Indian infantry Brigade and certain artillery - all known as Chaytor's force, were to operate in the Jordan Valley against the 4th Turkish army based at Es Salt and the Hejaz Railway. The Australian Mourned Division was to pass through the gap in the rear of the 4th and 5th Cavalry Divisions, and follow the 4th Cavalry Division in close support as far as El Lejjun and then operate as the exigencies of the situation required.
After a three weeks period of intensive training the Brigade marched on the evening of 18th September 1918 to a bivouac site near Selmieh in preparation for the offensive which was to commence at dawn on 20th September 1918.
1919
Thursday, September 18, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Adelaide
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Regiment disbanded.
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