"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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The following is a contemporaneous account of the battle at Merivale Street taken from the pages of the Brisbane Courier. The text from the scan is of poor quality and thus cannot be readily transcribed into text but it is legible enough to allow the contents to be satisfactorily read.
The ongoing Battle of Merivale Street, Queensland, from the account published in the Brisbane Courier, 26 March 1919.
[From: Brisbane Courier, 26 March 1919, p. 7, Demonstration.]
Bothaville, South Africa, November 6, 1900, Times Account Topic: BatzB - Bothaville
Bothaville
South Africa, 6November 1900
Times Account, 9 November 1900
The Times, 9 November 1900, p. 3.
THE FIGHTING WITH DE WET.
(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.)
PRETORIA (undated), via Charlestown, Nov. 8.
De Wet, who, since his defeat at the hands of Colonels Lisle and Le Gallais, has been lost sight of, is reported to be in the neighbourhood of Rensburg Kop.
Further details of the fight have arrived. General Snow directed the movement, and the British force marched the whole day, arriving at Rensburg Drift, where De Wet was caught in the act of crossing the Vaal. Colonel De Lisle's troops, which formed the centre, poured a terrible tire into the enemy. Our guns exploded one of the enemy's ammunition wagons and six Boers were blown to atoms. Finally the enemy were obliged to flee, leaving behind them live Krupps guns on which were engraved the words "Free State Artillery." The Boers tried to move during the night, but, being met by a galling fire from Colonel Le Gallais's column, turned in confusion to the left, where a contingent was ready for them. Unluckily a thick storm of rain came on and saved Do Wet and his force from absolute annihilation or capture. Native reports state that De Wet was carried oil the field wounded in the leg.
Bert Schramm's Diary, 25 March 1919 Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
During part of the course of his military service with the AIF, 2823 Private Herbert Leslie Schramm, a farmer from White's River, near Tumby Bay on the Eyre Peninsular, 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 1918 breakout 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.
Bert Schramm's Diary, 25 March 1919
Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 22 - 25 March 1919
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Diaries
Bert Schramm
Tuesday, March 25, 1919
Bert Schramm's Location - Zagazig, Egypt.
Bert Schramm's Diary - Things are very quiet and I think things will develop or die out in a few days. But the Heads seem pretty windy and expect further trouble.
The large scale of the Great War often gave people a sense of alienation from the activities of the government and the army. To overcome this, newspapers of the day commenced columns called Query Club or similar names, where ordinary people could clarify their understanding of the complex processes. They also provide us, the historians, an insight into witnessing first hand, the responses of the various bodies to public concerns. The end product is a window into a society now almost out of living memory.
This is the Query Club from the Sydney Mail, 17 March 1915, p. 26.
EMPLOYEES ON ACTIVE SERVICE
"Defence"
It is understood that the company you mention is keeping open the positions of those of its employees who have gone on active service.
UNIFORMS FOR RIFLEMEN
"R.B." asks if the military authorities will supply uniforms to members of rifle clubs.
No; the question of uniforms has frequently been raised; but, if the clubs decide to adopt them, it is probable that they will have to bear the expense themselves. The authorities might give a subsidy, but it is not likely.
LORD KITCHENER
"Wymum" (Wymum South) asks where Lord Kitchener was born, and what is his surname.
Lord Kitchener's surname is the same as his title. His full name is Horatio H. Kitchener. Though he was born at Crotton House, Ballylongford, Couthy Kerry, Ireland, he is of direct English stock, his father being the late Lieutenant Colonel H.H. Kitchener, of Leicestershire.
JAPANESE AND UNITED STATES NAVIES
"Katoomba" (N.S.W.)
Is informed that the Japanese fleet in the Pacific is much stronger than that of the United States. The Japanese fleet in the Pacific at the end of last June comprised four Dreadnought battleships, one battleship cruiser, 10 pre-Dreadnought battleships, 10 cruisers, 75 destroyers, and 15 submarines. Since then it has been substantially added to. The United States fleet in the Pacific at the same time was one battleship, 12 cruisers, 14 destroyers, 10 light cruisers, and 14 submarines. Feverish activity in the United States shipbuilding yards has, however, been maintained since the war broke out. The utmost secrecy as to the relative strength of the various navies has prevailed for some time.
LIFT ATTENDANT "A.E.T." (Leichhardt) asks how and where he can obtain a certificate for a lift attendant.
At the office of the Superintendent of Lifts and Scaffolds, Public Works Department, Sydney. Applicants must prove their ability to manage a lift and replace fuses that blow out. They must also be of good character.
The first 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade, 1915
4th Light Horse Brigade formed Australia 4 March 1915. Shipped to Egypt without horses where broken up 26 August 1915.
11th Australian Light Horse Regiment
This was a composite Regiment recruited primarily from Queensland with a South Australian Squadron.
"A" Squadron recruited from Queensland.
"B" Squadron recruited from Queensland.
"C" Squadron recruited from South Australia.
The Regiment was broken up on 26 August 1915 as reinforcements to Regiments at Gallipoli.
"A" Squadron became "D" Squadron, 2nd Light Horse Regiment.
"B" Squadron became "D" Squadron, 5th Light Horse Regiment.
"C" Squadron became "D" Squadron, 9th Light Horse Regiment.
12th Australian Light Horse Regiment
This Regiment was recruited exclusively from New South Wales.
The Regiment was broken up on 26 August 1915 as reinforcements to Regiments at Gallipoli.
"A" Squadron became "D" Squadron, 1st Light Horse Regiment.
"B" Squadron became "D" Squadron, 7th Light Horse Regiment.
"C" Squadron became "D" Squadron, 6th Light Horse Regiment.
13th Australian Light Horse Regiment
This Regiment was recruited exclusively Victoria in March 1915. This Regiment served as a complete formation at Gallipoli. After Gallipoli was sent to France as Divisional Cavalry along with "B" and "D" Squadrons from the 4th Light Horse Regiment.
4th Signal Troop
The 4th Signal Troop was formed in March 1915.
Commanders:
Colonel Reginald Spencer-Browne 4 March 1915 to July 1915
Embarkation
The original Brigade embarked to Egypt during months of May and June 1915. In Egypt additional training occurred at Heliopolis Camp.
See:Troop transport ships for information and photographs about the various ships employed in transporting the troops to Egypt.
Attachments
Formed Australia March 1915.
Disbanded and broken up when sent to Gallipoli and attached to the New Zealand and Australian Division at Gallipoli from May 1915 to February 1916.
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