"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
The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre aims to present an accurate history of early Australian military developments from 1899 to 1920.
WARNING: This site contains: names, information and images of deceased people; and, language which may be considered inappropriate today.
The most well known Brigade Scouts were the 3rd LH Brigade Scouts who were even granted their own particular scout badge which could be worn on their uniform.
The most well known Brigade Scouts were the 3rd LH Brigade Scouts who were even granted their own particular scout badge which could be worn on their uniform. Harry Bostock then went onto immortalise them in his book "The Long Ride", although, as has been pointed out before and needs reiteration, this book can be a tad bit imaginary when it comes to telling history so if referring to the book, it is wise to check the facts before accepting them from Bostock. Apart from the above caveat, Bostock has done more than anyone to bring their adventures to light.
3rd Light Horse Brigade Scouts
Below is the collective list of men whom is believed to have served at some time with the 3rd Light Horse Brigade Scouts:
8th Light Horse Regiment
BANNAN John Joseph 1126 Pte BOWMAN William Nesbitt James 340 Pte COONERTY Michael 613 Pte DEVLIN Thomas 737 Pte FERRIER James Russell 1567 Pte FISCALINI Frank 1266 Pte FITZPATRICK Charles 672 Pte FITZPATRICK William 738 Pte GRANT Archibald John 1411 Pte HERKES Robert 204 Pte HEWETSON Charles Cuddlipp 808 Pte HOAD William Hearsfield 1046 Pte JARVIS Richard Henry 1582 Pte (possible) JOSLIN John Henry 3124 Pte (possible) KEALY Francis Edmund 1101 Pte LACY James Dyson 854 Pte LANCASTER Harold Henry 1141 Pte LUMSDEN Norman Tait 981 Dvr MACK John Dodd 524 Pte MANN Robert Francis 1331 Pte, later Lt (possible) McCONNAN Walter Alexander 429 Pte McDONALD George Donald 1860 Pte MCDONALD Norman Leo Lawrence 71 Pte McELWEE William Colin 1081 Cpl McGINNESS Paul Joseph 324 Pte MacKAY William Gordon 977 Pte MILES John William Joseph 418 Pte NEWMAN Clive Fossey 562 Pte RODERICK Thomas 1297 Pte TAIT Albert Norman 1302 Pte TURNER Henry James 1072 Pte URQUHART Arthur Keith 6576 Dvr/Tpr (and later Lt) WALDEN Thomas Lynds 469 Pte WEARNE Albert Ernest Capt
9th Light Horse Regiment
BEARD Arthur William 958 L/Cpl CATTLE Harold James 1527 Pte CRUDDAS George Frederick 397 Lt DALY Michael 1531 Pte DINEEN Thomas 406 Dvr GROVES George William 1236 Pte GOODE George Roy 2600 Pte HARDINGHAM Arthur Edward 792 Pte KINCAID Albert Edward 653 Pte LINACRE Frederic John 620 Lt (Put in charge of the Brigade Scouts from 27 October 1915 until January 1916) MAY Herbert George 933 Pte - POW MAYFIELD Frank 802 Pte MCKENZIE Donald 455 Pte MURRAY William Donovan 2356 Pte PAUL Robert Pressland 1209 Pts RETALLICK David 635 L/Cpl RICKABY Thomas Nathaniel 1139 Pte RIDGWAY Eric Bertram 1438 Pte RIDGWAY Hugh Kelly 1439 Pte ROBINSON Herbert Breacken 2318 Pte ROHRLACK Charles 629 L/Cpl RUNN Henry Edward 956 Pte SAWYER William August "Toby" 2591 Pte SCHRAMM Herbert Leslie 2823 Pte SKINNNER [identity yet to be traced] SMART Gilby Roy 337 Pte WADROP Charles Gordon 1276 Pte WHITING Stanley 628 Cpl
10th Light Horse Regiment
BOSTOCK Henry Philips 1310 Pte CONNAUGHTON Dennis 3176 Pte CRAIG Basil Morton 1316 Pte [Left Scouts 25 May 1918] CULLEN John 2631 A/Sgt DU VAL Denis 394 Scout DUNCKLEY Charles Gilmour Lt DURACK Neil Joseph 1741 Prov/Sgt [Wounded at Magdhaba] FARQUHARSON Evelyn 654 Pte (possible) FOULKES-TAYLOR Charles Douglas 1323 Pte GREEN Luke 3534 Pte [Batman to FOULKES-TAYLOR and possibly a Scout] HANSON John William 417 Pte HARRIS Henry Charles 950 Pte [Left Scouts as sick, July 1917] HARRISON Jack - still to be identified [Replaced Louden as a Scout, 19 May 1916] HUGHES Arthur Godfrey Lt JONES Charles David Frederick 1330 Pte KENNEDY John 1101 Pte KNOWLES Walter Douglas 1407 Pte LeFROY Ernest Henry 3121 Pte [Replaced Harris as a Scout, July 1917] LOUDON Robert James 2426 Pte [Left Scouts, 19 May 1916] LUCAS Frank William 3046 Pte MAHER Charles Stewart 1619 Pte MARTIN William Clarence 1340 Pte [Promoted to L/Cpl - left Scouts 6 July 1918] MCLACHLAN Robert Neil 961 Sgt MOSS George Frederick 1416 Pte [Left Scouts, october 1916] PAISLEY Leslie William 458 Sgt (scout Cpl Gallipoli) PRINCE Milo Arthur 1269 Pte RICHARDSON Edgar Frank 1270 Pte [Promoted to Cpl as a Scout - Became Sgt vide Durack] SPENCER Robert Ernest 480 Scout SWEETING Archibald Lee 1046 Pte VIVEASH Donovan Henry Roy 1350 Pte [Left Scouts as sick, June 1918]
Leaders:
LINACRE Frederic John 620 Lt - October 1915 to January 1916 DUNCKLEY Charles Gilmour Lt - January to March 1916 WEARNE Albert Ernest Capt - March to July 1916 RICKABY Thomas Nathaniel 1139 Pte - July 1916 to June 1918 CATTLE Harold James 1527 Pte - June 1918 FOULKES-TAYLOR Charles Douglas 1323 Pte - June 1918
The following link takes you to a pic of the 3rd LHB Scouts while they were resting in the hills around Tripoli after the war ended. This pic was taken sometime in December 1918 - perhaps a last hurrah laid on for them by Wilson to celebrate and thank them for their work.
3rd Light Horse Brigade Scouts in the hills at Tripoli, December 1918
Schramm Photograph
[Click on picuture for larger version.]
Needless to say, if anyone can recognise a face, let us know so that we can begin to identify each man in this group.
4th Light Horse Brigade Scouts
The 4th Light Horse Brigade Scouts list is a bit thin on the ground since no one has done an intensive search into these men. There are obviously many more but they have yet to be uncovered.
4th Light Horse Regiment
ALLEN Jack 2456 Pte BOWMAN Alexander Philip 3925 Pte CRUICKSHANK William 608 L/Cpl (Awarded DCM as Scout) FITZGIBBON Edward 412 Pte {Previous service in 9th LHR) HARLEY William Henry 1583 Pte HEALEY Alfred Ernest 1547 Pte (possible awarded MM as scout) O'LEARY Thomas 1018 Pte (possible awarded MM as scout) STENNING Harry Wilfred 3802 Pte
11th Light Horse Regiment
CLIFFORD Charles Joseph 458 Sgt subsequently Lt GAUT Oliver 274 Pte GUNSTON Alexander James Pte 862 ??? Subject to confirmation HANNAN George Timothy 847 Pte ??? Subject to confirmation HENEBERY Francis Michael 522 Pte JAMES Stanley Gordon Sgt 457 subsequently Lt JANEWAY Walter George 1438 L/Cpl LEAR Leslie William 1447 Pte MANNING Allan William Lt MORGAN Henry Lytton 1016 Pte SIMMONDS John Kitchner 2301 Pte SMITH Morrison 793 Pte SMITH William Arkley 81 Cpl AKA William Arkley-Smith THOMPSON Frederick 84 Cpl
12th Light Horse Regiment
ANTHONESS Keith George 536 Pte BUSH, Victor Percy 754 Pte FISHER Norman John 1083 Pte LEE Henry Thomas 777 Pte LISLE Arthur Ernest 542 L/Cpl (scout officer) MAGUIRE, Jack 17997 Pte MITCHELL James Walter Lindsay 477 Pte SMITH Nathaniel Henry 380 Pte (Won a MM as a scout before Beersheba.) STEEP Samuel Wilson 407 Sig TULLY, Henry 1558 Pte
5th Light Horse Brigade
The 5th Light Horse Brigade Scouts has been put together by Steve since they are all ex Camel Corps men so subject to intense scrutiny by him.
14th Light Horse Regiment
ELIASON William Leslie 2728 Cpl GOWLAND George 1554 Pte /scout officer GOWLAND George 1554 T/Sgt
15th Light Horse Regiment
KARNAGHAN Galbraith Charles 54 Sgt MEADOWS Manvers George Bernard 2775 Pte
Division Scouts
ANZAC Mounted Division
COLLINS Henry Gordon 241 Pte BSqn 3 LHR
The problem with putting together lists like this lies within the fact that rarely do the service records highlight the recruitment of a scout. Also Routine Orders do not list the names of scouts except on the rare occasion. Compiling these lists mainly occurs through reading diaries and other personal sources. No one source will give up this information. the sources are diverse and striking a name is just one of those lucky gems that occasionally comes along to reward the researcher.
''For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in an attack. He led his troops for a distance of 2 miles, capturing a number of prisoners, motor and mule-drawn transport. He personally shot five of the enemy who tried to resist. It was owing to his dash and good leadership that two roads were so quickly seized and held.'' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 23 Date: 12 February 1919
Other details
Medals: Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
'At Jenin, on 20th September 1918, he displayed great gallantry and devotion to duty in the final assault on the town. With his troops he made a mounted charge against masses of the enemy on the north side, with the result that their resistance was broken down and their capture completed. Later, with only a few men, he held a portion of the Nablus road, and compelled the surrender of many more, repeating this effort several times. He did fine work.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 10 Date: 29 January 1920
Other details
Medals: Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
'He was in charge of a section of the brigade scouts acting ahead of the brigade on its advance from Jisr ed Damie to Es Salt on 20 April, 1918. He and one member of his section advanced to within 25 yards of an enemy observation post, unobserved, and captured two of the enemy and killed the remaining enemy.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 135 Date: 11 December 1919
Bar to Distinguished Conduct Medal
'For gallantry and devotion to duty on the night of 27-28 September, 1918. When the regiment forced the crossing across the river Jordan in the face of heavy machine gun and rifle fire, this non-commissioned officer, after his troop leader was wounded, assumed command and gallantly pushed on against the enemy's position, which resulted in the capture of fifty prisoners and two machine guns.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 42 Date: 20 May 1920
Reading the service records of these remarkable men adds to their human qualities as they give a brief dot point outline of their careers including all the highs and lows of their lives in the military.
In late March the 8th LHR was selected to provide and lead a long range expedition into the Sinai with the objective of discovering problems and techniques required for such an action. The reason for the 8th LHR’s selection lay with one man, the leader of the Brigade Scouts, Captain Albert Ernest Wearne. He was considered to be the best Scout Officer in the Light Horse and so was a natural choice.
The aim of the expedition was to mount a reconnaissance overland to Wadi um Muksheib where earlier on in the year, the Turks were reported employing work parties to improve the water cisterns in the wadi’s catchment area. In addition they were ordered to inspect the water supply at Moiya Harab and El Hassif. Finally they were to report on their impressions of the land regarding distances and time required for travel, water supplies and other preparations necessary to move a large body of men across arid plains.
Two novelties were to be employed. The first was air support. An aircraft was allocated to fly in advance of the column. The pilot was given specific instructions to report on the countryside ahead of the column with a careful eye out for Turkish troops. This reduced the need for the column to send out advanced guards which then allowed the column greater speed and flexibility. The other novelty was the use of wireless. A radio transmitter was to be carried for the specific purposes of maintaining constant communication with the Anzac Mounted Division at the Canal.
By use of both technologies, it was hoped that mounted men could move rapidly because their need for supplies would be kept to a minimum. Such long-range reconnaissances then would have the ability to strike the Turks hard and disappear before the Turks were able to respond in any effective manner. Since they would have speed on their side, they could make their getaway in relative safety, always knowing the location of any pursuing enemy. If this could be achieved, a long-range raid could sever communication link over the Darb el Maghaza, the new route the Turks were developing, which ran through Bir el Jifjafa. Cutting off this route would restrict any further Turkish advances to the more established Darb el Sultani that followed the coast by way of Katia. The impact on British strategy would be huge, allowing the British to concentrate their defence of Egypt on a confined front.
The raid on Jifjafa was undertaken to fulfil this strategic imperative. Here is Gullett's account.
"Major W. H. Scott was ordered to proceed with a squadron of the 9th Light Horse Regiment (South Australia and Victoria), under Captain Wearne, to capture the position, destroy the well sinking machinery on which the enemy was reported to be working, and observe the country generally. Scott had, after allowing for the horseholders, about ninety rifles available for action, in addition to thirty-two officers and men from the Australian and Royal Engineers and the Army Medical Corps; but, when his column was complete with transport camels and their native Bikanet escort, it included no less than 320 officers and men, 175 horses, and 261 camels."
The raid was most successful and the Turks were confined to attacking from the coast. Wearne's ability on both expeditions was in no small part the reasons for their success. He begins to carry with him a mystique that projects him larger than life, as he would have been by the time Henry Bostock joined the camp at Bally Bunion for a couple day's induction into the scouts. I believe they only stayed there for 5 days, not much time to transfer all the skills. It was just enough time to work out who the new chums were by the time they hit the road and headed towards Hill 70 and Romani.
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