Australian Light Horse Studies Centre

The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917, Contents

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 07:15:22 +1000

The Battle of Beersheba

Palestine, 31 October 1917

Contents

The taking of the wells at Beersheba on 31 October 1917 formed the single most thrilling image from the Great War. The Charge of the Light Horse is the lingering memory. Many legends have arisen about the Charge which have become embedded within the national story and now seem to have replaced the facts, both officially and unofficially. These legends are addressed. The Battle of Beersheba was not only the famous charge but many other actions all of which culminated in the victory.

Items

Outline
Beersheba Chargers - Men who possibly charged
4th Light Horse Brigade
4th Light Horse Regiment
Men who possibly charged at Beersheba - 12th LHR

Official War History Accounts
Australia
Gullett
New Zealand
Powles New Zealand Official History
British
Falls - the British Infantry
Falls - the fall of Beersheba

Analysis
Australian Analytical Accounts
Foster account about the fall of Beersheba
Keogh account about the fall of Beersheba

British Analytical Accounts
Kearsey account about the fall of Beersheba

British General Accounts
Massey account about the fall of Beersheba
Lock account about the fall of Beersheba

German Accounts
Kress's account about the fall of Beersheba

Italian Accounts
Italian Forces at Beersheba

War Diaries
Australian War Diaries
General Staff Headquarters, Anzac Mounted Division, AIF, War Diary Account
RHA Headquarters, Anzac Mounted Division Account
1st Light Horse Brigade Account
1st Light Horse Field Ambulance Account
1st Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron Account
1st LHR War Diary Account
2nd LHR War Diary Account
3rd LHR War Diary Account
2nd Light Horse Brigade Account
2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance Account
2nd Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron Account
5th LHR War Diary Account
5th Mounted Brigade, War Diary, Account
6th LHR War Diary Account
7th LHR War Diary Account
Headquarters, Imperial Mounted Division Account
General Staff Headquarters, Imperial Mounted Division, AIF, War Diary Account
3rd Light Horse Brigade Account
3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance Account
3rd Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron Account
8th LHR War Diary Account
9th LHR War Diary Account
10th LHR War Diary Account
4th Light Horse Brigade Account
4th Light Horse Field Ambulance Account
4th Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron Account
Bourchier, CO 4th LHR War Diary Account

Grant, GOC 4th LH Bde War Diary Account
Cameron, CO 12th LHR War Diary Account

British War Diaries
20th Corps, War Diary Account

Orders issued regarding the impending Beersheba battle
4th LH Bde, AIF, Operation Order No. 37

New Zealand War Diaries
New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade Account
Auckland Mounted Rifles Account
Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment Account
Wellington Mounted Rifles Account

Unit History Accounts
Australian
1st LHR AIF account
1st Australian Armoured Car Section Account
1st Australian Signal Troop, AIF Account
2nd LHR AIF Account
2nd FSE, AIF Account
2nd Australian Signal Troop, AIF Account
3rd LHR AIF Account
3rd LH Bde, AIF Account
3rd LHFA, AIF Account
3rd LHMGS, AIF Account
4th LH Bde, AIF Account
4th LHFA, AIF Account
4th LHR, AIF Account
5th LHR, AIF Account
6th LHR, AIF Account
7th LHR, AIF Account
8th LHR, AIF Account
8th Sanitary Section, AIF Account
9th LHR AIF Account
9th Mobile Veterinary Section, AIF Account
10th LHR, AIF Account
11th LHR, AIF Account
12th LHR, AIF MSS 38 Account
ICC Account

New Zealand
AMR Account
CMR Account
WMR Account

British Unit Histories
20th Machine Gun Squadron Account
Fife and Forfar Yeomanry Account

Newspaper Accounts
Massey Times account about the fall of Beersheba
Sydney Mail account about the fall of Beersheba

Personal Diary accounts of the Beersheba battle
2639 Tpr Arthur Wilson Beatty account of Beersheba
Auchterlonie [8th LHR] account about the fall of Beersheba
Fowler [12th LHR] account about the fall of Beersheba
Idriess and his Beersheba Charge description

Lieutenant Colonel Hüseyin Hüsnü Emir, Yildirim
Part II Chapter III - Events during October in Palestine
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 96
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 97
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 98
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 99
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 100
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 101
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 102
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 103
Part III Chapter I - The Battle of Beersheba, 31 October 1917.
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 104
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 105
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 106
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 107
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 108
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 109
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 110
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 111
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 112
Hüsnü’s observations and critiques on the Ottoman conduct of the capture of Beersheba, 31 October 1917.
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 113
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 114
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 115
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 116
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 117
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 118
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 119
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 120

Karm and surrounding supply stations
Karm, 25 October 1917
Tractor Park at El Gamli
Tractor Testing at El Gamli
Well at Khalasa

Train Timetable for October 1917
Desert Mounted Corps Operational Orders - Train Timetable

The Charge
Grant, GOC 4th ALHB, account about the fall of Beersheba
"Put Grant straight at it."
Hand drawn map of the 4th LHB prior to charging into Beersheba, 31 October 1917
Bourchier, CO 4th ALHR, account about the fall of Beersheba
Cameron, CO 12th ALHR, account about the fall of Beersheba
Colonel Cameron, 12th LHR, letter to Dr Bean
FAMOUS CHARGE BY 4TH AUSTRALIAN LIGHT HORSE BRIGADE by Vivian Sharpe
Official map of the Beersheba Charge
Pictures (taken 2006) of the route taken by the 4th LHB charge at Beersheba

The alleged Elliott photograph examined
9th LHR On Manoeuvres
9th LHR On Manoeuvres, Part 2
Fleas on fleas -The results from careless work - a case study

Ottoman Dispositions
Turkish map detailing troop dispositions and the battle at Beersheba
Turkish intelligence assessment of projected Allied attacks, August 1917

Roll of Honour

Australian and New Zealand Roll of Honour
British Forces Roll of Honour

Lest We Forget

Further Reading:

The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917

Australian and New Zealand Roll of Honour

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Citation: The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917, Contents

Web Sites of Interest

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:48:45 +1000

Web Sites of Interest

Below is a list of web sites that might be of further interest.

Biographical Research Links

1. First World War Embarkation Roll - AWM

2. First World War Nominal Roll - AWM

3. The AIF Project - ADFA - WW1 Search

4. National Archives Search

5. Boer War Nominal Roll - AWM

6. Australians in the Boer War - Oz-Boer Database Project

7. Archives NZ - Archway

8. Auckland Cenotaph

9. Geoffs British Soldier 1914-1921 Search Engine

10. British Soldier Search - British National Archives

11. London Gazette

12. CEF Search

13. Commonwealth War Graves Commission

14. Les morts pour la France de la guerre

15. Sehitlerimiz

Fora

1. Great War Forum

2. British Medals Forum

3. Lawrence and the Australian Light Horse AWM Blog

4. Axis History Forum

5. Australian Light Horse Association Forum

6. NEW ZEALAND MOUNTED RIFLES ASSOCIATION

7. ANZAC Research

8. The Aerodrome

9. Austro-Hungarian Land Forces Discussion Forum

10. Landships WW1 Forum

11. Society of the Military Horse

12. Military Guns and Ammunition

Useful Links

1. Lost Leaders of Anzacs

2. The Asplin Military History Resources

3. New Zealand Electronic Texts

4. Clyde Ships Database

5. Russian-Australian Connections

6. War Memorials in Australia

7. Devlet Arsivleri

8. First AIF Order of Battle 1914-1918

9. Pictures Australia

10. Gregorian - Hijra - Rumi Converter

11. Turkish & Israeli Maps of Palestine

12. Historic Australian Newspapers, 1803 to 1954

Genealogical Links

1. NSW Births and Deaths Records Search
2. Victorian Births and Deaths Records Search
3. Australian Cemeteries
4. England- 1901 Census
5. Scotlands People
6. Society of Australian Genealogists

Other Links

Families and Friends of the First AIF

Military History Society

Military History Society, Victoria Branch
The Charge at the Nek, Gallipoli - 7th August 1915 - Presented by Jeff Pickerd, MHSA Victoria Branch.
The Rifle Club Movement and Australian Defence 1860-1920, Andrew Kilsby

Citation: Web Sites of Interest

Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916, Contents

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:55:47 +1000

Battle of Romani

Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916

Contents

The Battle of Romani was the first major engagement after Gallipoli which involved the Light Horse working as a mounted formation.

Items

Outline
Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916
Roll of Honour
Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916, Roll of Honour, British Forces
Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916, Roll of Honour, Smith's Column, British and Australian Casualties
Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916, Roll of Honour, Australia and New Zealand
Brigade
Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916, Roll of Honour, 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade
Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916, Roll of Honour, 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade
Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916, Roll of Honour, 3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade
Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916, Roll of Honour, New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade

Pictures
Encampment near Romani, August 1916

Maps
General
1:125,000 map of Romani area
1:40,000 Maps
1:40,000 map of Mt Meredith area
1:40,000 map of Mt Royston area
1:40,000 map of Dueidar, Hassaia and Nuss area
1:40,000 map of Bir el Abd area
British War History
Official British War History map of Romani, 4 August 1916

Unit Accounts Map
1st ALHR AIF account map
German Map
1:250,000 German map of Romani area
Romani and Bir el Abd
Official Turkish Account Map

Order of Battle

Turkish

1 nci Kuvvei Seferiye (1st Expeditionary Force)

British

No. 3 Section Canal Defences

Australian and New Zealand

Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division

Accounts
German
Liman von Sanders Account

Allied Official War History Accounts
Australia
Gullett Australian Official History account about Katia
Gullett Australian Official History account about Romani
New Zealand
Powles New Zealand Official History account about Romani
British
The British Occupation of Romani
The Turkish Advance
The Turkish Attack on The 4th August
The Pursuit on The 5th August
The end of the pursuit
The Results of the Battle
Turkish and German Forces Engaged
Distribution of E.E.F., 27 July 1916
The State of The Royal Flying Corps in Egypt at the time of the Battle of Romani
The Evacuation of the Wounded

Analysis
Romani and Bir el Abd summary, Keogh Account

War Diary Accounts
Australia

General Staff Headquarters, Anzac Mounted Division, AIF, War Diary Account

Anzac Mounted Division Artillery, AIF, War Diary Account

1st Light Horse Brigade Account
1st LH Bde, AIF, War Diary Appendix Account

1st Light Horse Field Ambulance Account

1st Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron Account

1st ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account
2nd ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account
Account of the 2nd Light Horse Regiment's participation in the Battle of Romani, War Diary, Appendix 4.
3rd ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account
2nd Light Horse Brigade Account

2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance Account

2nd Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron Account

5th ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account
5th LHR, AIF account about the Battle of Romani, Killed in Action
6th ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account
7th ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account
3rd Light Horse Brigade Account

3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance Account - No War Diary entries for July and August

3rd Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron Account

8th ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account
9th ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account
10th ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account
11th ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account - Bir el Aweidia

New Zealand War Diaries

New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade Account

Auckland Mounted Rifles Account

Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment Account

Wellington Mounted Rifles Account

British War Diaries

42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division War Diary Account
125th Infantry Brigade War Diary Account
126th Infantry Brigade War Diary Account
127th Infantry Brigade War Diary Account
52nd (Lowland) Division, War Diary Account
157th Infantry Brigade War Diary Account
157th Infantry Brigade War Diary Account, Appendix- The Mass Heatstroke March

Unit Histories
Australia
1st ALHR AIF account
2nd ALHR AIF account
3rd ALHR AIF account
5th LHR, AIF account
6th LHR, AIF account
7th LHR, AIF account
8th LHR, AIF account
9th LHR, AIF account
10th LHR, AIF account
11th LHR, AIF account - Bir el Aweidia

New Zealand
AMR, NZMRB account
CMR, NZMRB account
WMR, NZMRB account

British
5th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, Unit History Account

Newspaper Accounts
New York Times account of Romani, 6 August 1916
London Times account of Romani, 10 August 1916

Individual Accounts
859 Corporal Francis Patrick Curran, 7th LHR

Further Reading:

Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916

Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Citation: Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916, Contents

Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, Contents

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:56:10 +1000

Bir el Abd

Sinai, 9 August 1916

Contents

Items

Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, Outline

Roll of Honour
Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, Roll of Honour, British Forces
Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, Roll of Honour, Australia and New Zealand
Brigades
Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, Roll of Honour, 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade
Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, Roll of Honour, 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade
Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, Roll of Honour, 3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade
Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, Roll of Honour, New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade
Lest We Forget

Maps
Romani and Bir el Abd
Official Turkish Account Map

Bir el Abd
1:40,000 map of Bir el Abd area
Anzac MD Post Battle Unit Deployment Map

Romani
1:40,000 map of Mt Meredith area
1:40,000 map of Mt Royston area
1:40,000 map of Dueidar, Hassaia and Nuss area
Official British War History map of Romani, 4 August 1916
1st ALHR AIF account map
1:250,000 German map of Romani area

History
Official Turkish War History
Official Turkish Account

German History
Friedrich Freiherr Kress von Kressenstein Account
Liman von Sanders Account

Official Australian War History

Gullett Account

Official British War History
The British Occupation of Romani
The Turkish Advance
The Turkish Attack on The 4th August
The Pursuit on The 5th August
The end of the pursuit
The Results of the Battle
Turkish and German Forces Engaged
Distribution of E.E.F., 27 July 1916
The State of The Royal Flying Corps in Egypt at the time of the Battle of Romani
The Evacuation of the Wounded

Analysis
Romani and Bir el Abd summary, Keogh Account

War Diaries
Australian War Diaries
General Staff Headquarters, Anzac Mounted Division, AIF, War Diary Account
Anzac Mounted Division Artillery, AIF, War Diary Account
1st Light Horse Brigade Account
1st Light Horse Field Ambulance Account
1st Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron Account
1st Light Horse Regiment Account
2nd Light Horse Regiment Account
3rd Light Horse Regiment Account
2nd Light Horse Brigade Account
2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance Account
2nd Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron Account
5th Light Horse Regiment Account
6th Light Horse Regiment Account
7th Light Horse Regiment Account
3rd Light Horse Brigade Account
3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance Account - No War Diary entries for July and August
3rd Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron Account
8th Light Horse Regiment Account
9th Light Horse Regiment Account
10th Light Horse Regiment Account

New Zealand War Diaries
New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade Account
Auckland Mounted Rifles Account
Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment Account
Wellington Mounted Rifles Account

Unit History Accounts
Australian
1st LHR Unit History Account
2nd LHR, AIF, Unit History Account
3rd LHR, AIF, Unit History Account
5th LHR, AIF, Unit History Account
6th LHR, AIF, Unit History Account
7th LHR, AIF, Unit History Account
8th LHR, AIF, Unit History Account
9th LHR, AIF, Unit History Account
10th LHR, AIF, Unit History Account
11th LHR, AIF Unit History Account

New Zealand
New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade, Unit History Account
Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment, Unit History Account
Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Unit History Account
Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, Unit History Account

Further Reading:

Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916

Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Citation: Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, Contents

Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, Outline

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:33:16 +1000

Bir el Abd

Sinai, 9 August 1916

Outline

A view from the crest of Mount Meredith looking eastwards towards Qatiya.

[Photo by Terry Kinlock, author of Devils on Horses: in the Words of the Anzacs in the Middle East 1916-19.]

Keeping constant pressure on the Turks resulted in one engagement tending to merge into the next, as was the case with Katia and Bir el Abd. This was an oasis 22 miles east of Romani, on the track to El Arish.

El Arish was on the south-east corner of the Mediterranean and came to be considered by the Anzacs as some far-off Holy Grail. If the enemy could be dislodged from Bir el Abd, he must retreat the 50 miles further on to El Arish because there was almost no water between the two places. El Arish was close to the Palestine border, where the Sinai desert ended. Elopes and dreams began to form and tantalise. They could get off the sand! Mirages, milk-and-honey visions of plains and trees, cities, grass feed, roads, water, flowers beckoned.

First things first: attack the enemy rearguard, capture his guns, destroy the remainder of his force. Reconnaissance early on 8 August showed that the Turks had abandoned Oghratina. Patrols probed forward and found him at Bir el Abd.

Chauvel shifted his HQ forward to Oghratina, with the New Zealand and Yeomanry brigades. Royston, temporarily in command of both the 1st and 2nd Light Horse Brigades, was to march from Katia overnight and at daylight on the 9th take up a position just north-east of Abd. The New Zealanders and the 3rd Light Horse Brigade were to start the advance, the first directly on the Turks centre, the second to swing round behind them from the south, blocking their retreat. The Yeomanry were in reserve.

The whole ANZAC Mounted Division would be engaged, though it was reduced by sickness and exhaustion of both horses and men to 3000 dismounted rifles. Two regiments of Royston's were down to 180 rifles and the 7th Regiment mustered 214. But the Turks were said to be weak and the operation looked to be relatively easy. Because of the distances, no infantry were to be used and the job fell to the mounted troops again.

The Turks proved to be decidedly strong: 6000 men deployed on commanding sandhills, well supported by artillery.

Bir el Abd and surrounding area topography.

[Click on map for larger version.]

The overnight ride by the 1st and 2nd Brigades was marked by precipitous sand cliffs, up or down which no horse would have gone, had it seen them. With daylight, the troopers were awed to see what they had come through.

At 4 am, the New Zealanders attacked the Turkish centre and the 3rd Light Horse Brigade started its encircling movement from the south. They encountered strong resistance. Royston's brigades, coming in from the north, were also checked. The dispositions left large gaps between the ANZAC units: 800 yards between Chaytor's New Zealanders and the 2nd Brigade on the left, a mile between Chaytor and the 3rd Brigade on the right.

Suddenly, things started to look grim. There were fire fights all along the line. The scattered Anzacs, after galloping in until the machine-gun and artillery fire became too heavy to risk the horses, dismounted and sent them back. For some hours, it was a near stalemate of no advance and no retreat, though marked by particular strokes of brilliance such as a bayonet charge by the Wellingtons, before which the Turks refused the steel and bolted, and the 'admirable tenacity and reckless courage' of the out-gunned batteries of Royal Horse Artillery, which from close behind the dismounted men waged an unequal contest with the Turkish guns.

British soldiers filling their canteens with water near Romani.

About midday, the Turks counterattacked from one end of the line to the other and threw Chauvel's troops on the defensive. There were seesawing attacks and counterattacks for two hours, and while the ANZAC front was unbroken, they suffered a net loss of ground. Sniffing victory, the Turks' fire reached a pitch of concentration never experienced before, even at Gallipoli.

By 4.30 Royston's left had been almost completely turned and the Turks threw between 2000 and 3000 men against his centre. The ensuing crescendo of fire was most destructive to both sides. The New Zealanders gave no ground in their forward position, even as a retirement of the 3rd Brigade on their right and another by Royston's brigades on their left exposed them to enfilade fire on both sides. Still they hung on.

At 5.30, Chauvel ordered a general withdrawal. It was then a matter of getting away unscathed in a fighting retreat, another searching test of steadiness under fire, with troop deliberately laying back on troop and squadron laying back on squadron, while keeping the enemy at bay with their own shooting.

That accomplished, the Anzacs were once more exhausted. They had ridden all night and fought from daylight to sunset on a quart of water in the heat of a ship's stokehold. Their elbows were blistered from constant contact with the scalding sand as they fired their weapons. Chauvel's choice was between bivouacking that night nearby and resuming the assault next day, or retiring to Oghratina. After consulting his brigade commanders, he opted for the latter, posting the 3rd Brigade out on the flank.

Two hundred and ten wounded were carried out of Abd and greatly hampered the withdrawal, but with the exception of a few New Zealanders their countrymen could not possibly reach, all were borne back safely. The standard 'ambulance' was a camel cacolets, or litter - a narrow, swaying pannier atop the beast that so tormented wounded men they came to be feared by the Anzacs, and led to the Australian innovation of sand carts. However, these could not be deployed to the front line and the men were taken out on horses; and their preference then was to ride them home. Two men of the 5th Regiment with broken thighs rode home from Abd and one survived.

This 'law' about saving wounded men was dangerous and frowned on by anonymous high command mandarins, but the men went into action knowing that if it was humanly possible to be carried out, they would not be allowed to fall into the Turks' hands, or left to the murderous Bedouins who prowled around the edges of battlefields. As vindication, after two and a half years of constant fighting, only 73 Light Horsemen had been taken prisoner, most of them wounded, and not a single officer was captured. But they themselves captured between 40,000 and 50,000 Turks.

Casualties for Bir el Abd were 73 dead and 243 wounded.

Bir el Abd after its capture.

Extracted from the book produced by Lindsay Baly, Horseman, Pass By, East Roseville, N.S.W. : Simon & Schuster, 2003, Ch. 5.

Further Reading:

Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916

Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1919

Citation: Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, Outline

1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, Contents

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:15:33 +1000

1st LHR, AIF

1st Australian Light Horse Regiment

Contents

1st Light Horse Regiment Colour Patch

Formed in August 1914 as part of the 1st Contingent and attached to the Australian Division, the 1st Light Horse Regiment was made up of Light Horsemen from five different Militia Regiments. This was the only New South Wales Regiment recruited from a majority of men drawn immediately from the Militia formations.

Structure

The Australian Light Horse – Structural outline
Australian Light Horse Order of Battle

Corps

Desert Mounted Corps (DMC)

Division

Anzac Mounted Division

Brigade

1st Australian Light Horse Brigade

Regiment

1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF, History

History

Romani
1st ALHR AIF Unit History account about Romani
1st ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account about the Battle of Romani

Bir el Abd
Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, 1st LHR, AIF, War Diary Account
Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, 1st LHR, AIF, Unit History Account

Beersheba
1st ALHR AIF Unit History account about the fall of Beersheba
1st ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account about the fall of Beersheba

Routine Orders

1st LHR Routine Order 80, 16 June 1918

Embarkation

Headquarters
A Squadron
B Squadron
C Squadron
Machine Gun Section
1st Reinforcements
2nd Reinforcement
3rd Reinforcement
4th Reinforcement
5th Reinforcement
6th Reinforcement
7th Reinforcement
8th Reinforcement
9th Reinforcement
10th Reinforcements
11th Reinforcements - Mashobra Group
11th Reinforcements - Hawkes Bay Group
12th Reinforcements - Hawkes Bay Group
12th Reinforcements - Beltana Group
13th Reinforcements
14th Reinforcements
15th Reinforcements
16th Reinforcements
17th Reinforcements
18th Reinforcements
19th Reinforcements
20th Reinforcement
21st Reinforcement
22nd Reinforcement
23rd Reinforcement
24th Reinforcement
25th Reinforcement
26th Reinforcement
27th Reinforcement
28th Reinforcement
29th Reinforcement
30th Reinforcement
31st Reinforcement
32nd Reinforcement
33rd Reinforcement
34th Reinforcement
35th Reinforcement

Personnel

2826 Pte Donald McBean
50 Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Robert Hamilton, MM, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, "C" Squadron.

Roll of Honour

1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour

Lest we forget

Further Reading:

1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF

1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Citation: 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, Contents

2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance, Contents

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:16:36 +1000

2nd LHFA, AIF

2ndLight Horse Field Ambulance

Contents

2nd LHFA Colour Patch

2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance

The core 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance was formed in Brisbane with a contingent from from Gympie.

Structure

The Australian Light Horse – Structural outline
Australian Light Horse Order of Battle

Corps

Desert Mounted Corps (DMC)

Division

Anzac Mounted Division

Brigade

2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade

Field Ambulance

2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance

History

Romani
Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916, 2nd LHFA, AIF, War Diary Account
Bir el Abd
Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, 2nd LHFA, AIF, War Diary Account
Bir el Mazar
Bir el Mazar, Sinai, 17 September 1916, 2nd LHFA, AIF, War Diary Account

Roll of Honour

2nd Australian Light Horse Field Ambulance, Roll of Honour
Lest We Forget

Further Reading:

2nd Australian Light Horse Field Ambulance, AIF

2nd Australian Light Horse Field Ambulance, Roll of Honour

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Citation: 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance, Contents

3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, Contents

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:30:01 +1000

3rd LHFA, AIF

3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance

Contents

3rd LHFA Colour Patch

3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance

Originally recruited at Melbourne in October 1914 to form part of the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance, when Military Order 575 of 1914 created the 3rd Light Horse Brigade and the unit became the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance.

Structure

The Australian Light Horse – Structural outline
Australian Light Horse Order of Battle

Corps

Desert Mounted Corps (DMC)

Division

Anzac Mounted Division
Australian Mounted Division

Brigade

3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade

Field Ambulance

3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance

History

Romani
No Diary Entry
Bir el Abd
No Diary Entry
Bir el Mazar
Bir el Mazar, Sinai, 17 September 1916, 3rd LHFA, AIF, War Diary Account

Roll of Honour

3rd Australian Light Horse Field Ambulance, Roll of Honour
Lest We Forget

Further Reading:

3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance

3rd Australian Light Horse Field Ambulance, Roll of Honour

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Citation: 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, Contents

1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF, Outline

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:33:32 +1000

1st LHR, AIF

1st Australian Light Horse Regiment

Outline

The iconic photograph of Pte Wood, 1st LHR.

[From: Sydney Mail, 7 October 1914, p. 21.]

Outline of the 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF

Formation

"A" Squadron recruited mainly from:
5th Light Horse Regiment (31 men); and,
6th Light Horse Regiment (59 men).

"B" Squadron recruited mainly from:
7th Light Horse Regiment (41 men); and,
11th Light Horse Regiment (62 men).

"C" Squadron recruited mainly from:
9th Light Horse Regiment (49 men).

Training

1st Light Horse Regiment Routine Order No 1, 28 August 1914

[Click on page for larger version.]

Training of the 1st Light Horse Regiment occurred at Rosebury Park in Sydney from August until October 1914.

Embarkation

Embarkation of the 1st Light Horse Regiment occurred by the HMAT A16 Star of Victoria from Sydney on 19 October 1914.

HMAT A16 Star of Victoria

[See: His Majesty's Australian Transports [HMAT] Ships, A16.]

The 1st Light Horse Regiment sailed by convoy from Albany and passed by the action against the Emden at the Cocos Islands. The Star of Victoria disembarked the 1st Light Horse Regiment in Egypt on 8 December 1914.

Colour Patch

Initially, the only colour separation of the various Australian mounted troops was by use of the pennant. The marker pennants were carried on poles to mark lines troop lines in camps in Egypt. They were not lance pennants as the Australian lancers had red over white pennants on their lances.

Pennant of the 1st Light Horse Regiment

While this pennant was useful in distinguishing horse and troop lines, it failed to identify the individual with a unit. The AIF 1st Australian Division Standing Orders issued in December 1914 ordered the Australian Light Horse Regiments to wear a 4 inch wide [10.2cm] blue armband with the regiment name marked on the band in black lettering.

The earlier systems proved to be ineffective so to assist with identification of the men in the various units within the AIF, Divisional Order No 81 (A) Administration was issued at Mena on 8 March 1915 detailing the Colour Patch for the 1st Light Horse Regiment as others received their colours. The colour patch was made of cloth 1¼ inches wide and 2¾ inches long and worn on the sleeve one inch below the shoulder seam. The colour patch for the 1st Light Horse Regiment was light blue over white.

1st Light Horse Regiment Colour Patch

The 1st Light Horse Regiment carried the white Brigade colour as the lower triangle part of the colour patch, while the light blue unit colour was on the top. This is illustrated with the above presentation.

Gallipoli

As mounted troops, the Light Horse was considered to be unsuitable for work in Gallipoli. The mounted troops volunteered to operate as infantry and thus were sent to Gallipoli with the 1st Light Horse Regiment landing on 12 May 1915. Only once was this regiment used for offensive activities which occurred on the morning of 7 August 1915 with an attack on a Turkish position known as "the Chessboard". The tragic result was some 147 casualties from the 200 men who were involved in the charge. For the balance of the time the 1st Light Horse Regiment remained at Gallipoli, the unit played a defensive role.

Western Frontier Force

After the return to Egypt, the 1st Light Horse Regiment reformed and re-equipped. The reorganisation of the Light Horse led to the formation of the ANZAC Mounted Division to which the 1st Light Horse Regiment became a foundation member.

For the first five months of 1916, between January and May, the 1st Light Horse Regiment was deployed throughout the Nile valley to defend the Egyptian economic centres from the interruption by the Senussi infiltrating from Siwa Oasis.

Defence of Egypt

On 14 May1916, the 1st Light Horse Regiment moved to join its parent brigade, the 1st Light Horse Brigade, which was taking part in the defence of the Suez Canal. The work was hot and monotonous. they remained here until moved to the Romani region to bolster the defence of that area.

Sinai

The 1st Light Horse Brigade played an important role in beating back the Turkish invasion of the Suez Canal zone at Romani. Now known as the Battle of Romani which lasted from 4-6 August which was quickly followed by the Battle of Katia and then Bir el Abd on 9 August. All the actions in which the 1st Light Horse Regiment finally led to the defeat of the Ottoman Canal Expeditionary force and its retreat to Bir el Mazar.

Over the next few months, the 1st Light Horse Regiment took part in the Allied advance over the Sinai leading to the fall of Bir el Mazar, then El Arish followed by Bir el Magdhaba and finally Rafa in January 1917. The Ottoman forces were expelled from the Sinai and were poised to be tackled in Palestine.

Palestine

The 1st Light Horse Regiment was assigned to protect the rail line and lines of communications for the first months of 1917. They missed the First Battle of Gaza but were back at the fron by 6 April 1917 and took part in the Second Battle of Gaza on 19 April 1917.

The 1st Light Horse Regiment took part in the Battle of Beersheba and then the follow up actions that lasted until early January 1918. This included such actions as the advance to Jaffa.

After the fall of Jerusalem the 1st Light Horse Regiment moved to the Jordan Valley and took parts in operations in this region. This included the taking of Jericho, the attack on Amman during 27 March - 2 April 1918 and Es Salt Raid of 30 April – 4 May 1918. It's last major action prior to the breakout was to repel the German Asien Corps attack on Abu Telllul, 14 July 1918.

Amman

At the opening of the final Allied offensive on 19 September 1918, the 1st Light Horse Regiment took part in the invasion of the Moab hills for the third time. This time Amman was captured and finally, the Ottomans called for an Armistice on 30 October 1918.

Return to Australia

After the conclusion of hostilities, the 1st Light Horse Regiment was marked to return to Australia. Prior to that action, one of the saddest actions occurred for the Australian Lighthorsemen, they had to farewell their best friends, the horses. All the Light Horse unit horses's health was ascertained with the fit horses being transferred to the Indian Cavalry while those in poor condition were destroyed by the Veterinary units. On 12 March 1919 the 1st Light Horse Regiment embarked from Egypt for the long voyage to Australia where the unit was disbanded.

Commanding Officers

Lieutenant Colonel John Baldwin Meredith
Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Venables Vernon
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas William (Bill) Glasgow
Lieutenant Colonel Cecil Horace Granville
Lieutenant Colonel George Macleay Macarthur-Onslow

Decorations earned by the 1st Light Horse Regiment

5 DSO - Distinguished Service Orders
10 MC - Military Crosses
2 DCM - Distinguished Conduct Medals
18 MM - Military Medals
42 MID - Mentioned in Despatches
8 foreign awards

Campaigns

Gallipoli
Anzac
Defence at Anzac
Suvla
Sari Bair
Gallipoli 1915-1916
Egypt
Senussi Campaign
Defence of Egypt
Sinai
Romani
Magdhaba
Rafa
Palestine
Second Battle of Gaza
Third Battle of Gaza
Beersheba
El Mughar
Nebi Samwill
Jerusalem
Jaffa
Jericho
Amman
Es Salt
Abu Tellul
Megiddo
Nablus
Palestine 1917-1918

Casualties suffered by the 1st Light Horse Regiment

222 killed
679 wounded

War Diary

The Australian War Memorial has put these on line and may be accessed here:

1st Light Horse Regiment War Diaries.

Embarkations:

The following list details all the embarkations in support of the 1st Light Horse Regiment, AIF, during the Great War. Each entry details the individual soldier's: rank on embarkation; full name; Declared age; last occupation held; last address as a civilian; enlistment Date; and, ultimate fate. Each man is linked to a brief military biography where ever possible. One interesting point is that many of the men listed in the embarkation roll for the 1st Light Horse Regiment ended up in a different unit altogether. This list details the men's starting point in the AIF.

1st Light Horse Regiment, Headquarters	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A16 Star Of Victoria 20 October 1914
1st Light Horse Regiment, A Squadron	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A16 Star of Victoria 20 October 1914
1st Light Horse Regiment, B Squadron	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A16 Star Of Victoria 20 October 1914
1st Light Horse Regiment, C Squadron	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A16 Star Of Victoria 20 October 1914
1st Light Horse Regiment, Machine Gun Section	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A16 Star Of Victoria 20 October 1914
1st Light Horse Regiment, 1st Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A42 Boorara 20 December 1914
1st Light Horse Regiment, 2nd Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A25 Anglo Egyptian 8 February 1915
1st Light Horse Regiment, 3rd Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A6 Clan Mccorquodale 6 February 1915
1st Light Horse Regiment, 4th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A9 Shropshire 17 March 1915
1st Light Horse Regiment, 5th Reinforcement	Newcastle, New South Wales on board HMAT A41 Bakara 22 May 1915
1st Light Horse Regiment, 6th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A65 Clan MacEwen 28 June 1915
1st Light Horse Regiment, 7th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A21 Marere 16 August 1915
1st Light Horse Regiment, 8th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A54 Runic 9 August 1915
1st Light Horse Regiment, 9th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A8 Argyllshire 30 September 1915
1st Light Horse Regiment, 10th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A4 Pera 12 October 1915
1st Light Horse Regiment, 11th Reinforcements - Mashobra Group 1st Light Horse Regiment, 11th Reinforcements - Hawkes Bay Group	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A47 Mashobra 4 October 1915 Sydney, New South Wales on board SS Hawkes Bay 23 October 1915
1st Light Horse Regiment, 12th Reinforcements - Hawkes Bay Group 1st Light Horse Regiment, 12th Reinforcements - Beltana Group	Sydney, New South Wales on board SS Hawkes Bay 23 October 1915 Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A72 Beltana 9 November 1915
1st Light Horse Regiment, 13th Reinforcements	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A60 Aeneas 20 December 1915
1st Light Horse Regiment, 14th Reinforcements	Sydney, New South Wales on board RMS Osterley 15 January 1916
1st Light Horse Regiment, 15th Reinforcements	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A26 Armadale 21 March 1916
1st Light Horse Regiment, 16th Reinforcements	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A25 Anglo Egyptian 12 May 1916
1st Light Horse Regiment, 17th Reinforcements	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A39 Port Macquarie 26 April 1916
1st Light Horse Regiment, 18th Reinforcements	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A20 Hororata 2 May 1916
1st Light Horse Regiment, 19th Reinforcements	Sydney, New South Wales on board RMS Mongolia 8 July 1916
1st Light Horse Regiment, 20th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board RMS Malwa 22 July 1916
1st Light Horse Regiment, 21st Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board RMS Mooltan 19 August 1916
1st Light Horse Regiment, 22nd Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A13 Katuna 23 November 1916
1st Light Horse Regiment, 23rd Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board RMS Karmala 3 February 1917
1st Light Horse Regiment, 24th Reinforcement	Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A42 Boorara 10 May 1917
1st Light Horse Regiment, 25th Reinforcement	Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A42 Boorara 10 May 1917
1st Light Horse Regiment, 26th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board RMS Morea 17 February 1917
1st Light Horse Regiment, 27th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A15 Port Sydney 9 May 1917
1st Light Horse Regiment, 28th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A17 Port Lincoln 11 June 1917
1st Light Horse Regiment, 29th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A55 Kyarra 3 September 1917
1st Light Horse Regiment, 30th Reinforcement	Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A73 Commonwealth 2 November 1917
1st Light Horse Regiment, 31st Reinforcement	Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A73 Commonwealth 2 November 1917
1st Light Horse Regiment, 32nd Reinforcement	Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A73 Commonwealth 2 November 1917
1st Light Horse Regiment, 33rd Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board SS Canberra 16 November 1917
1st Light Horse Regiment, 34th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A38 Ulysses 19 December 1917
1st Light Horse Regiment, 35th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board RMS Ormonde 2 March 1918

See: Troop transport ships for information and photographs about the various ships employed in transporting the troops to Egypt.

Books about the 1st Light Horse Regiment:

Vernon, PV, The Royal New South Wales Lancers, 1885-1985, Sydney 1985.

Treasure, C, Perc Treasure Light Horseman, Sydney 1988.

Williamson, BC, Six Bob Trooper - The Life of Alfred Thomas Winterton of the 1st Light Horse Regiment, Sydney 1992.

Further Reading:

1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF

1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Citation: 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF, Outline

5th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Contents

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:07:30 +1000

5th LHR, AIF

5th Australian Light Horse Regiment

Contents

5th Light Horse Regiment Colour Patch

The 5th Light Horse Regiment was formed as part of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade, 2nd Contingent and attached to the Australian Division. Recruits went to the Enoggera Training Camp to the west of Brisbane, Queensland, on 18 August 1914. The recruits were drawn from the four main Militia Regiments within the 1st Military District which incorporated all of Queensland, Darwin and Northern New South Wales.

Structure

The Australian Light Horse – Structural outline
Australian Light Horse Order of Battle

Corps

Desert Mounted Corps (DMC)

Division

Anzac Mounted Division

Brigade

2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade

Regiment

5th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF, History

History

El Qatiya
el Qatiya, Sinai, 23 April 1916, 5th LHR, AIF, War Diary Account
Romani

5th ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account about the Battle of Romani
5th LHR, AIF account about the Battle of Romani
5th LHR, AIF account about the Battle of Romani, Killed in Action
Bir el Abd
Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, 5th LHR, AIF, War Diary Account
Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, 5th LHR, AIF, Unit History Account
Bir el Mazar
Bir el Mazar, Sinai, 17 September 1916, 5th LHR, AIF, War Diary Account
Bir el Mazar, Sinai, 17 September 1916, 5th LHR, AIF, Unit History Account
Beersheba
5th ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account about the fall of Beersheba
5th LHR, AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

Routine Orders

5th LHR Routine Order No 52, 20 November 1915
5th LHR Routine Order No 29, 19 June 1918

Personnel

284 Tpr David Laing Clark

Roll of Honour

5th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour
Lest We Forget

Further Reading:

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Citation: 5th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Contents