Topic: AIF - 2B - 6 LHR
6th LHR, AIF
6th Australian Light Horse Regiment
Routine Order No. 47, 17 June 1916
Hill 70 Camp, Sinai, 1916
[From: AWM J02862]
Hill 70 has the look of a very hot and bleak bivouac. Any men stationed there would have been only too happy to march out as soon as possible to another location.
It was at Hill 70 Camp that the 6th LHR Routine Order No 156, 17 June 1916 was issued.
6th LHR Routine Order No 47, 17 June 1916
This RO itemises two men who disappeared for a day, returning the following morning in time for Revellie. The punishment was fairly light for being AWL. The third person appeared drunk. It is easy to speculate that the three men became enebriated with one turning up on parade and the other two sleeping it off to be available for the next day. The reason for suspecting this is the location of the camp - Hill 70 - a place in a flat, desert land without a tree in site. The picture below tells the story. There was no where for the men to go AWL except in the camp.
To put it into perspective, below is a 1:40,000 map illustrating the location of Hill 70 in relation to Kantara and Romani.
Hill 70 Camp between Kantara and Romani, 1916
The vast expanse of featureless sand as far as the eye could see characterised the location.
Further Reading:
6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: 6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Routine Order No. 47, 17 June 1916
