Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
22 September 1918
Bert Schramm
2823 Private Herbert Leslie SCHRAMM, a 22 year old Farmer from Whites River, South Australia. He enlisted on 17 February 1916; and at the conclusion of the war Returned to Australia, 10 July 1919.
During part of the course of his military service with the AIF, Bert Schramm 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 Offensive 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.
The Diaries
The complete diary is now available on the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre Site at:
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Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 18 - 22 September 1918
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Bert Schramm
Sunday, September 22, 1918
Bert Schramm's Location - Jenin
Bert Schramm's Diary - We have been gathering up prisoners and even material all day around Jenin and we are moving on towards El Affule tonight. Affule is a big railway centre and was captured by the 4th Division yesterday.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Jenin
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0430 Parsons, Major HM, DSO with composite squadron two troops A Squadron.
Two troops B Squadron moved along Jenin - Beisan Road to endeavour to collect 200 enemy reported retreating north the previous evening.
0905 He had reached Tel esh Sheikh [Sheet 9 Palestine 1/63360] and reported that he was overlooking Beisan two miles distant and that he could observe our cavalry entering that place by El Affule Road. No trace was found of the 200 enemy reported retreating north. At the village of Jelbon, Todd, 769 Corporal AH, of A Squadron with right flank patrol discovered a party of enemy concealed behind cactus hedge. He skilfully reconnoitred their position and manoeuvred his patrol to their flank and with great courage and dash his patrol charged the party of enemy capturing the whole party consisting of three officers and 28 Other Ranks [Turkish].
The Brigade moved two miles north of El Affule. C Squadron supplied the advanced guard and A Squadron right flank guard to Brigade. Arrived 1820 watered, off-saddled and fed. Parsons, Major HM, with composite Squadron rejoined Regiment at 2000.
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary
At dawn the reconnoitring squadron of the 9th Light Horse Regiment, [Parsons, Major HM, DSO], moved out through Beit Kad and swept country to within two miles of Beisan, capturing about 80 prisoners. Our cavalry were observed in that place. While on this reconnaissance Todd, 769 Corporal AH, of A squadron with the right flank patrol, observed a party of three officers and 28 other ranks concealed behind a cactus hedge, near the village of Jelbon. After reconnoitring their position, the patrol charged them with drawn swords, upon which the enemy promptly surrendered. The troop of 10th Light Horse Regiment, [Doig, Lieutenant PWK], pushed south along the Nablus road, as far as Ajje, but did not gain touch with the 5th Light Horse Brigade. These detachments joined the Brigade later at El Affule. At 1330 the Brigade marched off for El Affule, with orders to report to the 5th Cavalry Division at that place for instructions. Meanwhile we had been advised that the 8th Light Horse Regiment, having handed over prisoners at El Lejjun, had received direct orders to march to Nazareth, and there relieve a Brigade of the 5th Cavalry Division. Orders from the 5th Cavalry Division were for one Regiment, [10th Light Horse Regiment], to relieve a Brigade of the 5th Cavalry Division of the line Shutta - Zerin and for one Regiment [9th Light Horse Regiment], to lake over all guards and duties at El Affule. 3rd Light Horse Brigade was to be responsible for administration of El Affule. 8th Light Horse Regiment were in occupation of Nazareth and were responsible for administration there. The Brigade arrived at El Affule at 1700, watered and fed. 9th and 10th Light Horse Regiments then moved out and carried out reliefs as above, all being completed by 0300.
9th LHR AIF War Diary, 22 September
Darley
Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924.
No Entry
Previous: Bert Schramm's Diary, 21 September 1918
Next: Bert Schramm's Diary, 23 September 1918
Sources Used:
Bert Schramm's DiaryNational Archives Service File.
Embarkation Roll, AWM8.
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
Nominal Roll, AWM133, Nominal Roll of Australian Imperial Force who left Australia for service abroad, 1914-1918 War.
War Diaries and Letters
All War Diaries and letters cited on this site should be read in conjunction with the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, War Diaries and Letters, Site Transcription Policy which may be accessed at:
Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, War Diaries and Letters, Site Transcription Policy
Further Reading:
9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF
9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, War Diary, Day by Day Account
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 22 September 1918
