Topic: AIF - 3B - 9 LHR
9th LHR, AIF
War Diary, 7 November
Pro Gloria et Honore - For Glory and Honour
Regimental March - Marching Through Georgia
The Diary
1914
Saturday, November 7, 1914
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Morphettville Race Course Camp and Broadmeadows Camp, Victoria.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Formation of Regiment occurring at Morphettville Race Course Camp, Adelaide, while "C" Squadron is formed at Broadmeadows Camp, Victoria.
See: Broadmeadows 1909
1915
Sunday, November 7, 1915
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Rhododendron Spur
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - No entry.
1916
Tuesday, November 7, 1916
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Bir Etmaler
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Hogan, Lieutenant LR; and, 51 Other Ranks left by train from Mahamadiyah for Anzac Rest Camp.
1917
Wednesday, November 7, 19179th Light Horse Regiment Location - Bir Ifteis 0500; Tel el Sheria 1600.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0500, moved from night outpost line to Karm arriving there 0800 where orders were received to water and ration and proceed to Tel el Sheria. The Regiment moved from Karm at 0900. The remainder of Brigade moved at 0915.
The Regiment moved mostly at the slow trot through Bir Imleih - Bir Salim Abu Irgeig at which place urgent message received from Brigade Headquarters to push on Notts Battery and Field Ambulance to Tel el Sheria. These were undertaken two miles north of Bir Salim Abu Irgeig where the Regiment halted for five minutes then moved forward again at the slow trot followed closely by Notts Battery and Field Ambulance arriving at a point two miles east of Tel el Sheria at 1200 having covered the 16 miles from Karm in three hours. On arrival east of Tel el Sheria information received that Gaza had been evacuated.
1600 The Regiment forming point of main body 3rd Light Horse Brigade moved forward towards Wadi Ayun el Sadeh. At 1645 A and B Squadrons with C Squadron in support trotted forward to take position believed to be held by enemy. On arrival it was found unoccupied and country one mile north thereof all clear. The Regiment less C Squadron withdrew to Sq O73 K33a [Ref Map 1/63360 Palestine Sheet XX] and bivouacked for night. C Squadron with 10th Light Horse Regiment on their right held night outpost right from 560 to west in Wadi Ayun el Sadeh.
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary -
At 0730 on 7th November the Brigade, less 9th Light Horse Regiment watered at Karm, and at 0815 moved at a trot and walk toward Tel el Sheria. The route taken was through Khirbit Imleih and Bir Salim Abu Irgeig positions won from the enemy on the previous day. 9th Light Horse Regiment moved from Karm at 0900 and joined up with the Brigade at point two miles east of Tel el Sheria station, at 1200, having covered the 16 miles from Karm in three hours. The Brigade now reverted to the command of the Australian Mounted Division and became Divisional reserve at a point 3/4 of a mile south east of Tel el Sheria railway station.
The enemy position at Tel el Sheria had been taken the previous day by our infantry and evidence of severe fighting could be seen everywhere. Heavy casualties had been inflicted on the enemy here by our artillery, but our infantry casualties had also been very heavy. Tel el Sheria was still being heavily shelled by the enemy. The news that Gaza had been evacuated by the enemy had just been received. The mounted troops were now to take up pursuit of the retreating enemy.
At 0400 orders were received for the Brigade to move via a crossing at Khirbit Um El Bakr over Wadi Sheria to cooperate with Anzac Mounted Division on the right and clear ridge from that place to Khirbit Barrata, and Wadi Ayun el Sadeh, which were reported held the enemy rear guards. 9th and 10th Light Horse Regiments galloped on to these positions but met with very slight enemy opposition, it was now quite dark, and the enemy had fallen back very rapidly.
Brigade outpost line with 10th Light Horse Regiment on right and 9th Light Horse Regiment on the left was taken up, at 2100 orders were received from Australian Mounted Division that the line Wadi Jemmameh - Zuheilikah, must be occupied by dawn on the 8th instant at all costs. 3rd Light Horse Brigade to connect with the left of Anzac Mounted Division and the right of 5th Mounted Brigade 10th Light Horse Regiment gained touch with the 2nd Light Horse Regiment but the 9th Light Horse Regiment was unable to link up with the 5th Mounted Brigade and they had not occupied the position ordered. The weather continued to keep fine.
On the following morning an attempt was to be made by the mounted troops to cut off part of the main body of the retreating enemy force. The enemy had been driven from his strong defensive position Beersheba - Gaza, and his force was becoming disorganised.
1918
Thursday, November 7, 1918
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Umm Hartein
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0600 Moved to Tel el Kale station watering at Nahr Kebir en route. Arrived at Tel el Kale Station at 1030 and bivouacked.
1919
Friday, November 7, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Adelaide
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Regiment disbanded.
Previous: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 6 November
Next: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 8 November
Sources:
See: 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Contents
Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy
Further Reading:
9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 7 November
