Topic: AIF - 3B - 9 LHR
9th LHR, AIF
War Diary, 10 November
Pro Gloria et Honore - For Glory and Honour
Regimental March - Marching Through Georgia
The Diary
1914
Tuesday, November 10, 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. Signalling instruction begins at Signalling School, Broadmeadows Camp.
See: Broadmeadows 1909
1915
Wednesday, November 10, 1915
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Rhododendron Spur
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 1000 Colonel Young and Officers inspected the trenches in the morning prior to the Auckland Battalion, New Zealand Infantry taking over the position in the afternoon.
1230 I received instructions to hand over at 1630 and move Regimental Headquarters. 1330 Moved Regimental Headquarters to new position on Canterbury Slopes now occupied by 8th Light Horse Regiment.
1630 Commenced to hand over B, C(1), C(2), D, E(1) and E(2) sections of fire trench to Auckland Battalion, New Zealand Infantry. D Squadron withdrawn and sent to new Regimental Bivouac. New section of trench taken over from 10th Light Horse Regiment extending from the right of A(1) Section and including Kidd Sap. A Squadron placed in this section of trench.
According to instructions received, one third of the Regiment left for Mudros at 2000 for a holiday.
1916
Friday, November 10, 1916
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Bir Etmaler
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - No entry.
1917
Saturday, November 10, 19179th Light Horse Regiment Location - 2 miles south of Arak el Menshiyeh.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Moved forward along western side of railway B Squadron in advance, A and C Squadrons main guard to 3rd Light Horse Brigade. When moving on the eastern side of the Arak el Menshiyeh, the Regiment was heavily shelled from direction of Zeita. Regiment pushed on Sq O72 V8, 9 and 10 central whilst remainder of Brigade remained in vicinity of Sq O72 W18 and X15. The enemy was located holding Summeil and high ground north thereof. B Squadron took up a line 1,000 yards south of Summeil with left flank on railway pushing forward patrols. Patrol sent forward to Ijseir reported that placed all clear. Enemy very active all moving continually changing his dispositions.
At 1100 he made a determined move to our right flank necessitating B Squadron to withdraw their line south 1,000 yards. Two troops of C Squadron were put into the line in Sq O72 V22 to protect right flank.
Enemy shelling continued all morning. Most of the shells falling in and around gardens surrounding Arak el Menshiyeh and on open flat just east of the railway station with only a small proportion falling on the front line.
At 1000 Hargrave, Lieutenant LMS, with A Squadron patrol was dispatched to search area in vicinity of Arak el Menshiyeh railway station subsequently reporting that a few wounded enemy, large quantities of SAA [small arms ammunition] and big gun ammunition, 5 burnt aeroplanes, motor lorry and much war material had been abandoned by the enemy.
At 1600 orders were received to attack Point 405 Summeil in following order - 4th Light Horse Brigade on left, 3rd Light Horse Brigade on right. The attacking regiment, the 9th Light Horse Regiment, was to maintain its centre on railway. 5th Mounted Brigade to be slightly in rear between 3rd and 4th Light Horse Brigades. The Regiment moved into position at 1600 and advanced to gain touch. 8th Light Horse Regiment followed in support.
By 1645 the Regiment had crossed the wadi on either side of the railway bridge Sq O72 V7d. 5th Mounted Brigade touched up with rear of the Regiment. At 1800 the 9th Light Horse Regiment, in line of troop column, halted within 1,000 yard of objective to enable touch to be gained with 4th Light Horse Brigade on left before advancing any further. Every endeavour was made to gain touch with 4th Light Horse Brigade without success and CO's conference was therefore held at 9th Light Horse Regimental Headquarters on railway 1,000 yards south of Summeil. Kelly, Lieutenant Colonel; and, Lord Apsley represented 5th Mounted Brigade. CO's 2nd in command and Squadron leaders of 8th and 9th Light Horse Regiments were present. At 1830 touch was gained with two Squadrons 4th Light Horse Regiment who were unable to gain touch with remainder of their brigade. It was now decided that owing to failing to link up with the 4th Light Horse Brigade to abandon attack and withdraw 1,000 yards and hold the outpost line for the night which was subsequently done. Three troops from the 9th Light Horse Regiment and two troops from the 8th Light Horse Regiment held the line from the seven arch bridge to the railway station of Arak el Menshiyeh. 9th Light Horse Regiment troops were on the left near bridge while the Regimental Headquarters was established 300 yards west of station and touch gained with 3rd Light Horse Brigade Headquarters by mounted orderly.
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary -
At 0600, 10th November, the Brigade moved forward to Arak el Menshiyeh and at 0730 the enemy opened up a battery of six guns on the Brigade from the direction of Zeita. A few casualties were suffered as a result of enemy shelling. It was laughable to see the rapid movements of the inhabitants of the village in taking cover when the Turkish shells burst near the village, men, women and children stampeded from the huts with shrieks and howls and promptly hid in the numerous cisterns which had been dug for storage of grain in the vicinity. The result of the air raid by our aeroplanes the previous afternoon at Arak el Menshiyeh was observed. Heaps of enemy dead and seven burnt aeroplanes were discovered. The enemy aerodrome had been successfully bombed.
A line of observation posts were established north and north east of Arak el Menshiyeh. Horses were taken in small numbers to water from the wells in the village. The supply was very limited and the Brigade had not completed watering by 1700. The wells were very deep, varying from 100 to 300 feet in depth. The oil engines and pumps had all been removed or totally destroyed by the enemy, and the only means of getting the water up was by buckets and ropes, a very tedious process. The enemy continued to shell the line and places of watering.
The 3rd Light Horse Brigade was in visual communication throughout the day with the 4th Light Horse Brigade in the neighbourhood of Faluje.
At 1200 enemy infantry, accompanied by guns was observed at Summeil, and orders were received from the Division that the 4th Light Horse Brigade was moving to attack the enemy, and as soon as the attack developed, the 3rd Light Horse Brigade to pivot: on right and to assist attack of the 4th Light Horse Brigade.At 1545 the 4th Light Horse Brigade moved to attack Summeil from the west. The 5th Mounted Brigade from the south - west and the 3rd Light Horse Brigade from the south. By dark, [1715], the attack had not fully developed, delay look place in getting in touch with the 4th Light Horse Brigade, and it was decided that the Brigades would not push in the dark.
Supply columns were now finding it difficult to keep up with the mounted troops in their rapid advance. Rations began to be received by the forward troops late, and immediately on being off loaded had to be taken up to the troops in the front line, sometimes, under heavy fire. Through the later and later arrival of the rations, one day's rations were lost to men and horses, as in the army arrears of rations are never made up.At 2000 the Brigade held the following battle night out post line: - Arak El Menshiyeh to railway bridge V7d sheet 1/63360, [8th Light Horse Regiment sector, 9th Light Horse Regiment sector]. Enemy fired many flares from the direction of Summeil throughout the night.
1918
Sunday, November 10, 1918
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Mejdelaya, Tripoli
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Sharp, Lieutenant RC, MC rejoined the Regiment.
1030 Voluntary Church Parade. News received that the Kaiser and Crown Prince of Germany had abdicated.
1919
Monday, November 10, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Adelaide
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Regiment disbanded.
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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, 10 November
