Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
4 June 1918
Bert Schramm
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:
Finding more about a service person. See:
Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 4 - 9 June 1918
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Bert Schramm
Tuesday, June 4, 1918
Bert Schramm's Location - Ain Ed Duk, Jordan Valley.
Bert Schramm's Diary - In camp all day. Have to take over the outpost line tonight. Weather terribly hot.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Ain Ed Duk, Jordan Valley.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0900 Officers inspecting front line works preparatory to taking over 7th Light Horse Regiment.
1830 The Regiment by squadrons proceeded to front line and relieved 7th Light Horse Regiment. Relief completed by 2030. Orders issued for C Squadron to hold the line by day and to be relieved at 1900 daily by A and B Squadrons when C Squadron would withdraw and remain in reserve all night taking over again at 0400 daily from A and B Squadrons. On relief Regimental Headquarters with A and B Squadrons to withdraw daily to day bivouac in Sq M33a and to leave there at 1800 daily to take over night outpost line. The site of the day bivouac was covered with thick thorny scrub which necessitated much hard work in clearing suitable area for horse lines and bivouacs. This area was reported as being badly infested with snakes and although many snakes were seen no one was bitten during our stay here.
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary -
On the 4th June command of No. 1 sub sector, [Auja Bridgehead defences], passed from General Officer in Command, 3rd Light Horse Brigade to General Officer in Command, 22nd Mounted Brigade and the 3rd Light Horse Brigade withdrew to No. 4 sub sector with headquarters at Ain Ed Duk.
9th Light Horse Regiment, 1st section, 3rd Machine Gun Squadron, relieved the garrison of No. 4 sub sector, [Wart, Wane, Wild, Wood, and Wasp - posts], from 7th Light Horse Regiment, 2nd Light Horse Brigade], at 2030 4th June, and 8th Light Horse Regiment with two sections 3rd Machine Gun Squadron were placed at disposal General Officer in Command No. 3 sub sector, to enable the work at centres of resistance on The Bluff to Abu Tellul line to be pushed on rapidly.
Patrols were sent out at irregular intervals throughout each day to Tel el Truny to patrol north and east from there; enemy patrols were encountered, but these ways retired to the sangars and small trenches on prominent points near Tel el Richer and Tel el Museterah, when fired on by our patrols. From Tel el Truny any enemy movement towards Wadi Auja could be seen and the enemy was kept under close observation.
The improvement and strengthening of the defences of the "W" posts was carried on by night.
Darley
Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924.
No Entry.
Previous: Bert Schramm's Diary, 3 June 1918
Next: Bert Schramm's Diary, 5 June 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, 4 June 1918
