Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
22 August 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:
Finding more about a service person. See:
Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 19 - 26 August 1918
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Bert Schramm
Thursday, August 22, 1918
Bert Schramm's Location - Ain Ed Duk, Jordan Valley, Palestine.
Bert Schramm's Diary - Horses came out for us this morning and we returned to the regiment left the valley at 7.30 and arrived at Talaat ed Dumm at midnight.
[B.W.I. = British West Indian Regiment]
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Ain Ed Duk, Jordan Valley, Palestine.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Led Horses were sent and personnel from No 3 and 4 Sub Sectors [Close Support] were collected and rejoined Regiment about 0630.Sharp, Lieutenant RC; Wagg, Lieutenant BSW; Kildea, Lieutenant FJ; and, Lane, Lieutenant BGB, evacuated sick to hospital.
Advance party from 1st Light Horse Regiment reported at 1100 and took over Area Stores.
Day was spent in cleaning area preparatory to move.
Regiment relieved by 1st Light Horse Regiment at 1930 and moved via Old Road to Talaat ed Dumm arriving at 2345. Splendid march discipline was observed throughout.
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary
General Officer in Command, 1st Light Horse Brigade assumed command of No. 3 and 4 sub - sectors on night of 22nd August and in completion of relief 3rd Light Horse Brigade marched to Talaat ed Dumm en route Ludd, where the Australian Mounted Division concentrated.
The Brigade arrived at Ludd on 22nd August and camped among; the olive groves there. Reinforcements, [but not sufficient to bring the Units up to establishment], came forward. Equipment was got up to date and swords, the long straight cavalry pointing pattern, were issued to all ranks. The Cavalry or double rank drill was adopted; Cavanaugh, Major, the GSO 2 of the Division, put a class of Officers through sword drill, these Officers then became the instructors of the troops. Two imperial cavalry sergeant instructors were borrowed from the Imperial School of Instruction, Moascar, and they assisted in the instruction. The instruction which the Brigade had received at Deir el Belah during the previous February and March in the use of the bayonet as a sword now bore fruit. After a few lessons the men were passed by the Imperial Instructors as quite competent to operate against the Turkish cavalry. Troops were exercised in shock tactics with rapid detachment of machine guns and Light Horse Regiment Hotchkiss Rifle to the flank. Up to now we had always carried 230 rounds of ammunition on the men; in view of the issue of swords this was now reduced to 180, 90 in the bandolier on the man and 90 in a second bandolier on his horse. Intensive training was carried out throughout the Brigade until 18th September 1918.
9th LHR AIF War Diary, 22 August
Darley
Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924.
No Entry
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Next: Bert Schramm's Diary, 23 August 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 August 1918
