Topic: Battles
Where Australians Fought
Battles, 1899 - 1920
Outline
Over the two decades covered by this site, Australian forces participated in 118 recorded and designated battles fought over many continents and in different places. While this list is incomplete the number of further additions will be few. These battles illustrate all aspects of the Australian character.
The role of the Light Horse in these battles during this period needs to be placed in that context, ensuring that it is not overstated but also not understated too.
The compiled list is in two parts, the first being a chronological list in strict date order while the second is in alphabetical order. The aim is to allow a ready reference to a specific battle by date or name.
Chronology of Australian Battles, 1899 - 1920
1899
Belmont, South Africa, November 23, 1899.
Graspan, South Africa, November 25, 1899.
Modder River, South Africa, November 28, 1899.
Magersfontein, South Africa, December 11, 1899.
1900
Sunnyside, South Africa, January 1, 1900.
Slingersfontein, South Africa, January 16 and February 9, 1900.
Pink Hill, South Africa, February 12, 1900.
Kimberley, South Africa, February 13 to 15, 1900.
Paardeberg, South Africa, February 17 to 27, 1900.
Poplar Grove, South Africa, March 7, 1900.
Driefontein, South Africa, March 10, 1900.
Karee Siding, South Africa, March 29, 1900.
Sannah's Post, South Africa, March 31, 1900.
Houtnek, South Africa, April 30 to May 1, 1900.
Coetzee Drift, South Africa, May 5, 1900.
Zand River, South Africa, May 10, 1900.
Mafeking, South Africa, May 17, 1900.
Diamond Hill, South Africa, June 11 to 12, 1900.
Leeuw Kop, South Africa, July 3, 1900.
Palmietfontein, South Africa, July 19, 1900.
Koster River, South Africa, July 22, 1900.
Stinkhoutboom, South Africa, July 24, 1900.
Elands River, South Africa, August 4 to 16, 1900.
Buffels Hoek, South Africa, August 16 to 17, 1900.
Peitang, China, September 25, 1900.
Bothaville, South Africa, November 6, 1900.
Rhenoster Kop, South Africa, November 29, 1900.
1901
Wolvekuil Kopjes, South Africa, February 14, 1901.
Hartebeestfontein, South Africa, February 18 to March 21, 1901
Grobelaar Recht, South Africa, May 15, 1901.
Wilmansrust, South Africa, June 12, 1901.
Grootvallier, South Africa, August 1, 1901.
Bakenlaagte, South Africa, October 30, 1901.
1902
1914
Bitapaka, New Guinea, September 11, 1914.
Cocos Islands, Indian Ocean, November 9, 1914.
1915
Broken Hill, New South Wales, January 1, 1915.
Suez Canal Attack, Egypt, January 28 - February 3, 1915
First Wassa, Egypt, April 2, 1915.
Anzac Cove, Turkey, April 25, 1915.
Sea of Marmara, Turkey, April 25 to 30, 1915.
Baby 700, Turkey, May 2, 1915.
Krithia, Turkey, May 8, 1915.
Kurna, Mesopotamia, May 31 to June 1, 1915.
Second Wassa, Egypt, July 31, 1915.
Lone Pine, Turkey, August 6 to 9, 1915.
The Nek, Turkey, August 7, 1915.
Hill 971, Turkey, August 8, 1915.
Hill 60, Turkey, August 21 to 22 and 27, 1915.
Ctesiphon, Mesopotamia, November 22 to 25, 1915.
Kut el Amara, Mesopotamia, December 3, 1915, to April 29, 1916.
Um Rakhum, Egypt, December 13, 1915.
Gebel Medwa, Egypt, December 25, 1915.
1916
Halazin, Egypt, January 23, 1916.
Central Station, New South Wales, February 14, 1916
The Jifjafa Raid, Sinai, April 10 to 14, 1916
El Qatiya, Sinai, April 23, 1916
Fromelles, France, July 19 to 20, 1916.
Pozieres, France, July 23 to August 5, 1916.
Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916.
Bir el Abd, Sinai, August 9, 1916.
Mouquet Farm, France, August 8 to September 3, 1916.
El Mazar, Sinai, September 17, 1916.
Maghara, October 15, 1916.
Gueudecourt, France, November 5 to 14, 1916.
El Arish, Sinai, December 20, 1916.
Magdhaba, Sinai, December 23, 1916.
1917
Rafa, Sinai, January 9, 1917.
Baghdad, Mesopotomia, March 11, 1917.
First Gaza, Palestine, March 26 to 27, 1917.
First Bullecourt, France, April 11, 1917.
Lagnicourt, France, April 15, 1917.
Second Gaza, Palestine, April 19, 1917.
Second Bullecourt, France, May 3 to 17, 1917.
Zeppelin L43, North Sea, May 4, 1917.
El Auja, Palestine, May 23, 1917.
Messines, Belgium, June 7, 1917.
Third Ypres, Belgium, September till to November, 1917.
Menin Road, Belgium, September 20, 1917.
Polygon Wood, Belgium, September 26, 1917.
Ramadi, Mesopotamia, September 28, 1917.
Broodseinde, Belgium, October 4, 1917.
Poelcappelle, Belgium, October 9, 1917.
Passchendaele, Belgium, October 12, 1917.
El Buggar Ridge, Palestine, October 27, 1917.
Beersheba, Palestine, October 31, 1917.
Khuweilfe, Palestine, November 1 to 8, 1917.
Daur, Mesopotamia, November 2, 1917.
Third Gaza, Palestine, November 6, 1917 to January 2, 1918.
Tel es Sheria, Palestine, November 7, 1917.
Huj, Palestine, November 8, 1917.
Ayun Kara, Palestine, November 14, 1917.
Amwas, Palestine, Sunday, November 18, 1917.
Bald Hill, Palestine, November 27 to December 5, 1917.
El Burj, Palestine, December 1, 1917.
Balin, Harith and Kuddin, Palestine, Thursday, December 27, 1917.
1918
First Amman, Palestine, March 27 to 30, 1918.
Hébuterne, France, March 27 to April 5, 1918.
First Dernancourt, France, March 28, 1918.
First Morlancourt, France, March 28 to 30, 1918.
First Villers-Bretonneux, France, April 4, 1918.
Second Dernancourt, France, April 5, 1918.
Hangard Wood, France, April 7, 1918.
Hazebrouck, France, April 14 to 17, 1918.
Zeebrugge, Belgium, April 22 to 23, 1918.
Second Villers-Bretonneux, France, April 24 to 25, 1918.
Es Salt, Jordan, April 30 to May 3, 1918.
Second Morlancourt, France, May 4 to 9, 1918.
Ville-sur-Ancre, France, May 19, 1918.
Heligoland Bight, North Sea, June 1, 1918.
Third Morlancourt, France, June 10, 1918.
Hamel, France, July 4, 1918.
Abu Tellul, Palestine, July 14, 1918.
Karawaran, Persia, August 6 to 7, 1918.
Amiens, France, August 8, 1918.
Lihons, France, August 9 to 11, 1918.
Etinehem, France, August 10 to 13, 1918.
Proyart, France, August 10 to 12, 1918.
Lille, France, August 16 to 17, 1918.
Chuignes, France, August 23, 1918.
Baku, Azerbaijan, August 26 to September 14, 1918.
Mont St Quentin, France, August 31 to September 2, 1918.
Hindenburg Outpost Line, France, September 18, 1918.
Megiddo, Palestine, September 19 to 21, 1918.
Nablus, Palestine, September 20, 1918.
Wady Fara, Palestine, September 21, 1918.
Second Jordan, Jordan, September 25, 1918.
Semakh, Palestine, September 25, 1918.
Jisr Benat Yakub, Palestine, September 27, 1918.
Ziza, Jordan, September 28, 1918.
St Quentin Canal, France, September 29 to October 1, 1918.
Kuneitra & Sasa, Syria, September 29, 1918.
Kaukab, Syria, September 30, 1918.
Damascus, Syria, October 1, 1918.
Khan Kusseir, Syria, October 2, 1918.
Montbrehain, France, October 5, 1918.
Aleppo, Syria, October 26, 1918.
Surafend, Palestine, 10 December 1918
1919
The Egyptian Rebellion, Egypt, 13 March to 10 April 1919
Merivale Street, Queensland, March 24, 1919.
Emptsa, North Russia, August 29, 1919.
Alphabetical List of Australian Battles, 1899 - 1920
A
Abu Tellul, Palestine, July 14, 1918.
Aleppo, Syria, October 26, 1918.
Amiens, France, August 8, 1918.
Amman - First, Jordan, March 27 to 30, 1918.
Amman - Second, Jordan, September 25, 1918.
Amwas, Palestine, Sunday, November 18, 1917.
Anzac Cove, Turkey, April 25, 1915.
Auja - El, Palestine, May 23, 1917.
Ayun Kara, Palestine, November 14, 1917.
B
Baby 700, Turkey, May 2, 1915.
Baghdad, Mesopotomia, March 11, 1917.
Bakenlaagte, South Africa, October 30, 1901.
Baku, Azerbaijan, August 26 to September 14, 1918.
Bald Hill, Palestine, November 27 to December 5, 1917.
Balin, Harith and Kuddin, Palestine, Thursday, December 27, 1917.
Beersheba, Palestine, October 31, 1917.
Belmont, South Africa, November 23, 1899.
Bir el Abd, Sinai, August 9, 1916
Bitapaka, New Guinea, September 11, 1914.
Bothaville, South Africa, November 6, 1900.
Broken Hill, New South Wales, January 1, 1915.
Broodseinde, Belgium, October 4, 1917.
Buffels Hoek, South Africa, August 16 to 17, 1900.
Buggar Ridge - El, Palestine, October 27, 1917
Bullecourt - First, France, April 11, 1917.
Bullecourt - Second, France, May 3 to 17, 1917.
C
Central Station, New South Wales, February 14, 1916
Chuignes, France, August 23, 1918.
Cocos Islands, Indian Ocean, November 9, 1914.
Coetzee Drift, South Africa, May 5, 1900.
Ctesiphon, Mesopotamia, November 22 to 25, 1915.
D
Damascus, Syria, October 1, 1918.
Daur, Mesopotamia, November 2, 1917.
Dernancourt - First, France, March 28, 1918.
Dernancourt - Second, France, April 5, 1918.
Diamond Hill, South Africa, June 11 to 12, 1900.
Driefontein, South Africa, March 10, 1900.
E
Egyptian Rebellion - The, Egypt, 13 March to 10 April 1919
Elands River, South Africa, August 4 to 16, 1900.
El Arish, Sinai, December 20, 1916.
El Auja, Palestine, May 23, 1917.
El Buggar Ridge, Palestine, October 27, 1917.
El Burj, Palestine, December 1, 1917
El Mazar, Sinai, September 17, 1916.
El Qatiya, Sinai, April 23, 1916
Emptsa, North Russia, August 29, 1919.
Es Salt, Jordan, April 30 to May 3, 1918.
Etinehem, France, August 10 to 13, 1918.
F
First Amman, Jordan, March 27 to 30, 1918.
First Bullecourt, France, April 11, 1917.
First Dernancourt, France, March 28, 1918.
First Gaza, Palestine, March 26 to 27, 1917.
First Morlancourt, France, March 28 to 30, 1918.
First Villers-Bretonneux, France, April 4, 1918.
First Wassa, Egypt, April 2, 1915.
Fromelles, France, July 19 to 20, 1916.
G
Gaza - First, Palestine, March 26 to 27, 1917.
Gaza - Second, Palestine, April 19, 1917.
Gaza - Third, Palestine, November 6, 1917 to January 2, 1918.
Gebel Medwa, Egypt, December 25, 1915.
Graspan, South Africa, November 25, 1899.
Grobelaar Recht, South Africa, May 15, 1901.
Grootvallier, South Africa, August 1, 1901.
Gueudecourt, France, November 5 to 14, 1916.
H
Halazin, Egypt, January 23, 1916.
Hamel, France, July 4, 1918.
Hangard Wood, France, April 7, 1918.
Harith, Balin and Kuddin, Palestine, Thursday, December 27, 1917.
Hartebeestfontein, South Africa, February 18 to March 21, 1901.
Hazebrouck, France, April 14 to 17, 1918.
Hébuterne, France, March 27 to April 5, 1918.
Heligoland Bight, North Sea, June 1, 1918.
Hill 60, Turkey, August 21 to 22 and 27, 1915.
Hill 971, Turkey, August 8, 1915.
Hindenburg Outpost Line, France, September 18, 1918.
Houtnek, South Africa, April 30 to May 1, 1900.
Huj, Palestine, November 8, 1917.J
Jifjafa Raid The, Sinai, April 10 to 14, 1916
Jisr Benat Yakub, Palestine, September 27, 1918.
K
Karawaran, Persia, August 6 to 7, 1918.
Karee Siding, South Africa, March 29, 1900.
Kaukab, Syria, September 30, 1918.
Khan Kusseir, Syria, October 2, 1918.
Khuweilfe, Palestine, November 1 to 8, 1917.
Kimberley, South Africa, February 13 to 15, 1900.
Koster River, South Africa, July 22, 1900.
Krithia, Turkey, May 8, 1915.
Kuddin, Balin and Harith, Palestine, Thursday, December 27, 1917.
Kuneitra & Sasa, Syria, September 29, 1918.
Kurna, Mesopotamia, May 31 to June 1, 1915.
Kut el Amara, Mesopotamia, December 3, 1915, to April 29, 1916.
L
Lagnicourt, France, April 15, 1917.
Leeuw Kop, South Africa, July 3, 1900.
Lihons, France, August 9 to 11, 1918.
Lille, France, August 16 to 17, 1918.
Lone Pine, Turkey, August 6 to 9, 1915.
M
Mafeking, South Africa, May 17, 1900.
Magdhaba, Sinai, December 23, 1916.
Magersfontein, South Africa, December 11, 1899.
Maghara, Sinai, October 15, 1916.
Mazar - El, Sinai, September 17, 1916.
Megiddo, Palestine, September 19 to 21, 1918.
Menin Road, Belgium, September 20, 1917.
Merivale Street, Queensland, March 24, 1919.
Messines, Belgium, June 7, 1917.
Modder River, South Africa, November 28, 1899.
Mont St Quentin, France, August 31 to September 2, 1918.
Montbrehain, France, October 5, 1918.
Morlancourt - First, France, March 28 to 30, 1918.
Morlancourt - Second, France, May 4 to 9, 1918.
Morlancourt - Third, France, June 10, 1918.
Mouquet Farm, France, August 8 to September 3, 1916.
N
Nablus, Palestine, September 20, 1918.
Nek - The, Turkey, August 7, 1915.
O
Onverwacht, South Africa, January 4, 1902.
P
Paardeberg, South Africa, February 17 to 27, 1900.
Palmietfontein, South Africa, July 19, 1900.
Passchendaele, Belgium, October 12, 1917.
Peitang, China, September 25, 1900.
Pink Hill, South Africa, February 12, 1900.
Poelcappelle, Belgium, October 9, 1917.
Polygon Wood, Belgium, September 26, 1917.
Poplar Grove, South Africa, March 7, 1900.
Pozieres, France, July 23 to August 5, 1916.
Proyart, France, August 10 to 12, 1918.
Q
R
Rafa, Sinai, January 9, 1917.
Ramadi, Mesopotamia, September 28, 1917.
Rhenoster Kop, South Africa, November 29, 1900.
Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916.
S
Sannah's Post, South Africa, March 31, 1900.
Sea of Marmara, Turkey, April 25 to 30, 1915.
Second Amman, Jordan, September 25, 1918.
Second Bullecourt, France, May 3 to 17, 1917.
Second Dernancourt, France, April 5, 1918.
Second Gaza, Palestine, April 19, 1917.
Second Morlancourt, France, May 4 to 9, 1918.
Second Villers-Bretonneux, France, April 24 to 25, 1918.
Second Wassa, Egypt, July 31, 1915.
Semakh, Palestine, September 25, 1918.
Sheria, Tel es, Palestine, November 7, 1917.
Slingersfontein, South Africa, January 16 and February 9, 1900.
St Quentin Canal, France, September 29 to October 1, 1918.
Stinkhoutboom, South Africa, July 24, 1900.
Suez Canal Attack, Egypt, January 28 - February 3, 1915
Sunnyside, South Africa, January 1, 1900.
Surafend, Palestine, 10 December 1918
T
Tel el Khuweilfe, Palestine, November 1 to 8, 1917
Tel es Sheria, Palestine, November 7, 1917.
The Egyptian Rebellion, Egypt, 13 March to 10 April 1919
The Jifjafa Raid, Sinai, April 10 to 14, 1916
The Nek, Turkey, August 7, 1915.
Third Gaza, Palestine, November 6, 1917 to January 2, 1918.
Third Morlancourt, France, June 10, 1918.
Third Ypres, Belgium, September till to November, 1917.
U
Um Rakhum, Egypt, December 13, 1915.
V
Ville-sur-Ancre, France, May 19, 1918.
Villers-Bretonneux - First, France, April 4, 1918.
Villers-Bretonneux - Second, France, April 24 to 25, 1918.
W
Wady Fara, Palestine, September 21, 1918.
Wassa - First, Egypt, April 2, 1915.
Wassa - Second, Egypt, July 31, 1915.
Wilmansrust, South Africa, June 12, 1901.
Wolvekuil Kopjes, South Africa, February 14, 1901.
Y
Z
Zand River, South Africa, May 10, 1900.
Zeebrugge, Belgium, April 22 to 23, 1918.
Zeppelin L43, North Sea, May 4, 1917.
Ziza, Jordan, September 28, 1918.
An Australian Light Horseman collecting anemones near Belah in Palestine.
[2601 Trooper George Redding, 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment in an iconic pose captured by Captain Frank Hurley, the Official Australian Photographer. See: 2601 Trooper George Redding, 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment.]
References:
C.E.W. Bean, (1929), The Australian Imperial Force in France 1916, Sydney: Angus & Robertson.
C.E.W. Bean, (1933), The Australian Imperial Force in France 1917, Sydney: Angus & Robertson.
C.E.W. Bean, (1937), The Australian Imperial Force in France during the Main German Offensive, 1918, Sydney: Angus & Robertson.
Chris Coulthard-Clark, Where Australians Fought - The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles, Allen and Unwin, Sydney, 1998.
H.S. Gullett (1944) The Australian Imperial Force in Sinai and Palestine, Sydney: Angus & Robertson.
Further Reading:
Where Australians Fought, Battles, 1899 - 1920
Citation: Where Australians Fought, Battles, 1899 - 1920, Outline