Topic: AIF - Lighthorse
Australian Light Horse
Roles within the Regiment
Regimental Orderly Corporal
The following entries dealing with the roles and duties within the hierarchy of a light horse regiment are extracted from a very informative handbook called The Bushman’s Military Guide, 1898. While written in 1898, the information contained in the entries held true for the next twenty years with only minor modifications with the principles remaining as current then as now.
Regimental Orderly Corporal
(1.) He is detailed daily and parades with the regimental guard, and will report himself to the orderly officer.
(2.) It is his duty to collect the sick reports from all orderly sergeants of units before breakfast daily, and march the sick to hospital before 9 a.m. or other appointed hour, will acquaint orderly sergeants of the surgeon's decision in each case after being dismissed from the hospital tent, and leave sick reports at the regimental orderly tent.
(3.) He will be present at the issue of meals at the cooking places, ten minutes before the meal hours ordered, and will assist the orderly officer and quartermaster in the systematic issue of meals to tent orderlies.
(4.) He will parade all ration-carriers, and see that men on guard are supplied with meals.
(5.) He will see that the cooks have coffee ready for the guard at night at the appointed time.
Form of Regimental Orderly Corporal's Report.
...................................... Regiment.
......................................189 ...........
(1.) I certify I reported myself to the orderly officer of the day at .............. the ............. instant, and accompanied him round the various duties.(2.) I was present when the meal-carriers were marched off at breakfast, dinner, and supper.
(3.) I assisted the regimental orderly sergeant in the performance of his duties.
(4.) I ascertained the number of sick and marched them to the hospital tent.
(5.) I was present when the subaltern of the day inspected the provisions, forage, horse troughs, and at all parades and guard mountings.
......................................................
Orderly Corporal
To Orderly Officer,
............... Regiment.
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Further Reading:
Citation: Australian Light Horse, Roles within the Regiment, Regimental Orderly Corporal
