Topic: AIF - 3B - 9 LHR
Bir el Abd
Sinai, 9 August 1916
9th LHR, AIF, War Diary Account
War Diary account of the 9th LHR, AIF.
The transcription:
9 August
Abu Dhahab
0300 Left bivouac and joined up with 8th and 10th Light Horse Regiment at 0500. 8th Light Horse Regiment advance guard and 10th Light Horse Regiment in reserve. The 8th Light Horse Regiment got touch with the enemy at 0600 about a mile east of Hod Hasanein and a line was taken up. The left being near El Birdieh and the right flank towards Hod ed Darkar. "C" Squadron was sent under Major McKenzie to support the right flank and later "A" Squadron still further to the right. "B" Squadron was sent to the left. Numbers of the enemy could be seen moving in the vicinity of Bir el Abd and the position to our front was apparently strongly held. The Inverness Battery came into action and the Turkish artillery replied vigorously causing casualties amongst the horses. One troop of "B" Squadron was sent to gain touch with the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade on our left - who were advancing against Bir el Abd and went to the right near El Birdieh. "A" Squadron on the right of the line pushed energetically forward but were held up opposite a very steep redoubt and were unable to advance. About 1800 the enemy attacked on the right flank but were driven back. During this fighting Lieutenant GO Robertson, "C" Squadron who was doing splendid work, was mortally wounded. Regiment relieved by the 10th Light Horse Regiment and returned to Hasanein for water and rations.
Our casualties for the day were Lieutenant GO Robertson mortally wounded, three Other Ranks killed, ten Other Ranks wounded and four Other Ranks taken prisoner.
Prisoner of War
Charles Daniel PATTEN, Died of Illness, 9 February 1917
Edwin Burman ROSE
Percy George SCROOP, Died of Illness, 28 December 1916
Harold SULLIVAN, Died of Illness, 6 March 1917
Wounded in Action
Gilbert James BIGGINS
James Albert BOTHWELL
Ercil FITZGERALDNorman MacPherson FLEMING
Thomas John MCKAY
Edwin Burman ROSE
Walter SCOTT
Robert Cameron SHARP
Hubert Roy SMITH
Nigel Fletcher WASTELL
Roy Hedley WHITEHORN
Roll of Honour
Further Reading:
9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour
Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916
Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, 9th LHR, AIF, War Diary Account
Posted by Project Leader
at 12:01 AM EADT
Updated: Friday, 18 December 2009 5:01 PM EAST
