Topic: AIF - 1B - 1 LHFA
Battle of Romani
Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916
1st LHFA, AIF, War Diary Account
War Diary account of the 1st LHFA, AIF.
The transcription:
4 August
Strength
The following men having been wounded and evacuated are struck off strength.26 Private W Robertson
929 Private JB Frame
8287 Private LC Nielsen
9515 Private NE DavisRemount No. 822 having been wounded and destroyed and struck off strength.
Captain Woods (Signal Squadron) temporary attached for duty.
0100 - Received order per Assistant Director of Medical Services to move out with Mobile Section.
0300 - Major Robertson, Captain McLaren, Captain Bateman and Lieutenant Cunningham with Mobile Section to Machine Gun Squadron area of 2nd Light Horse Brigade at Bir Et Maler. Sent Lieutenant Story with two sandcarts forward to report to Brigade Headquarters 1st Light Horse Brigade.
0430 - Received message from Brigade Headquarters asking for whole unit to evacuate wounded from firing line. Advanced until we came under heavy shell and machine gun fire north of Wellington Ridge. Sent detachment (less self, 1 section bears and 2 sand carts) back to cover. Proceeded forward with extra bearers, 2 sand carts and collected 4 serious casualties. Brought up another sand cart for 2 serious cases. Bearers and Drivers behaved very well under heavy shrapnel and rifle fire.
0500 - 26 Private W Robertson shot in back while doing excellent work. Six (6) horses hit.
Sent orders and remainder of bearers. Transport retired to shelter near machine gun area of 2nd Light Horse Brigade. Came under shell fire and several bombs dropped over them. 929 Private JB Frame wounded in foot. Detachment under Major Robertson retired about ½ mile further out of fire zone.
0630 - Tent Subdivision with 1 section bearers retired with Brigade Headquarters about 500 yards to shelter of steep sand ridge. Brought up 1 sand cart, 1 sledge and went out and collected 3 wounded men and sent them back.
0730 - Whole Ambulance Detachment returned from zone of rifle fire to point ½ mile east of Bir Et Maler close to Brigade Headquarters.
Sent back Major Robertson and portion of tent subdivision to camp to assist Captain Glisson.
1000 - Bearers under Captain McLaren sent to Hod with Divisional Headquarters. Shrapnel burst wounded Privates Nielsen and Davis and two horses.
1400 - Whole ambulance detachment moved to Hod with Divisional Headquarters and watered and fed horses.
1700 - Moved west to railway and then south to point about 1 mile south of Bir el Ara'isa and bivouacked for night. Tent subdivision and Carts busy all day and night dressing and evacuating wounded.
5 August
0100 - Received and distributed rations and two fantasis for water for horses. Stood to arms at 0300. Reported.
0400 - Reported to Brigade Headquarters. Left Hod at 0445 and marched to Mount Royston and thence south eastward to Hod el Enna behind the 1st Light Horse Brigade collecting en route four wounded Turks. Sent in several slightly wounded Troops with prisoners.
0830 - Arrived Hod el Enna and watered and fed horses and men.
0930 - Sent Captain McLaren back to camp at Romani with four wounded Turks on camel cacolets and despatch for Assistant Director of Medical Services notifying our position.
Left Hod el Enna and marched to high ridge between Bir el Gulud and Qatia arriving at 1230 and reported to Brigade Headquarters.
1445 - Apparently no other ambulances east Qatia. Attack ordered for 1530. Sent signal message to Assistant Director of Medical Services asking for instructions re evacuation of casualties. No reply.
Established dressing station in depression on ridge in line with Brigade Headquarters about ¾ mile from Qatia under Captain Bateman. Proceeded forward with two sand carts and bearers to sheltered hod about ½ mile from firing line. No information at Brigade Headquarters as to positions of collecting points.
1600 - Proceeded forward with two sand carts and one section bearers and collected four seriously wounded cases from 5th Light Horse Regiment and Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment. Came under shell and rifle fire and had to retire. Lot of time lost looking for collecting posts and carts were sent out with guides only to find that the wounded had in the meantime been sent back.
1800 - Received orders to retire to Romani. Moved whole detachment to Brigade Headquarters. Carts still out collecting wounded. Whole Brigade had to wait till 2000 for their return.
2100 - Left for Romani with 22 casualties on sand carts and sledges.
2340 - Arrived Romani. Horses very tired. Watered and fed. All cases dressed and fed and made comfortable by 0200 (6 August).
Hospital return for Week Ending 5 August 1916:
Remained 29 July 1916 11 Admitted 209 Discharged 22 Died 3 Evacuated 132 Remaining 63
Further Reading:
1st Australian Light Horse Field Ambulance, AIF
1st Australian Light Horse Field Ambulance, 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: Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916, 1st LHFA, AIF, War Diary Account
Posted by Project Leader
at 12:01 AM EADT
Updated: Monday, 19 October 2009 11:04 AM EADT
