Topic: AIF - 3B - 9 LHR
9th LHR, AIF
War Diary, 4 May
Pro Gloria et Honore - For Glory and Honour
Regimental March - Marching Through Georgia
The Diary
1914
Monday, May 4, 1914
See 4th Military District, South Australia for militia activities.
1915
Tuesday, May 4, 1915
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Heliopolis Camp, Egypt.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - No Entry.
Carew Reynell Diary - No Entry.
1916
Thursday, May 4, 1916
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Roadhead, Serapeum
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - "B" and "C" Troops, "B" Squadron to take over Post 58 from "C" Squadron and to assemble at Roadhead. Captain Ragless to be in charge of Post.
Lieutenant Pascoe to relieve Lieutenant McDonald at Serapeum (West).
1917
Friday, May 4, 1917
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Khan Yunis
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Ballot carried out for Federal elections.
At 1000 the Regiment proceeded to Khan Yunis for all kit to be disinfected.
Williams, Lieutenant H.; and, Hargrave, Second Lieutenant LMS, marched in from 3rd Light Horse Brigade Training Squadron, Moascar.
1918
Saturday, May 4, 1918
Es Salt Raid.
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - 1½ miles south east Auja ford.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0000 2nd Light Horse Brigade were passing through Es Salt on the Umm es Shert track and at 0030 the Regiment joined the rear of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade, Sherwood Rangers and “A” Squadron and two troops of “C” Squadron joining in at rear of Regiment.
0130 The Regiment had passed through the 2nd Light Horse Brigade on the Umm es Shert Track which Brigade was detailed to do the rearguard.
The most critical stage of the withdrawal was now over and up to the present everything had gone smoothly. All ranks fully realised the difficulty of withdrawing from an aggressive enemy handicapped as we were by having to withdraw down rocky, single file tracks over very broken country. The 1st Light Horse Brigade picquetted the heights on either side of the Umm es Shert Track. From Es Salt to where the Umm es Shert track meets the plain country east of the Jordan River represents a drop of 4,000 feet in approximately ten miles. Shortages of rations were now very acute. Practically all ranks were without rations of any description and many had been without for 24 hours. Two head of cattle were requisitioned from the natives at Es Salt but the withdrawal prevented this being distributed. Our casualties for the 3rd May 1918, were as follows:
2 Officers wounded.Killed - Baker, 373 Lance Corporal W; McGinty, 1159 Trooper SP; and, Medhurst, 1577 Trooper PW.Wounded - elevenOther Ranks. Missing - two Other Ranks.Animals - killed - One ride, wounded four rides, missing one ride and one pack.
0400 At dawn arrived at a point where the Umm es Shert track leads down the final steep decline on to the plain country east of Jordan. Several well ranged shrapnel shells were fired on to the Regiment as it proceeded in single file down the narrow track fully exposed to the view of the enemy. No casualties. "B" and “A” Squadrons were diverted to side tracks.
0600 The Regiment was clear of the foothills and proceeded to a point 1½ miles south east of Auja Ford and bivouacked. Horses and men were thoroughly tired after the strenuous and anxious work of the past five days.
1930 The Regiment together with the remainder of Brigade moved via El Ghoraniyeh Bridge to old bivouac north east of Jericho arriving there at 2130.
1919
Sunday, May 4, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Zagazig
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0800, Tod, Lieutenant PA, with troop proceeded to El Abbasa to relieve Kildea, Lieutenant FJ; and, troop.
0900 voluntary church services at 10th Light Horse Regiment Lines.
1800 Kildea, Lieutenant FJ; and, troop marched into camp.
Previous: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 3 May
Next: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 5 May
Sources:
See: 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Contents
Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy
Further Reading:
9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 4 May
Posted by Project Leader
at 12:01 AM EADT
Updated: Friday, 23 July 2010 11:28 AM EADT
