Topic: AIF - 3B - 9 LHR
9th LHR, AIF
War Diary, 20 May
Pro Gloria et Honore - For Glory and Honour
Regimental March - Marching Through Georgia
The Diary
1914
Wednesday, May 20, 1914
See 4th Military District, South Australia for militia activities.
1915
Thursday, May 20, 1915
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Lemnos.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - No entry.
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary - Brigade Strength at time of landing.
Unit Officers Other Ranks Total Brigade Headquarters 5 22 27 8th Light Horse Regiment 24 470 494 9th Light Horse Regiment 26 476 502 10th Light Horse Regiment 25 500 525 Signal Troop 1 33 34 Field Ambulance 5 66 71 Brigade Train 2 23 25 Total 88 1,590 1,678
Carew Reynell Diary - Lay in Lemnos Bay all day. Wonderful bay and picturesque surroundings, ie. rocky hills all round with gentle slopes coming down to water's edge studded with pretty little hamlets. Numbers of windmills for corn grinding are dotted all over the cultivated undulating slopes.
1500 Have just heard that we are to be towed back to Kape Tepe [about 50 miles] in small boats or go in torpedo boats tonight. This is to avoid submarines.
Our fellows reported to be just hanging on by the skin of the teeth and had a devil of a time yesterday.
The Turks brought a whole fresh Army Corps against them and it's a question whether they can hold their ground. Transports being hurried up to take them off in case of necessity. The 10th Regiment is into it today and we are here basking in the sun - apparently more bungling by the navy. Naval Staff works seems to be rotten.
We expected dinner the night before last to be our last meal on board and now heavens knows how long it will be before we get off.
1916
Saturday, May 20, 1916
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Roadhead Serapeum
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - No entry.
1917
Sunday, May 20, 1917
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - El Fukhari
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - The Regiment moved out of bivouac at 0500 and with the remainder of the Brigade moved from El Fukhari to the beach south of Tel el Marakeb and bivouacked. All the men and horses swam; the water doing the horses a lot of good after the bad weather and constant stress of the last camp.
During the month the evacuations to the Field Ambulance mainly through septic sores, sore throat etc has been very heavy. The septic sores are mainly due to the lack of washing water, the dust and lack of good cooked food, it having been impossible to do Squadron cooking while on the move and digging at El Gamli.
During the period 20 April to date, 120 Other Ranks marched in from Moascar and 110 Other Ranks have been evacuated to Field Ambulance of whom 25 returned to the Regiment within one week from the date of evacuation.
1918
Monday, May 20, 1918
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Auja Bridgehead defences
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Usual routine.
1919
Tuesday, May 20, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Tel el Kebir
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Tod, Lieutenant PA; and, 19 Other Ranks patrolled to Moascar. Kildea, Lieutenant FJ; and, 35 Other Ranks proceeded to take over as guard for aerodrome at Abu Sueir. Aikman, Lieutenant GE; and 25 Other Ranks proceeded to take over as guard for aerodrome at El Rimal. Hannaford, Lieutenant E; and, party returned from Alexandria.
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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, 20 May