Topic: AIF - 3B - 9 LHR
9th LHR, AIF
War Diary, 31 May
Pro Gloria et Honore - For Glory and Honour
Regimental March - Marching Through Georgia
The Diary
1914
Sunday, May 31, 1914
See 4th Military District, South Australia for militia activities.
1915
Monday, May 31, 1915
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Walkers Ridge
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - No entry.
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary - Instructions to Brigade Headquarters to join No. 4 Section Walker's Hill. Three men wounded.
Carew Reynell Diary - Since Friday we have lost six killed and 17 wounded. The former included Lieutenant McWilliams - an officer that we all had the greatest affection for - a Duntroon Cadet. Such a nice clean healthy handsome boy - a born leader and loved by his men and what's more, one of the most promising and capable subalterns we had. We also lost a gallant and capable sergeant - shot through the head.
Friday night was very quiet but at 0300 on Saturday morning the Turks started a great fusillade as they constantly do and then sent forward bomb throwers who started throwing bombs before they had been seen. Our fellows thought it was shrapnel and kept down until ordered to give rapid fire. They then settled the matter and the bomb throwers disappeared leaving about a dozen behind.
Later, an attack was made on Quinn's Post and there was a desultory fire fight on all day. On Friday night the General - Russell - wanted a small Turkish trench taken by 50 men and three officers and volunteers were called for and the men and three subalterns were selected - the latter included Lieutenant McWilliams. However the first night bombs couldn't be got and the next night it was put off by a Divisional Order and the third night, Sunday, it was permanently off. It was bound to be an expensive failure from the start, as although there was no difficulty in storming the trench they could never have been held. I offered to take a party if a senior was wanted but the Brigade Headquarters and Colonel wouldn't have it, but I must say I thought it a silly scheme from the start. The night before last the New Zealanders took a hill in from off our left flank but had to be extricated last night. It was a very gallant affair and very honourable to the New Zealanders but to my mind a great mistake has been in withdrawing. We should have gone further. Neil Cambell has been wounded in the same place as Dave Fulton - the shoulder. they have both been sent across to Lemnos - all our wounded go these now except serious cases which go to Egypt.
1916
Wednesday, May 31, 1916
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Roadhead Serapeum
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - No entry.
1917
Thursday, May 31, 1917
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - El Shellal
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0300 The Regiment [strength 18 Officers and 316 Other Ranks] with one section Scouts and one troop from 3rd Machine Gun Squadron and two sections Field Ambulance moved off at 0300 with Royston, Brigadier General JR; and, Arnott, Colonel TM, accompanied the column, and crossed Wadi Ghuzze just north of El Shellal Dam.
On clearing the infantry line “A” Squadron pushed out as advanced guard unde Luxmoore, Lieutenant EM; and, “C” Squadron less one troop as right flank guard. The column advanced on a bearing of 55 degrees and on reaching the vicinity of the U of cUltivation. The 8th Light Horse Regiment was seen advancing towards Khirbit Erk from the direction of El Magam. The column then swung to the right and pushed towards the junction with the 8th Light Horse Regiment. On the advance guard reaching the Wadi Sheria the enemy opened up with High Explosives on the crossing. “A” Squadron pushed across the wadi, “B” Squadron east of the wadi and “C” Squadron pushed to the right flank. Visual communication was obtained with 8th Light Horse Regiment and Imperial Mounted Division at Tel el Fara. At about 0600 a message was received from 8th Light Horse Regiment that they were withdrawing and the 9th Light Horse Regiment also should withdraw to conform to their movement. Horses were watered in Wadi Ghuzze on the way to bivouac being reached by 0900. There were no signs of recent enemy occupation in vicinity of Khirbit Erk but movement - both mounted and dismounted - could be seen along the skyline, roughly on a line 470 - 420 - 410. At Khirbit Erk the Wadi Sheria and Wadi Imlieh are very steep and can only be crossed by a few mounted men at a time.
No casualties were sustained by the whole force. 1430 Inspection of men by Regimental Medical Officer for septic sores, men parading in shorts only.
1918
Friday, May 31, 1918
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Auja bridgehead defences
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Bleechmore, Major C; Burns, Lieutenant AG; and, three Other Ranks proceeded to School of Instruction Zeitoun.
Lee, 554 Sergeant EP, with D Troop “A” Squadron patrolled to Sq 127 F20b at 0530 a strong enemy patrol of about 50 advanced from the north.
Simultaneously with another from the north east on to Lee, 554 Sergeant EP; and, his command post forcing him to withdraw about west 700 yards to a more favourable position. A brisk fire kept up for several hours from both sides and at 1300 the enemy commenced to withdraw. Lee, 554 Sergeant EP; and, his patrol then moved forward and reoccupied Sq F20b.
1919
Saturday, May 31, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Tel el Kebir
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0930, Sloan, 1445 Sergeant WA, on trial before Field General Court Marshal.
Previous: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 30 May
Next: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 1 June
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, 31 May
