Topic: AIF - 3B - 9 LHR
9th LHR, AIF
War Diary, 2 June
Pro Gloria et Honore - For Glory and Honour
Regimental March - Marching Through Georgia
The Diary
1914
Tuesday, June 2, 1914
See 4th Military District, South Australia for militia activities.
1915
Wednesday, June 2, 1915
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Walkers Ridge
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 1100 The Machine Gun Section, 1 Officer and 25 Other Ranks less 4 left on transport Kameron to look after transport.
Also one sick man rejoined the Regiment.
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary - Inspected trenches 0300. Stand to Arms daily at this time. Inspected all available sites for 10th Light Horse Regiment bivouacs.
Majors Love and Todd called Brigade Headquarters - sniping becoming serious on the beach.
Three police to Headquarters No. 4 Section.
Signal troops to duty at Walker's Hill.
Carew Reynell Diary - Last night General Russell again spoke about attacking the Turkish post in front of our salient, No. 4 Sap. I particularly request that if this attack was to be made that it should be made on Sunday night as I felt that everybody, Turks included, were mentally, morally and physically tired and that it would therefore have a fair chance of success.
The Colonel went and saw Russell and came back and said that it was permanently off. Now that he, and incidentally brother Turk, have freshened up, he has put it on again.
Our Brigadier, Brigade Major and Colonel and Second in Command of 8th and our Regiment and Staff Captain MacFarlane have all advised against it but I think it will be on never the less. It is to be a bigger show and I shall almost certainly have to take it as in its present form it is a pretty important affair, and although only a comparatively small number of men and officers will be in the attacking party, about 100 all told. It will be a tricky business to hold it and that is the idea. It will be a desperate affair in my opinion and everybody else's.However, war is war and it may go off all right although the loss must be heavy.
1916
Friday, June 2, 1916
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Roadhead Serapeum.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Routine Patrol and Training work carried out.
1917
Saturday, June 2, 1917
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Um Urgan
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - The General Officer in Command carried out weekly inspection of the Regiment. "A" and “C” Squadron lines were particularly good.
Seven days' leave granted to ten Other Ranks [1 Sergeant and three per Squadron]. 20 Other Ranks marched in and allotted.
Two Lieutenants and two Other Ranks left for School of Instruction - Shaw, Lieutenant OJ, Night Marching Course; Smith, Lieutenant PT, Officer's General.
Two Other Ranks were sent to the Hotchkiss Rifle first Course.
1918
Sunday, June 2, 1918
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Auja bridgehead defences
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0520 from 12 to 15 enemy aeroplanes raided the Brigade area. They were flying at an altitude of from 800 to 1200 feet and were able to take advantage of thick low hanging clouds. All ranks were immediately ordered to take shelter in bomb pits, a full complement of which had been constructed two days previously. Each pit was five feet deep 1½ yard wide and accommodated two men. Four Hotchkiss rifles specially mounted on sticks were immediately brought into action against the aeroplanes. The two “B” Squadron guns fired 500 rounds before the first bomb dropped. About 100 mostly 15lb bombs were dropped in the Brigade area. The Brigade units were fairly close and presented a fair target. The aeroplanes kept circling round and took deliberate aim for each bomb and when the bombs were finished they machine gunned the lines. The brigade casualties in personnel were very light. Total eight wounded. Horses total 102 killed and wounded. The regiments casualties were two Other Ranks wounded. Animals killed three rides wounded ten rides one pack. Raid lasted for ¼ hour. Just prior to the raid the Brigade anti malarial party had concentrated at 9th Light Horse Regimental Headquarters. These offered a good target but scattered quickly before any bombs fell. The bomb pits undoubtedly saved many casualties. Two Other Ranks wounded in Regiment were men who did not get into pits when ordered.
Orders received that 3rd Light Horse Brigade would take over No. 4 sub sector from 2nd Light Horse Brigade.
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary - At 0530, 2nd June 1918, the enemy with two machines carried out a severe bombing raid and heavy casualties to horses, mules and donkeys were suffered, but by immediate occupation of the short trenches, comparatively light casualties to personnel. The casualties in the Brigade were: -
Personnel, ten other ranks.Animals, 103.
The heat of the Jordan valley had now become intense and the dusty conditions were very trying. Cases of malaria began to appear.
During this period of garrison of the Auja bridgehead, a great amount of work was carried out and the defences were considerably improved and strengthened. Close contact with the enemy was maintained day and night. Much valuable information of the enemy was gained and many prisoners taken by our patrols.
1919
Monday, June 2, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Tel el Kebir
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 1100, Scott, Lieutenant Colonel WH, CMG DSO, evacuated to 14th Australian General Hospital.
Parsons, Major HM, DSO, takes charge of the Regiment.
Previous: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 1 June
Next: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 3 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, 2 June
