Topic: AIF - 3B - 9 LHR
9th LHR, AIF
War Diary, 30 June
Pro Gloria et Honore - For Glory and Honour
Regimental March - Marching Through Georgia
The Diary
1914
Tuesday, June 30, 1914
See 4th Military District, South Australia for militia activities.
1915
Wednesday, June 30, 1915
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Walkers Ridge
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0015 Turk artillery opened on the trenches with field guns and kept up a heavy fire for 20 minutes. Most of the shells were aimed a trifle high.
0030 Very heavy firing was heard in the direction of Quinn's Post and Courtney's but no shots were fired at Walkers ridge.
0040 Observers reported Turks advancing in direction of Sap 1, 2, 3 and Turks Point. All troops promptly occupied the firing parapet and fired on the Turks. A large body attacked Sap 1 and temporarily occupied a portion of it - they were however promptly driven out by a bombing party under Sergeant Sullivan. About 50 Turks assaulted Turk's Point but were driven off.
0130 Turks again advanced but fire from No 1 sap prevented them from getting closer than 50 yards to that sap. From this time onward supporting fire from about 30 rifles was given to the 8th Light Horse Regiment holding Saps 2 to 4 inclusive.
The action ceased at 0330.
The fire discipline of the Regiment was extremely good and few wasted shots were fired. There was a chain of voice and confirmation thus enabling commands and orders to be heard distinctly.
Our casualties were 1 Other Rank killed and 8 Other Ranks wounded. 54 Dead Turks were counted immediately in front of the Regiment's trenches and 7 prisoners were take.
Kirwan flares were used with great effect.
During the assault on Turks Point on machine gun was in danger of capture. Sergeant Ashburner acting as No 1 after having lost his No 2 seized a rifle and shot a Turk who had reached the gun and then turned the gun on the remainder drove them back at once. 50 rifles were captured from the Turks.
Killed in action:
134 Private John Leslie Hopping, 23
Report on action at Anzac, Gallipoli, 30 June 1915 - Captain Weik, Adjutant 9th Light Horse Regiment.
1. General Situation. The period immediately prior to the 30th June 1915 was not marked by any unusual activity on either side. The secret sap had been completed to the edge of the cliff and communication trenches constructed as shown on Sketch A. The sap had not been used as a fire trench and had only a few posts in it. There was nothing to indicate that any hostile attack was imminent.
2. Distribution of Troops. “A” Squadron [Captain Bleechmore] was on the right; “B” Squadron [Major Parsons] on the left; “C” Squadron [Captain Scott] in reserve; and, the Machine Gun Section [Lieutenant Hutchinson] was posted at Turks Point. Lieutenant Colonel Miell was temporarily commanding the whole of Russell's Top and the Regiment was therefore under Major Reynell.
3. The Action. At about 0015 the enemy opened a heavy fire with 77mm guns against our position but very little damage was done and no casualties were caused.
At 0100 a considerable volume of rifle and machine gun fire was noticed and appeared to come from trenches on Baby 700.
At 0130 a report was received from the 8th Light Horse Regiment that the enemy infantry was leaving his front line trench.
At this stage, 15 to 20 men of “A” Squadron moved to the right and occupied several fire bays in the 8th Light Horse Regiment area - from here they were able to bring fire to bear along the front of the secret sap. This sap had been dug through the low scrub and was screened by a low rise about 25-30 feet in front.
Very shortly after 0130 “A” Squadron reported that the Turks had captured the Secret Sap as far up as point "Z" and that one of our men [Hopping] was missing. Major Reynell promptly organised and led a counter attack down Sap "P" and after an exchange of rifle and revolver fire retook the Sap without loss. The Turks had been in possession for about 15 minutes. The garrison of the Secret Sap was at once increased to [45] forty five. As will be seen later, some 40 Turks had already crossed the Secret Sap and were then in our territory.
The infantry action has lasted for 20 minutes and the Turkish attack ceased.
At 0200 a party of 40 Turks appeared in front of the Machine Gun positions at Turk's Point and were promptly engaged with conspicuous success. Heavy casualties were caused and the party dispersed, It is certain that the enemy was not aware of the position of these two guns until they opened fire. As it was not quite clear how many of the enemy were in this vicinity it was thought necessary to reinforce Turk's Point by two troops of “C” Squadron - by 0210 these troops were in position.
At 0210 the Cossack post in Latrine Gully reported that the post had captured a Turk and that others were in the vicinity; almost simultaneously a report was received that several of the enemy were at point Y. The Adjutant, Captain Wiek sent [4] four men to reinforce the Cossack Post, placed two sections at point X; and placed composite parties [consisting of Regimental headquarters personnel] at point V and W to guard the approaches to the 6 inch howitzer. The Turks made no further effort in this locality and it is believed that practically all who crossed the Secret Sap had become casualties.
At about 0230 the enemy attacked again and found our troops alert and eager for the encounter. Our men in the Secret Sap and those who were enfilading the approaches maintained a very accurate rapid fire and the attack was completely crushed. The Machine Gun Section obtained a good skyline target on what the Turks evidently believed to be dead ground and daylight revealed 45 bodies.
At daylight the Turks were detected using dummies for the purpose of drawing our fire.
During the 24 hours after the action finished the enemy was extremely quiet and it is thought this was done to enable us to recover the wounded.
4. Casualties. It is certain that not less than 200 Turkish dead were to the credit of the fire of this Regiment alone and in addition over 100 rifles secured.
Our casualties amounted to 9 Other Ranks including Private Hopping who was killed. All ranks behaved splendidly and the fire discipline of the Regiment was all that could be desired.
Special Army Corps Order, Army Corps Headquarters, 30 June 1915
Last night, the Turks were evidently much upset in their minds after the action of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade and the 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade on the afternoon before.
They evidently anticipated we might be making a big attack from our right, or it may be that they were trying to take us in by making us suppose they themselves were going to attack our right heavily before they brought in an attack against our left.
In any case, about 2100-2200, the commenced a very heavy rifle fire and machine gun attack from their trenches opposite our right front. This continued for about a couple of hours, during which they must have expended an enormous amount of ammunition without drawing any response from us at all.
Then their real attack began on our left and left front against the New Zealand and Australian Division. After a heavy bombardment and rifle attack, the Turks advanced out of their trenches against the 3rd Light Horse Brigade. Nine Turks actually got into our trenches where they were immediately bayoneted. A large force then advanced and tried to work round our left flank, evidently being quite unaware of an excellent secret sap, which had been thrown out by General Russell and which completely guards our left flank. The Turks came up against this with fixed bayonets and were at once met with a heavy fire, losing about 250 men. Finding they could make no headway, they retired to their trenches completely beaten.
About the same time, they advanced to attack Pope's Hill which was held by Colonel Rowell and the 1st Light Horse Brigade. Here too they were at once beaten back leaving some twenty dead in front of our trenches. Another party of Turks tried to break down a gully between the New Zealand right and Pope's Hill, when two troops of Light Horse went out to meet and disperse them.
The Turks, who had prepared their advances by a heavy artillery bombardment, evidently meant and hoped to push their attack home, as it is said that Enver Pasha was with them and told them they must drive us out, while the troops engaged in the attack consisted of three new battalions who have just been brought up against us.
The General Officer Commanding wishes to convey his thanks and congratulations to the troops for their excellent work on this occasion.
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary - Turks heavily bombarded our trenches from 2100 to 2300 and at midnight after another heavy bombardment with French 75s and bombs, advanced in force. The 8th and 9th Light Horse Regiments were in the trenches and easily repelled the attack with much slaughter and little loss.
Turks consisted of the 18th Regiment [three Battalions of about 1,000 strong each], many bombs were used but not much firing from enemy who from a short distance about 60 or 70 yards rushed the saps and trenches. Some few, about twenty, succeeded in getting in but most were shot a few yards in front. Some ten were made prisoners and 300 killed, There would probably be another 400 wounded.
Stated by prisoners that Enver Bey was personally present and ordered the position to be taken. Turks had no chance and attacked very half heartedly. They had water and food for two days and trenching tools. A lot of arms and ammunition taken.
Casualties: 8th Light Horse Regiment, six killed, 12 wounded. 9th Light Horse Regiment, 1 killed, 7 wounded.
Men behaved excellently in this there first serious fight and were very cool doing good work. Fire was received until the last. Machine Guns did nothing, positions being unfavourably placed and we got no assistance whatever all night from any of our own artillery. Regiments are depleted and hard worked.
Carew Reynell Diary - No Entry.
1916
Friday, June 30, 1916
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Roadhead Serapeum.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Routine training and patrol work.
1917
Saturday, June 30, 1917
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - El Shellal
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - The following promotions approved by Divisional Wire - to be Captains: Dean, Captain AE; Wilkinson, Captain R; Luxmoore, Captain EM; and, Pender, Captain WS.
1918
Sunday, June 30, 1918
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Solomon's Pools
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0600 Roman Catholic Church Parade proceeded to Bethlehem.
1045 Church of England and other denominations parades held in Regimental lines.
1919
Monday, June 30, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Tel el Kebir
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0900 Advanced party Aikman, Lieutenant GE; and, three Other Ranks proceeded to Moascar.
2255, Headquarters, B and “C” Squadrons entrained at Tel el Kebir for Moascar. Strength of Regiment is 15 Officers and 270 Other Ranks.
Previous: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 29 June
Next: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 1 July
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, 30 June
Posted by Project Leader
at 12:01 AM EADT
Updated: Tuesday, 14 September 2010 7:51 PM EADT
