"At a mile distant their thousand hooves were stuttering thunder, coming at a rate that frightened a man - they were an awe inspiring sight, galloping through the red haze - knee to knee and horse to horse - the dying sun glinting on bayonet points..." Trooper Ion Idriess
The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre aims to present an accurate history as chroniclers of early Australian military developments from 1899 to 1920.
The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre site holds over 12,000 entries and is growing daily.
Contact:Australian Light Horse Studies CentreLet us hear your story:
You can tell your story, make a comment or ask for help on our Australian Light Horse Studies Centre Forum called:
The following entries are extracted and transcribed from the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, the originals of which are held by the Australian War Memorial. There are 366 entries on this site. Each day has entries as they occurred from 1914 to 1919. In addition to the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, when appropriate, entries from the 3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary and other regiments with the Brigade will also appear. Entries from the unit history, Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924 will also appear from time to time. The aim is to give the broadest context to the story and allow the reader to follow the day to day activities of the regiment. If a relative happened to have served in the regiment during the Great War, then this provides a general framework in which the individual story may be told.
Carew Reynell Diary - On 11th May [the anniversary of another happy event] we got definite news that we were accepted and that we would embark on the following Saturday.
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Abasan el Kebir
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - The Regiment undertook routine work for the day. “C” Squadron moved out at 1600 to relieve “B” Squadron at El Gamli and continue work.
“B” Squadron returned to camp at 1830.
Pascoe, Lieutenant WEH, transferred to 3rd Light Horse Brigade Training Squadron, Moascar.
The following entries are extracted and transcribed from the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, the originals of which are held by the Australian War Memorial. There are 366 entries on this site. Each day has entries as they occurred from 1914 to 1919. In addition to the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, when appropriate, entries from the 3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary and other regiments with the Brigade will also appear. Entries from the unit history, Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924 will also appear from time to time. The aim is to give the broadest context to the story and allow the reader to follow the day to day activities of the regiment. If a relative happened to have served in the regiment during the Great War, then this provides a general framework in which the individual story may be told.
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Abasan el Kebir
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Horses grazed after watering parade morning and afternoon. The Regiment undertook routine work for the day. Inspection by General Officer in Command Royston, Brigadier General JR, DSO, of all reinforcements who have joined the Regiment since April 25 1917.
“B” Squadron move out at 1600 to relieve “A” Squadron at El Gamli and continue digging under orders of Commanding Officer 10th Light Horse Regiment.
Detail camp and dump at Deir el Belah cleared up, the dump removed to Rafa and all fit horses and men sent to the Regiment.
The following entries are extracted and transcribed from the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, the originals of which are held by the Australian War Memorial. There are 366 entries on this site. Each day has entries as they occurred from 1914 to 1919. In addition to the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, when appropriate, entries from the 3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary and other regiments with the Brigade will also appear. Entries from the unit history, Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924 will also appear from time to time. The aim is to give the broadest context to the story and allow the reader to follow the day to day activities of the regiment. If a relative happened to have served in the regiment during the Great War, then this provides a general framework in which the individual story may be told.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - The Machine Gun Section less riding horses left camp en route for Dardenelles brigaded under Captain Hastings.
Carew Reynell Diary - On 9 May at 0300 the 1st Brigade marched out dismounted to proceed to Dardenelles and in the afternoon the Machine Gun Sections of our Brigade left too also dismounted.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 1500 Orders were received to take over the whole of the Auja Bridgehead defences.
By 1730 this was completed. “A” Squadron held from 113J18c.7.3 to 127O13b.1.9. “B” Squadron from 127O7d.3.3 to 127O7a.9.9 with three troops. Two machine guns with one troop in counter attack position 127O7a.9.2 “C” Squadron with two troops and one extra Hotchkiss Rifle held from 113J6d.7.9 to 113Z30c.1.1. Remaining two troops of “C” Squadron were in counter attack position in 127O7c.7.8. Regimental Headquarters was established in 127O7c.4.5.
Orders received were to the affect that the Auja Bridgehead defences would be held by one Regiment. Remaining two Regiments were to form Divisional Reserve. All patrols in future to be supplied by these two Regiments.
1919
Friday, May 9, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Zagazig
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - No 4 Post Zagazig - Abu el Akdar line has been taken over by Ghurkhas.
Personnel on relief reported at Brigade Headquarters for four days rest then to be used to relieve other posts that will be given four days rest at Brigade Headquarters in turn.
Ten per cent United Kingdom leave personnel concentrating at Regimental Headquarters.
The following entries are extracted and transcribed from the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, the originals of which are held by the Australian War Memorial. There are 366 entries on this site. Each day has entries as they occurred from 1914 to 1919. In addition to the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, when appropriate, entries from the 3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary and other regiments with the Brigade will also appear. Entries from the unit history, Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924 will also appear from time to time. The aim is to give the broadest context to the story and allow the reader to follow the day to day activities of the regiment. If a relative happened to have served in the regiment during the Great War, then this provides a general framework in which the individual story may be told.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - From 0430 to 0800 desultory enemy shelling with small calibre high explosive shells onto Regiment's sector. No damage done.
Usual day and night patrols were sent out. Very little enemy movement during the day. Large parties working trenching and wiring during day and night.
Fifty two reinforcements marched in.
1919
Thursday, May 8, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Zagazig
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Aikman, Lieutenant GE, and his post, No 4 cabin, Zagazig railway station reduced to one Officer and 28 Other Ranks.
The following entries are extracted and transcribed from the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, the originals of which are held by the Australian War Memorial. There are 366 entries on this site. Each day has entries as they occurred from 1914 to 1919. In addition to the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, when appropriate, entries from the 3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary and other regiments with the Brigade will also appear. Entries from the unit history, Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924 will also appear from time to time. The aim is to give the broadest context to the story and allow the reader to follow the day to day activities of the regiment. If a relative happened to have served in the regiment during the Great War, then this provides a general framework in which the individual story may be told.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Inlying Picquet increased from 25 to 50 Other Ranks to mount at 2000 in their redoubts duty to east of camp.
1917
Monday, May 7, 1917
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Bir el Esani
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Regiment moved off for the most western Hill 630, arriving there at 0300 where Brigade Headquarters were established.
9th Light Horse Regiment provided the Column Guard [Daly, Major TJ, advance column guard] from Tel Esani to Hill 630, the Brigade then deployed, two Squadrons from the 8th Light Horse Regiment forming line on the right with one Squadron in reserve, "A" and “B” Squadrons in line forming the left of the Brigade line, “C” Squadron in reserve, advance was then continued on a bearing of 45 degrees.
El Buggar was reached as day was breaking. A heavy morning fog made observation extremely difficult. Numerous enemy patrols were seen and fired on but no resistance was encountered, the enemy patrols falling back as we advanced.
At 0800 the Regiment was ordered to hold a ridge about one mile north west of El Buggar and order the withdrawal of the remainder of the Brigade.
El Gamli was reached at 1100 and horses were watered and fed. The Brigade moved off at 1230 reaching Abasan el Kebir at 1430 and went into bivouac ¾ mile from the water troughs.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Small enemy movement observed along foothill - three miles east of our position.
Orders issued to Squadrons that three men per troop including farriers would remain with the horses returning to their Squadrons at 1800 each evening. During the day and night large parties engaged in digging and wiring defences.
0740 Nine enemy small calibre high explosive shells were dropped in 9th Light Horse Regiment sector doing no damage. Usual day and night patrols sent out. Harris, 270 Sergeant S, died of illness.
1919
Wednesday, May 7, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Zagazig
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - One mounted troop patrolled to Ghazalet - El Khis and El Ghar reporting all normal.
The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre is a not for profit and non profit group whose sole aim is to write the early history of the Australian Light Horse from 1900
- 1920. It is privately funded and the information is provided by the individuals within the group and while permission for the use of the material has been given for this
site for these items by various donors, the residual and actual copyright for these items, should there be any, resides exclusively with the donors. The information on
this site is freely available for private research use only and if used as such, should be appropriately acknowledged. To assist in this process, each item has a citation
attached at the bottom for referencing purposes.
Please Note: No express or implied permission is given for commercial use of the information contained within this site.
A note to copyright holders
The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre has made every endeavour to contact copyright holders of material digitised for this blog and website and where
appropriate, permission is still being sought for these items. Where replies were not received, or where the copyright owner has not been able to be traced, or where
the permission is still being sought, the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre has decided, in good faith, to proceed with digitisation and publication. Australian Light
Horse Studies Centre would be happy to hear from copyright owners at any time to discuss usage of this item.
