"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
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Monday, 9 June 2008
Mackay August 1914 Topic: Gen - St - Qld
Mackay too, had their day in August 1914. Packed at the wharf was the whole town ready to see off their sons.
Pic #1: At Mackay wharf, the towns folks were stacked roof high - literally - to farewell their fellow citizen soldiers at the wharf. It is an incredible scene indicating the nationalistic fervour unleashed in Mackay, something a bit more subdued in the previous pix of Rockhampton.
Picture from The Queenslander, 5 September 1914, p. 23.
Looking at the streamers on the ship and the crowd packed upon the wharf, it is amazing that no injuries of any note occurred.
Pic #2: The boat departs. This boat is more of a small coastal steamer rather than anything that could ever be called a ship.
Picture from The Queenslander, 5 September 1914, p. 23.
3047 Trooper Richard Percy Dunstan, 9th Light Horse Regiment, C Squadron, A Troop.
Below are two section of a brief Military Biography of 3047 Trooper Richard Percy Dunstan. It is divided into two parts. Part One deals with all his specific details from enlistment to return to Australia. Part Two is a week by week summary of status from “Enlistment” to “Returned to Australia”.
Part One:Specific details from “Enlistment” to “Returned to Australia”.
Surname: Dunstan First Name: Richard Other Names: Percy Service Number: 3047 Rank: Private 1924 List: Yes Place of Birth: SA Boer War Service: No Age: 23 Birth Year: 1893 Employment: Gardener Status: Single District: Leasingham State: South Australia NOK: Mother Title: Mrs Last: Dunstan First: Elizabeth Locality: Leasingham Province: South Australia Country: Australia Religion: Church of England Enlisted Day: 8 Enlisted Month: August Enlisted Year: 1916 Embarkation Ship: HMAT A45 "Bulla" Embarkation Day: 16 Embarkation Month: January Embarkation Year: 1917 Embarkation Port: Adelaide Section: 23rd Reinforcements Regiment: 9th Light Horse Regiment Previous Service: None Fate: Returned to Australia Day: 16 Month: June Year: 1919 Ship: Kaiser-i-Hind Last Rank: Private Honours: None Squadron: C Gallipoli: No Notes:
1. Served 3 years with the Watervale Rifle Club 2. Enlisted in Base Light Horse Details, 8 August 1916 3. Absorbed into 9th Light Horse Regiment, 23rd Reinforcements, 10 October 1916 4. Transferred to 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron, 2 March 1917 5. Transferred to 9th Light Horse Regiment C Squadron, A Troop, 25 April 1917
Part Two:Week by week summary of status from “Enlistment” to “Returned to Australia”.
14/08/16 - Base Training Squadron 21/08/16 - Base Training Squadron 28/08/16 - Base Training Squadron 7/09/16 - Base Training Squadron 14/09/16 - Base Training Squadron 21/09/16 - Base Training Squadron 28/09/16 - Base Training Squadron 7/10/16 - Base Training Squadron 14/10/16 - Base Training Squadron 21/10/16 - Base Training Squadron 28/10/16 - Base Training Squadron 7/11/16 - Base Training Squadron 14/11/16 - Base Training Squadron 21/11/16 - Base Training Squadron 28/11/16 - Base Training Squadron 7/12/16 - Base Training Squadron 14/12/16 - Base Training Squadron 21/12/16 - Base Training Squadron 28/12/16 - Base Training Squadron 7/01/17 - Base Training Squadron 14/01/17 - Base Training Squadron 21/01/17 - Base Training Squadron 28/01/17 - Base Training Squadron 7/02/17 - Base Training Squadron 14/02/17 - Base Training Squadron 21/02/17 - Base Training Squadron 28/02/17 - Base Training Squadron 7/03/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron 14/03/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron 21/03/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron 28/03/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron 7/04/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron 14/04/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron 21/04/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron 28/04/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 7/05/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 14/05/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/05/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 28/05/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 7/06/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 14/06/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/06/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 28/06/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 7/07/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 14/07/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/07/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick 28/07/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick 7/08/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick 14/08/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick 21/08/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick 28/08/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick 7/09/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron 14/09/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/09/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 28/09/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 7/10/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 14/10/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/10/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 28/10/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 7/11/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 14/11/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick 21/11/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron 28/11/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron 7/12/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick 14/12/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron 21/12/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron 28/12/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron 7/01/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron 14/01/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/01/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 28/01/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 7/02/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 14/02/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/02/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 28/02/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 7/03/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 14/03/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/03/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 28/03/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 7/04/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 14/04/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/04/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 28/04/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 7/05/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 14/05/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/05/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 28/05/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 7/06/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 14/06/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/06/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 28/06/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 7/07/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 14/07/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/07/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 28/07/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 7/08/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 14/08/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/08/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 28/08/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 7/09/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 14/09/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/09/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 28/09/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 7/10/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 14/10/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/10/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 28/10/18 - Evacuated to hospital sick 7/11/18 - Evacuated to hospital sick 14/11/18 - Evacuated to hospital sick 21/11/18 - Evacuated to hospital sick 28/11/18 - Evacuated to hospital sick 7/12/18 - Evacuated to hospital sick 14/12/18 - Evacuated to hospital sick 21/12/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron 28/12/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 7/01/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 14/01/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/01/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 28/01/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 7/02/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 14/02/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/02/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 28/02/19 - On detachment to another unit 7/03/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 14/03/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/03/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 28/03/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 7/04/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 14/04/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/04/19 - Evacuated to hospital sick 28/04/19 - Evacuated to hospital sick 7/05/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 14/05/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll 21/05/19 - Returned to Australia
Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 9 June 1918 Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
9 June 1918
Bert Schramm
2823 Private Herbert Leslie SCHRAMM, a 22 year old Farmer from Whites River, South Australia. He enlisted on 17 February 1916; and at the conclusion of the war Returned to Australia, 10 July 1919.
During part of the course of his military service with the AIF, Bert Schramm kept a diary of his life. Bert was not a man of letters so this diary was produced with great effort on his behalf. Bert made a promise to his sweetheart, Lucy Solley, that he would do so after he received the blank pocket notebook wherein these entries are found. As a Brigade Scout since September 1918, he took a lead part in the September Offensive by the Allied forces in Palestine. Bert's diary entries are placed alongside those of the 9th Light Horse Regiment to which he belonged and to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade to which the 9th LHR was attached. On this basis we can follow Bert in the context of his formation.
The Diaries
The complete diary is now available on the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre Site at:
Bert Schramm's Location - Ain Ed Duk, Jordan Valley.
Bert Schramm's Diary - Sun. Things much as usual, nothing worth recording. Any amount of work with little sleep.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Ain Ed Duk, Jordan Valley.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Twenty two reinforcements marched in from Ausdiv Reinforcement Camp, Jericho. The excessive heat and atmosphere of the Jordan Valley was now being keenly felt by men and horses. For several days the thermometer ranged from 100 to 121 in the shade of a double bell tent. Flies and the thick dust added greatly to the discomfort of all. Water was plentiful for both man and horse there being an unlimited supply at Ain Ed Duk. C Squadron holding the front line had their drinking water sent up three miles from Regimental Headquarters in fantasses by limbers in the proportion of 11/4 gallons per man. 0730 Voluntary church Service.
Tel el Truny patrol after occupying that place sent out a section with Heywood, 423 Lance Corporal CS, in charge. This Non Commissioned Officer by skilful manoeuvring of his patrol reconnoitred up to within 400 yards of the crest of Tel el Museterah. The Turks were holding the crest but did not fire evidently waiting for our patrol to come right up to them. After making a useful reconnaissance this patrol by a skilful manoeuvre parallel to the enemy, withdrew safely.
Nominal Roll, AWM133, Nominal Roll of Australian Imperial Force who left Australia for service abroad, 1914-1918 War.
War Diaries and Letters
All War Diaries and letters cited on this site should be read in conjunction with the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, War Diaries and Letters, Site Transcription Policy which may be accessed at:
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 - Order received from Brigade for a Reconnaissance to made of the Moya Harab District, the main object in mind being to destroy the water supply contained in the tanks and dams.
The troops to be employed. 10th Regiment and two Squadroons 9th Light Horse. Colonel TJ Tod 10th Regiment to be in command of the column. This column was to work in conjunction with a detachment of City of London Yeomanry who were to drain the dams and tanks situated at Moya Harab itself.
1917
Saturday, June 9, 1917
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - El Shellal
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Twenty Other Ranks reinforcements marched in and were allotted. The second batch of ten Other Ranks proceeded on leave - seven days.
1918
Sunday, June 9, 1918
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Ain Ed Duk
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Twenty two reinforcements marched in from Ausdiv Reinforcement Camp, Jericho.
The excessive heat and atmosphere of the Jordan Valley was now being keenly felt by men and horses. For several days the thermometer ranged from 100 to 121 in the shade of a double bell tent. Flies and the thick dust added greatly to the discomfort of all. Water was plentiful for both man and horse there being an unlimited supply at Ain Ed Duk.
“C” Squadron holding the front line had their drinking water sent up three miles from Regimental Headquarters in fantasses by limbers in the proportion of 1¼ gallons per man.
0730 Voluntary church Service.
Tel el Truny patrol after occupying that place sent out a section with Heywood, 423 Lance Corporal CS, in charge. This Non Commissioned Officer by skilful manoeuvring of his patrol reconnoitred up to within 400 yards of the crest of Tel el Museterah. The Turks were holding the crest but did not fire evidently waiting for our patrol to come right up to them. After making a useful reconnaissance this patrol by a skilful manoeuvre parallel to the enemy, withdrew safely.
1919
Monday, June 9, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Tel el Kebir
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0700 three Officers and five Other Ranks tennis team proceeded to Cairo to play a challenge from AIF Headquarters. AIF Headquarters were easily the winners.
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.
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary - Casualties: 8th Light Horse Regiment, one wounded; 9th Light Horse Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Miell and four men wounded; Signals Troop, one man wounded. Made careful inspection of trenches to strengthen fire T Sector. Enemy strenuously strengthening positions to immediate front and left. W Gun has not fired in two days - apparently moved. Howitzer at Brigade Headquarters from new position shelled Turk gun moving behind T Trenches sector. Bombs thrown in our trenches at night.
Issued instruction regarding the maintenance of lines which are very dirty.
Lieutenant Collins and six men [10th Light Horse Regiment] returned to Cairo.
Carew Reynell Diary - Sergeant W Stuart of 16th Battalion came and saw me yesterday and told me that Douglas was in his platoon and was hit twice on the Sunday after landing and died while he, Stuart, was there and asked Stuart to remember him to May and myself. Sergeant Stuart was a cadet officer in Dave Fulton's area and I asked him if he lives through the war to see May. He says Douglas and his tent mates were the best lot in his platoon. They were all killed or wounded - six killed and three wounded.
The Colonel was wounded in the head, very slight, the night before last while asleep in his dugout. He and Weik have gone to Lemnos for a few days.
We are still doing nothing. I can't understand this absolute inactivity while the Turks are surrounding us with a ring of fortifications. I can't help thinking that our left flank could be pushed forward or even a general advance instead of which little isolated attacks are made which end in nothing..
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Regiment inspected, dismounted, by General Officer Commanding, Brigadier General Antill.
1917
Friday, June 8, 1917
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - El Shellal
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - At daylight “B” Squadron pushed out through the party at Karm to the high ground east of Karm but no enemy were encountered. No enemy approached Karm during the night. The led horses of Linacre, Lieutenant FJ; and, his party were brought up and on arrival of the day outposts, the party and “B” Squadron withdrew to camp.
Four Non Commissioned Officers - Stephen, Staff Sergeant Major HH; Newnham, 461 Sergeant JH; Hine, Corporal; and, Gould, Corporal, transferred to 3rd Light Horse Brigade Training Squadron Cadre.
Woodall, 1897 Staff Sergeant Major JS; Johnson, 862 Sergeant SR; Bailie, 375 Corporal SJ; and, Steinwedel, 3731 Corporal HH, taken on strength of Regiment.
1918
Saturday, June 8, 1918
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Ain Ed Duk
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Tel el Truny patrol occupied that place without opposition and sent forward observation posts 300 yards in advance thereof. A few shots were fired from Tel el Museterah.
1919
Sunday, June 8, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Tel el Kebir
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 1100 ten Other Ranks proceeded to Cairo on leave.
2100, ten Other Ranks which went on leave to Cairo on the 5th June 1919 returned.
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