Below are two section of a brief Military Biography of  3052 Trooper Arthur Arould Herde. 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”.

3052 Trooper Arthur Arnold Herde

Picture by courtesy of the Herde Family 

Part One: Specific details from “Enlistment” to “Returned to Australia”.

Surname: Herde
First Name: Arthur
Other Names: Arould
Service Number: 3052
Rank: Private
1924 List: Yes
Place of Birth: SA
Boer War Service: No
Age: 23
Birth Year: 1893
Employment: Labourer
Status: Single
District: Winninowie
State: South Australia
NOK: Mother
Title: Mrs
Last: Herde
First: Annie Louisa
Identity: Winninowie
Locality: Port Augusta
Province: South Australia
Country: Australia
Religion: Church of England
Enlisted Day: 4
Enlisted Month: September
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: 10
Month: July
Year: 1919
Ship: Oxfordshire
Last Rank: Private
Honours: None
Squadron: B
Gallipoli: No
Notes:
    1. Enlisted in Base Light Horse Details, 4 September 1916
    2. Absorbed into 9th Light Horse Regiment, 23rd Reinforcements, 10 October 1916
    3. Transferred to 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron, 2 March 1917
    4. Transferred to 9th Light Horse Regiment B Squadron, 15 August 1917

Part Two: Week by week summary of status from “Enlistment” to “Returned to Australia”.

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 - Evacuated to hospital sick
14/04/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick
21/04/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick
28/04/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick
7/05/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick
14/05/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick
21/05/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick
28/05/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick
7/06/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick
14/06/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick
21/06/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick
28/06/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick
7/07/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick
14/07/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick
21/07/17 - Evacuated to hospital sick
28/07/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron
7/08/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron
14/08/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
21/08/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
28/08/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
7/09/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
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 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
21/11/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
28/11/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
7/12/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
14/12/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
21/12/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
28/12/17 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
7/01/18 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
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 - Rest Camp
28/06/18 - Rest Camp
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 - Evacuated to hospital sick
14/10/18 - Evacuated to hospital sick
21/10/18 - Evacuated to hospital sick
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 - Evacuated to hospital sick
28/12/18 - Evacuated to hospital sick
7/01/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron
14/01/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron
21/01/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Training Squadron
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 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
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 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
28/04/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
7/05/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
14/05/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
21/05/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
28/05/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
7/06/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
14/06/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
21/06/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
28/06/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
7/07/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
14/07/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
21/07/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
28/07/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
7/08/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll
14/08/19 - 9th Light Horse Regiment Nominal Roll

Additional information provided by Andrew Kilsby:

You have the spelling out a bit - it is Arthur Arnold Herde not 'Arould'... I know that his name is Arthur Arnold (in all the family trees etc. I have at hand) and can only put down the B4717 record as the person writing in the details put it in as he heard it rather than checking; probably because he was hurry ... you know, Dixon vs Dickson etc.  There remains a possibility that it is the German spelling? Which perhaps was used on his birth certificate but in those days even more reason to use the Anglicized version, and none of the siblings had Germanized names, so I believe the first premise to be more accurate an assumption.

I met old "Uncle Arthur" - my brother-in-law's uncle - at Spear Creek Station between Port Augusta and Wilmington in the late 60s early 70's (I think he died before 1975).  He lived alone in a small house next to the main homestead and spent most of his day on the verandah with an old bush hat on.  His legs were terribly bowed from decades of riding horses and he was as tough as he looked, even at that age.  I was told that he'd been a light horseman and he had a few trinkets from the war to 'show and tell' but I was too young to appreciate the story and even after I'd joined the Army myself never thought to write down his history from his own lips.  Fortunately a number of photos and other memorabilia survive.  It shows that he worked bullock carts collecting wood in the Port Augusta district - and was a bushman, but the drought of 1914 meant it was an easy decision to join up.  His great nephew Mark rode as an extra in The Lighthorsemen film on the Port Lincoln sandhills and remains proud of that indirect link with his great-uncle's own experiences. 

One interesting thing - Arthur was baptized by the Chaplain outside of Jerusalem - don't know if this was religious tourism or the real deal but the baptism card is in the family records. He returned from the war, according to family records - a changed man and rather bitter.  Why we don't know.  But at least I can say "I met a light horseman who was over there".

Posted by Project Leader at 2:53 PM EADT

Updated: Saturday, 2 August 2008 11:14 AM EADT

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While it may seem obscure, this is quite a significant Military Order in many ways. The key importance is the methodology of funding a Rifle Club and any additional works that might be attributed to maintaining the specific club.

In essence, Military Order states that if a Rifle Club wanted to undertake any type of capital work, apart from its own internal fund raising, it has access to a sum of up to 25% of the District grant allocation for a particular year.

Immediately the tensions within the system become obvious. The grant available for the District is a key consideration. Then the allocation of that grant needs to be offset against not only the application for funds but any ongoing activity that requires recurrent funding. In addition, it is up to the District Commandant to actually allocate those funds. Judging from the phraseology of the Regulation, this is at the discretion of the District Commandant.

One thing is obvious that the Military Order was designed to provoke these very tensions which would then act as a self regulating device with different layers of Rifle Clubs checking up on each other to ensure funds are distributed wisely and fairly. The Order envisages vigorous debate between the various tiers in order to secure these funds for capital works.

Citation: Rifle Club Construction Works - 1910 Military Order No. 9, p. 18 

Posted by Project Leader at 1:54 PM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 15 June 2008 2:10 PM EADT

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The creation of the 10th LHR (Light Horse Regiment) was more of an evolution than a dramatic event. Initially the Western Australian Light Horsemen were to be formed into a Squadron and attached to another composite regiment as "C" Squadron. Plans changed when the numbers enrolling far exceeded all expectation.

The first the public knew about the formation of the 10th LHR was by an article in the Western Mail of 16 October 1914 at p. 43:

THE LIGHT HORSE.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S CONTRIBUTION.

When the organisation of the second Australian contingent was first decided upon, Western Australia was asked to contribute a squadron of Light Horse, and the call met with such a remedy response that within a few days the whole of the 148 men required had been selected, while many more, who were offering in the country districts, had to be refined. On Saturday night, however, instructions were received by the military authorities in Perth from headquarters to raise a whole regiment of Light Horse (536 officers and men, instead of the 'original' squadron, and the necessary arrangements are now in progress. It is expected that the work of enlistment will be commenced toward the end of the present week, and no difficulty is anticipated in getting the required number of men. The new force will be known as the Tenth Regiment of the Third Brigade.

It can be assumed that the Military District received the order by telegram that day which if that trail were followed back a bit further, it leads to the early part of October when the actual decision was made to form the 10th LHR.

Captain Gollan was requested by General Antill to pull together documents that establish the commencement of the 3rd LHB (Light Horse Brigade) of which the 10th LHR was one of its allotted regiments. Gollan presents these documents in his history regarding the formation of the Regiment:

Page 1:

Page 3:

Finally, Gollan quotes an un-named newspaper source and presents this story:

The 10th. LH Regiment was formed in Western Australia. The following newspaper report gives a description of the formation and training:

On the banks of the Helena River Just about half-a-mile to the Eastward of the bridge which is crossed as Guildford is approached the 'first regiment of light Horse which is being sent to the war from Western Australia, is being trained. The grounds are those which have been hitherto used as a Remount Depot for he Military Forces of the State. They are very suitable for the purpose, being on comparatively hard soil and the tents being pitched on a partial elope and the parade areas being on the grassy slopes bordering the river.

For about c month the Regiment has been forming. Its nucleus was a squadron which Lieut.-Col. Noel M Brazier, the Officer commanding the Light Horse in Western Australia, had got together to loin with similar Squadrons which were being organised in the Eastern States. Most of the members of these Squadrons are men who have undergone some training at Annual Encampments good-natured homely fellows for the most part, and it was this class of fighting men that proved such splendid material during the Anglo-Boer Campaign. They entered into the task of preparing for active service with much enthusiasm and a lot of them provided their own horses and fighting equipment.

The call came for more than a Squadron. A regiment was asked for from Western Australia and was formed in amazingly quick time. So great was the demand for places in the ranks that there was soon more men than was required to complete the complement. A visitor to the camp of the Western Australians at Guildford was at once impressed with the appearance and order of things. In the ranks one recognised men who a few weeks previously were seen on the Terrace and in other business parts of the City. Professional and business men were amongst them. A Barrister, fortunate in that he only practised his profession for the love of it, having got the war fever, was seen in the horse lines bronzed and happy. A well-known stock auctioneer paced side by side with a shop assistant and a young farmer, owning miles of wheat country showed his enthusiasm by demonstrating that he was not above the most menial work in the camp.

The horses were an exceptionally good lot. Sergeant Love, who saw a lot of service in South Africa, had squads of rough riders who were engaged in the handling of these horses who had not been properly broken. There was no lack of discipline - the first offence was the last - and it rebounds to the credit of Officers and men that an offence list was not started. Not one man absented himself without leave and not one man disgraced himself by becoming intoxicated.

Citation: Formation of the 10th LHR, October 1914

Posted by Project Leader at 11:37 AM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 15 June 2008 12:33 PM EADT

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At the beginning of the new century, the well known and top Australian rifle shooter,  P. Fargher of the Melbourne Rifle Club wrote the book called Hints on Rifle Shooting, published by Sands and Mcdougal in Melbourne. The text deals with all the problems people found with the commonly available service rifles employed in the first decade and beyond within the Australian military forces. As part of the Rifle Club Movement, shooting at rifle clubs was strictly carried out with the designated service weapon. This little book is a gem in detailing all aspects of the rifles from the shooter's point of view. To assist readers to fully understand the weapons used by the Mounted Rifles and Light Horse, the book will be serialised on this blog.

The cover of P. Fargher's book, Hints on Rifle Shooting.

SERVICE RIFLES.

THERE are four patterns of service rifles used in Australia at the present time, viz., Lee-Metford, Lee Enfield, Martini-Enfield, and Martini-Henry. The latter has done useful work during the last twenty years, and some fine shooting has been made with it, but it was never a satisfactory weapon beyond 100 yards, to say nothing of its terrible recoil, and its always more or less inferior ammunition. Most of us are eagerly looking forward to the time that we may hang it up over the mantelpiece as a relic of the past, and a reminder of the days of our youth.

The other three patterns are of the same calibre, and take the .303 service ammunition, with cordite powder and a nickel-covered lead bullet.

The calibre of the Martini-Henry is .450, muzzle velocity 1,315 feet per second, initial velocity of rotation 744 revs. per second. It has seven grooves, which make one full turn in 22 inches.

The Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield both have the Lee-Speed bolt action, and a magazine which holds 10 rounds of ammunition. The Metford has seven, the Enfield five grooves, and the following particulars apply to all patterns of the .303:-Length of barrel, 30.197 inches; twist of rifling, 1 turn in 10 inches; muzzle velocity, about 2,000 feet per second; velocity of rotation at the muzzle, 2,400 revolutions per second. Length over all of the magazine rifle, 49.5 inches; of the Martini-Enfield, about 46.25 inches. The Metford rifling is semicircular in section, with rounded lands between the grooves; it has therefore no sharp corners in and- part of the barrel for fouling to set hard in. The Enfield has five grooves, which are square cut, so that its rifling consists of sharp corners and right angles. These corners are liable to hold the fouling in hot weather, and cause the rifle to lose its elevation. The trajectory of the .303 is much flatter than the Martini-Henry. At 1,000 yards' range its highest point is at about 600 yards, when it is 25 feet above the line of sight, as against the Martini's 48 feet. It has, therefore, a shade more than half the trajectory of the Martini-Henry. The reason of the M.-E. being 3.25 inches shorter over all than the magazine rifle is because the Martini action is that much shorter than the bolt action, the barrels being the same length.

Rifle Pictures 

Rifles referred to in the text are pictured in the order of mention in first paragraph.

Posted by Project Leader at 9:35 AM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 15 June 2008 10:57 AM EADT

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Miscellaneous Topics

The Medal Trio 

Pip, Squeak and Wilfred

“Pip”, “Squeak” and “Wilfred” were the common sobriquets given by British and Dominion servicemen to what is known as “The Trio”, the British campaign medals issued to those who served in the Great War. The medals began appearing simultaneously to a popular comic strip which first appeared in the Daily Mirror in 1919 of the same name.

The comic stript “Pip, Squeak and Wilfred”, was drawn by Cardiff-born Austin Bowen Payne who named his characters after Payne's wartime batman who was called Pip-Squeak. Through Payne’s work, this was a term which entered the English language.

The characters in the cartoon included Pip the male dog, Squeak a female penguin who was Pip’s partner and later on making an appearance, Wilfred, who was a rabbit. Pip and Squeak were portrayed as Wilfred's parents. In addition, there were supporting characters, most prominently including a Russian bomb maker with his dog Popski. The comic strip ran until 1958.

As time went on, the 1914-15 Star became known as “Pip”, the British War Medal was called “Squeak” and the Inter-Allied Victory Medal received the name “Wilfred”.

Further Reading:

B103, Index to Common Terms  

AIF Miscellaneous Topics

Posted by Project Leader at 8:45 AM EADT

Updated: Wednesday, 16 December 2009 5:13 PM EAST

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