"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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Friday, 4 July 2008
King Edward's Horse, Oversea Dominions' Regiment, Military Order 209, 1910 Topic: Militia - K.E.Horse
King Edward's Horse
Oversea Dominions' Regiment
Military Order 209, 1910
Military Order 209, 1910
The transcription:
Affiliation of Australian and Imperial Regiments
His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment (Victorian Mounted Rifles) being shown in the War Office Army List as allied to the "King's Colonials - Yeomanry."
Military Order 209, 1910 establishes an exchange relationship between the 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment, also known as the Victorian Mounted Rifles and the "C" Squadron, King's Colonials, Imperial Yeomanry, later known as King Edward's Horse.
The original 4th County of London Imperial Yeomanry (King's Colonials) was formed in November 1901 at Charing Cross, London, as a yeomanry regiment from overseas volunteers resident in England, with four "colonial" squadrons:
"A" Squadron ("British Asian")
"B" Squadron ("British American" or Canadian)
"C" Squadron (Australasian)
"D" Squadron ("British African" or South African)
An additional New Zealand Squadron was formed in 1902, leaving "C" Squadron as wholey Australian in make-up.
"C" Squadron (Australasian) Badge for King's Colonials
In 1905, the regiment was renamed as The King's Colonials, Imperial Yeomanry. In 1909, the separate "colony" squadrons were discontinued and in 1910, the regiment was again renamed, as King Edward's Horse (The King's Overseas Dominions Regiment). The regiment was transferred to Special Reserve and lost yeomanry status in 1913 and 21st March 1924, it was disbanded.
Cookhouse at Mrs Chisholm's Canteen, Kantara Topic: AIF - Engineers
Mrs Chisholm's Canteen
Kantara, Egypt
One of the most cherished pieces of handiwork performed by the Australian Field Sqadron Engineers was to assist in the construction of the tea rooms for Mrs Alice Isabel Chisholm (née Morphy) (1856–1954) at Kantara.
Mrs Chisholm outside the Kantara Tea Rooms, November 1918
The engineers spent some time constructing the various buildings required by Mrs Chisholm for her ongoing work. This expanded to include dormitories and dining-rooms and eventually had the capacity for handling thousands of men.
Mrs Chisholm’s canteen became a cherished institution in the Middle East. Soldiers flocked there in their spare time or when on leave. For a small price they found care, comfort, food, and the luxury of showers. Most of all they were provided with a small touch of home.
Bridge building over the Sweetwater Canal, Kantara, July 1916 Topic: AIF - Engineers
With the decision to keep the Light Horse in Egypt, one of the important innovations was to create the Field Squadron Engineers. The first independent task performed by the Australian engineers was to build a bridge across the Sweetwater Canal at Kantara in July, 1916. It was a small start to undertaking some major tasks.
Taking a cross section over the canal
This picture articulates all people have come to expect from a work site. One fellow doing the hard work watched by everyone else. Although it seems that way, these men worked very hard at their tasks. Once the man in the water finished his task, it was the signal for his work mates to get busy.
Close to finishing the bridge
With some hard work, good leadership and materials, the bridge is nearly completed. After this bridge, the engineers tackled some more urgent projects.
Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 4 July 1918 Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
4 July 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:
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.
10th Light Horse Regiment, one wounded. During 13 days in the trenches 3rd Light Horse Brigade lost 18 killed and 36 wounded.
Canterbury Mounted Rifles relieved 8th Light Horse Regiment. 3rd Light Horse Brigade staff take over administration of No. 1 Sub Sector.
76 Turks have been buried. 134 rifles and 6,000 rounds of ammunition recovered in the last three days with some 200 or more unburied bodies in front of trenches.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Routine training and patrol work. Two hours training carried out daily.
1917
Wednesday, July 4, 1917
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - El Shellal
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - The Regiment moved out of bivouac at 0100 and joined the remainder of the Brigade and with the 8th Light Horse Regiment as advance guard proceeded through Goz el Basal, Karm, El Buggar to the cross roads in the north west corner of Square C7.
Here, Shaw, Lieutenant OJ, with special reconnaissance party moved out. The 8th Light Horse Regiment moved north and east and the 9th Light Horse Regiment formed a screen of two squadrons, B and “C” Squadrons connecting with the 8th Light Horse Regiment left and the 4th Light Horse Brigade on the right and the advance now continued. Enemy patrols were encountered a mile or so east of El Buggar but fell back as the screen pushed out.
By 0630 the line 790 to where the black track crosses the Beersheba Road Square C7 was occupied by “B” Squadron on the left and “C” Squadron on the right and touch was obtained with the 8th Light horse Regiment on the left and the 4th Light horse Brigade on the right. Regimental Headquarters was established on Hill 820. The enemy could be seen in holding a strong line of entrenchments running on a north to south line one mile to 1½ miles east of Beersheba - in strength - and numerous camps were spread out along the foothills north west of the town.
At 0700 they commenced shelling our screen with a battery of small mountain guns and two heavier guns and kept on intermittently shelling throughout the day. At 0900 two Squadrons of enemy cavalry move out from El Abreij and took up a position but did not come within rifle fire.
At 1715 word was received to withdraw the advanced screen and at 1800 the Regiment withdrew, “B” Squadron covering the retirement with two troops. Small enemy patrols followed up the rear guard but kept out of range. A line Point 720 to El Buggar held by the 10th Light Horse Regiment was passed through at 1900 and the Regiment reformed and joined the column returning to camp by 2200.
One Other Rank slightly wounded by shell fire and one horse wounded. Throughout the day the enemy remained quiet but could be seen holding the positions in strength.
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