"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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Thursday, 17 July 2008
Encampment near Romani, August 1916 Topic: BatzS - Romani
Aerial surveillance was in its infancy although by the time the Battle of Romani began, the techniques were quite sophisticated with excellent fast lenses and film to allow the capture of quality terrain photographs. Below is an example.
Allied encampment near Romani, August 1916
Counting the probable number of soldiers in the camp then becomes a matter of simple arithmetic. The bell tents usually hold 8 men, the smaller oblong tents hold about 16-20 men while the larger tents, up to 32 men. A quick survey indicates about two brigades of light horse or one brigade of infantry. The lack of horse lines is explained by the large horse stables at the edges of the encampments. This is the analysis that intelligence staff conducted when examining pictures of Ottoman dispositions.
Another entry from the book written by Lieutenant Colonel Hüseyin Hüsnü Emir, called Yilderim. Every day, one page of the book will be posted. This is Page 10.
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 - Enemy showing activity on extreme left towards Amafarta and Salt Lake where a regiment of mounted men and a battalion of infantry were seen. It appears enemy anticipates our movement in this direction.
Advised say 100,000 Turks with much artillery, gas plants and liquid fire have been sent to Gallipoli. A good deal of bursts of fire at night in front. Enemy constantly changing gun positions and fire therefrom effective and consistent daily.
A considerable wastage in 3rd Light Horse Brigade and New Zealand Mounted Rifles from sickness chiefly stomach and from over work. Very difficult to man trenches effectively with troops available and the heavy calls for digging parties, extreme heat, dust and flies having effect in fighting strength.
Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 17 July 1918 Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
17 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:
Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 13 - 18 July 1918
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Bert Schramm
Wednesday, July 17, 1918
Bert Schramm's Location - Madhbeh, Jordan Valley, Palestine.
Bert Schramm's Diary - Came out to Jericho by motor lorry this morning and arrived at the Regiment at night. There was a pretty severe engagement fought here yesterday. We had a good win and captured several hundred German prisoners. We lost lots of horses and the smell of dead things is very high. We are in support.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Madhbeh, Jordan Valley, Palestine.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Orders issued reference Routine whilst Regiment in Sub Sector Reserve. Scott, Lieutenant Colonel WH, returned from tour of Schools of Instruction.
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:
Turkish map detailing troop dispositions and the battle at Beersheba Topic: BatzP - Beersheba
Below is a map produced for the Turkish General Staff publication of the war in Palestine. It details the Turkish troop dispositions on the morning of 31 October 1917 and the subsequent course of the battle at Beersheba.
Turkish map detailing troop dispositions, 31 October 1917
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