"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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Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Military Order 151, 1907 Topic: Militia - Military Orders
Military Order 151, 1907 deals with the syllabus for an up coming officer training course for 15 carefully selected candidates.
Military Order 151, 1907
[Click on picture for larger version.]
Examination of this order relating to the training of officers reveals a great deal about the mindset of military at the time. In 1907 the Civil War in America was still instructive, especially that of Stonewall Jackson. In addition, they are examining the latest information from the Russo-Japanese War. It is interesting that the experience of the Boer War is not taken into account in Officer training, something that did not occur until about 1915 for the Light Horse. For the infantry, it would have been more instructive to look at the consequences of massed cannonades at Gettysburg and Port Arthur on charging troops as well as the importance of entrenchments for the defenders. The romance of war is key to this training course rather than the reality of mechanised warfare.
While in Egypt as part of the 12 Company Australian Army Service Corps, and allotted to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade Train, 7545 Driver Walter John Watson sent this hand coloured post card to a female friend in Australia by the name of Nellie who has a friend called Mollie.
The letter reads:
"Dear Nellie,
A few words to let you know I have not forgotten you and hope you are keeping well. No further news about going to the front yet so I am having a good look around while I have the opportunity. Remember me to Mollie and best wishes to you both.
Yours truely Walter"
7545 Driver Walter John Watson originally saw two years service prior to the Great War as a member of the 48th (Kooyong) Infantry Regiment. He enlisted on 10 July 1915 and embarked for Egypt later that year as part of the AASC. While the 3rd Light Horse Brigade was at Gallipoli, the Details Camp remained at Helioplis where Watson arrived. After the evacuation of Gallipoli, the Australian and New Zealand forces were re-organised for transfer to France. The bulk of Light Horse reinforcements at the time were transferred into mainly artillery formations although a few went into the infantry. Watson went to France and finally ended up as a driver with the 4th Field Artillery Brigade. His war ended early with a double hernia caused by war service which resulted in him being repatriated to Australia on 12 May 1918.
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 15.
Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 23 July 1918 Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
23 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.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Routine Patrol and Outpost Work.
Training in musketry and mounted work.
1917
Monday, July 23, 1917
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Tel el Marakeb
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - El Arish "change of Air" party comprising Linacre, Lieutenant FJ; and, ten Other Ranks, returned.
1918
Tuesday, July 23, 1918
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Madhbeh
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - List of Honours and awards published.
1919
Wednesday, July 23, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - SS Oxfordshire
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - All ranks with exception of necessary duties were allowed leave to Colombo - the conduct of the men on both days has been exemplary.
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