"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, 30 July 2008
Karm, 25 October 1917 Topic: BatzP - Beersheba
Karm Station - The last supply link completed before the battle
The completion of Karm Station on 25 October 1917 put the last logistical piece of the projected break out plan. For the next month, Karm provided all the material necessary to supply the offensive. Its role was superceded to a great extent when Jaffa was taken and a sea port was available for large volumes of freight for the Allied force. However, that was the future. At the time the station was opened, it was pivotal in providing the infrastructure for success at Beersheba and the battles that followed from this victory.
The location of Karm Station in relation to the surrounding countryside.
[Click on map for larger version.]
Various features relating to the action at El Buqqar which occurred on 27 October 1917. A full description of the events that occurred on that fateful day can be found at:
Since Karm served no other purpose than as the Allies supply depot, once the importance subsided, it faded away into the dust from whence it came. The last picture is of Karm Station illustrating the remaining earthen platforms, all that remains. The picture looks towards the north east illustrating the surrounding countryside which has little changed since the Allied forces filled it with men and horses.
The following weeks will see the various pages of the Hotchkiss Machine Gun Pack for Cavalry. The Hotchkiss Gun was introduced in the Light Horse formations during the early months of 1917. The introduction of this robust and portable gun gave the Light Horse Regiments additional mobile fire power which considereably added to their ability to sustain light combat situations and defend against vastly numerically superior forces. Apart from being an excellent weapon, it was in much demand by the Turkish forces who considered the capture of a Hotchkiss Gun well worth any risks involved in the process. This is a manual produced in 1917 and illustrates the method by which the Hotchkiss Gun was packed and moved throughout the Palestine campaign.
Another entry from the book written by Lieutenant Colonel Hüseyin Hüsnü Emir, called Yildirim. Every day, one page of the book will be posted. This is Page 23.
Desert Mounted Corps Routine Orders - 2 October 1917 Topic: AIF - DMC
Apart from the War Diary which presents a reflected view of Regimental history, one of the best sources of understanding the immediate challenges facing a regiment is to be found in the Routine Orders. They are a wealth of detail.
Desert Mounted Corps Routine Orders - 2 October 1917
Desert Mounted Corps Routine Orders, 2 October 1917, p. 1.
Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 30 July 1918 Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
30 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, 26 July - 1 August 1918
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Bert Schramm
Tuesday, July 30, 1918
Bert Schramm's Location - Madhbeh, Jordan Valley, Palestine.
Bert Schramm's Diary - Things generally fairly quiet. Artillery and aircraft have been fairly busy.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Madhbeh, Jordan Valley, Palestine.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0430, B Squadron returned to bivouac at 0430 and report that patrol sighted enemy patrol at 0130 and one of enemy was killed whilst endeavouring to escape. Body was searched but no identification papers were found. He carried rifle, bomb, and a rubber tube evidently a steam escape for machine gun.
Hannaford, Lieutenant E, reported from Gas School, Rafa. The usual working parties to F and G Section Defences cancelled and Regiment detailed to supply one Squadron each night for patrol duty in front of G Section Defences.
2200, C Squadron moved out for G Section Patrol duty.
Nominal Roll, AWM133, Nominal Roll of Australian Imperial Force who left Australia for service abroad, 1914-1918 War.
War Diaries and Letters
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