"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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Monday, 4 August 2008
Desert Mounted Corps Routine Orders - 9 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.
In this case, the Desert Mounted Corps Routine Orders for October 1917 have been highlighted to illustrate the tempo of this formation from the beginning of October towards the end. The aim is to illustrate the implementation of the Allenby Offensive that began at the end of October 1917 with the capture of Beersheba.
Desert Mounted Corps Routine Orders - 9 October 1917
Desert Mounted Corps Routine Orders, 9 October 1917, p. 1.
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Of interest are the initiallings at the bottom of the page. It indicates order and precedence amongst the staff officers commanding the Desert Mounted Corps.
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 28.
Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 4 August 1918 Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
4 August 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, 2 - 10 August 1918
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Bert Schramm
Sunday, August 4, 1918
Bert Schramm's Location - Madhbeh, Jordan Valley, Palestine.
Bert Schramm's Diary - Fourth Anniversary of the war. Things have been quiet all day.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Madhbeh, Jordan Valley, Palestine.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0330, standing patrol returned and reports all clear. Very quiet night, No lights or movement of any description seen.
0700 - 0730, Enemy artillery fired a few small calibre shells at watering area without effect. Our artillery kept up harassing fire at intervals during the night on enemy positions.
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.
The Diary
1914
Tuesday, August 4, 1914
Britain declares war on Germany and Austria-Hungry.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 2000 The Regiment ordered up to firing line to participate in attack on Hill "Baby 700", being part of a general attack on Turks in Northern Gallipoli.
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary - Brig and self visited Pope's to examine trenches and $$ impending attack.
Carew Reynell Diary - Got first definite orders about the attack last night. The attack is to be general and a big left flanking attack to be made in cooperation. Apparently the artillery support for the frontal attack will be good. Our 3rs Light Horse Brigade is to take the trenches on the Nek with good covering fire by rifle, machine gun and artillery fire after a very heavy and prolonged bombardment and so it should present no difficulties. However there will be stacks of scrapping between here and the Narrows four miles away, but from what I can guess of the plan of attack and the numbers we are to have I anticipate a great and glorious victory during the next few days with such a stunning blow to the Turks that it may end the Turkish hash in one hit. I have been very busy all day with preliminary arrangements. The Colonel is away sick at Lemnos. He will be terribly upset if they don't let him back here in time for the attack which is to start on the day after tomorrow either just before or after daylight.
I feel I ought to be writing home sort of good bye letters in case of a wash out but this entry must suffice as letters could, owing to censorship, only make dark hints and cause anxiety as my cables may not be going on for all I know. I am looking forward to the attack very much as I am hopeful that it may result in a glorious stroke. I think I have arranged for every contingency as far as this Regiment is concerned and hope we shall give a good account of ourselves, and in case of accidents - good bye and may it b e a consolation to you to realise that I have been made some use here and Dickaboo must grow up quick and be a comfort to his mother and Grandfather.
1916
Friday, August 4, 1916
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Bally Bunnion
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0800 Received orders from Brigade that the Brigade would move out at 0830.
Everyone to travel as light as possible. The Regiment marched out with 21 Officers, 415 Other Ranks and 459 horses leaving Lieutenant Nelson in charge of camp with 115 Other Ranks and 87 horses.
The Regiment left Bally Bunnion and marched to Hill 70 where a halt was made until 1700 at which time the Brigade moved to Dueidar arriving at 2200.
1917
Saturday, August 4, 1917
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Tel el Marakeb
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Cleaning equipment. Brigade CO, Maygar, Lieutenant Colonel LC, VC DSO, inspected the Regiment in lines.
1918
Sunday, August 4, 1918
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Madhbeh
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0330, standing patrol returned and reports all clear. Very quiet night, No lights or movement of any description seen.
0700 - 0730, Enemy artillery fired a few small calibre shells at watering area without effect. Our artillery kept up harassing fire at intervals during the night on enemy positions.
1700 Revised orders for standing patrol issued.
1919
Monday, August 4, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - SS Oxfordshire
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0930 Arrived at Fremantle Western Australia. The sirens of all boats in the port welcomed the troops home again.
Temperature of every person on the boat taken.
1430 The 10th Light Horse Regiment completed disembarkation - leave then granted for all ranks [with exception of piquet of one Officer three Sergeants and 30 Other Ranks to go ashore until 2200.
Bower, 233 Corporal AO, who has been seasick for entire voyage was disembarked to proceed overland. Three Other Ranks were repatriated in Western Australia, viz Cole, Trooper MS; Smith, Trooper; and, Lindridge, Trooper WHG.
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