"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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Tuesday, 5 August 2008
Desert Mounted Corps Routine Orders - 13 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 - 13 October 1917
Desert Mounted Corps Routine Orders, 13 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 29.
Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 5 August 1918 Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
5 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
Monday, August 5, 1918
Bert Schramm's Location - Madhbeh, Jordan Valley, Palestine.
Bert Schramm's Diary - Nothing worth recording. Have heard good news from the Western Front.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Madhbeh, Jordan Valley, Palestine.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Masson, Lieutenant GG; and, two Other Ranks proceeded on short leave to Alexandria. Fifteen Other Ranks marched in from Moascar.
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:
Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916, 8th LHR, AIF, War Diary Account Topic: AIF - 3B - 8 LHR
Battle of Romani
Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916
8th LHR, AIF, War Diary Account
War Diary account of the 8th LHR, AIF.
The transcription:
Thursday, August 3, 1916 –
Ballybunion
“A” Squadron and 1 Section Machine Guns went to wells.
Friday, August 4, 1916 –
Ballybunion
0500 – Regiment ordered out to join “A” Squadron.
0730 – Regiment moved out.
0740 – Regiment moved back to go with Brigade to Hill 70.
0900 – Regiment, less “A” Squadron, formed advanced guard to the Brigade.
1120 – Reached Hill 70.
1200 – Left Hill 70 for Dueidar, when “A” Squadron joined from Aras.
Regiment moved out 2½ miles east of Dueidar when it took up an outpost line.
“B” and “C” Squadrons outpost and “A” Squadron support.
Saturday, August 5, 1916 –
Dueidar
0400 – Moved out as rear guard to Brigade in direction of Hod el Enna. Reached at 1015. Horses watered and fed. At 1230 Brigade moved out towards Hamisah. Enemy concentrated between Nagid and Hamisah at 1400. Heavy fighting on our left at Qatia. 9th and 10th Regiments drove enemy back to Hamisah. 422 Prisoners taken. As Brigades on our left returned from Qatia at dark, the Brigade returned a short distance west of Nagid and bivouacked for the night and “A” Squadron went on to Hod el Enna.
Sunday, August 6, 1916 –
Hamisah
0630 – Regiment less “A” Squadron, went forward at dawn and occupied Hamisah. No enemy though captured one wounded Turk and on unwounded in hod. Both sent back to Brigade under escort.
1120 – “A” Squadron marched in.
1500 – Regiment left Hamisah and joined Brigade column marching towards Sagia.
1800 – Arrived at Abu Dareh and bivouacked for night.
Monday, August 7, 1916 –
Sagia
Brigade moved forward toward Sagia at dawn, the Regiment forming the advanced guard.
Enemy encountered in strength on hills east of Sagia. Our advance was held up by their rifle and machine gun and artillery fire.
Our casualties were:
Killed – Lieutenant RN Urquhart and two Other Ranks.
Wounded – Lieutenant TS Austin and six Other Ranks.
1500 – Relieved by 9th and returned to hod until dawn when we moved back to Hod Ayish for the night.
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