"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, 15 September 2008
Chauvel Order for a Reconnaissance to Bir el Bayud, 13 May 1916, page 2. Topic: AIF - DMC - Anzac MD
Chauvel Order for a Reconnaissance to Bir el Bayud, 13 May 1916, page 2.
Chauvel Order for a Reconnaissance to Bir el Bayud, 13 May 1916, page 2.
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
The aim of this reconnaissance was to establish any Turkish presence around Oghratina, Hod es Sagia and Bir Bayud. After the Turkish raid at Romani, it was essential to discover the Turkish presence, the numbers of Turkish forces deployed and so establish their intent.
The following weeks will see the various pages from the Hotchkiss Portable Machine Gun Handbook, the official manual issued by the company for the use of troops in the field. 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 70.
Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 15 September 1918 Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
15 September 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:
10th LHR Routine Order No 5, 3 November 1914 Topic: AIF - 3B - 10 LHR
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. Over the following weeks, the Routine Orders for the 10th Light Horse Regiment will be posted. They are an almost complete collection from commencement as 7th Light Horse Regiment, "C" Squadron to reformation as the 10th Light Horse Regiment. It tells the story of the regiment in a way never touched by a unit history. What is revealed is the day to day lives faced by the men in the Regiment. It lists the highs and lows but in so doing, is the history of the common man.
10th LHR Routine Order No 5, 3 November 1914
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
The quality of this RO has deteriorated due to the nature of the paper, water damage and conservation techniques. The paper is wafer thin, about 40 gsm carbon copy paper of the time and this is the third copy, consequently the resulting type was blurred even at the time of production.
Appointments
On this day, both Herbert Bowen Hamlin and Leslie Craig received confirmations of their appointments as Second Lieutenants.
Recruits
A couple recruits were taken in at the Guidford Camp and allotted to squadrons.
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