"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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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 83.
Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 28 September 1918 Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
28 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:
Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 27 September to 1 October 1918
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Bert Schramm
Saturday, September 28, 1918
Bert Schramm's Location - El Kuneitra
Bert Schramm's Diary - We pushed on about twelve miles along the Damascus road with slight opposition to a village called Kuneitra. Our Scout Troops reconnoitred to a village about six miles further on and were fired on by the native inhabitants. We then retired to Kuneitra and are camped there for the night.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - El Kuneitra
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0500, at dawn the regiment was astride the main road just east of Deir es Saras but the enemy had retreated towards El Kuneitra.
0530 Three enemy planes flying low passed over Brigade and dropped a few bombs near bridge over Jordan River.
0730 The Brigade left Deir es Saras. 8th Light Horse Regiment supplied advanced guard. Advanced along main road towards El Kuneitra arriving there at 1430 without gaining contact with the enemy. The road on many placed is strewn with abandoned enemy material indicating a hurried retreat. A few mounted Circassians on route were placed under surveillance. After watering at El Kuneitra the Brigade moved at 1630 to 2 1/2 miles south west of Jera and bivouacked. This advance brought the brigade to within 34 miles of Damascus, the intervening country being open tablelands broken by deposits of larva. Rocky basaltic outcrops were not uncommon. Abundantly watered by running streams.
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary
The balance of the Brigade followed the 8th and 10th Light Horse Regiments across the river and after a night march over extremely rough and hilly country, shortly before dawn was collected about Deir es Sarass. The 10th and 8th Light Horse Regiments reached this place before midnight. An enemy ammunition dump was found here. Horses were watered and led, and visual communication established with Divisional Headquarters west of the river. Owing to the bridge being broken, all wheels including Notts Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, had to be left on the western side. At 0600 three enemy aeroplanes the first seen in the air since operations commenced, passed overhead. Aeroplane reconnaissances reported that about 1,200 enemy were holding the high ground about El Kuneitra. At 0930 the Brigade moved of for this place, the 8th Light Horse Regiment and six machine guns providing the advance guard. Anywhere off the road the country was extremely rough, and stony, and flankers could only move slowly across it. By 1140 the head of the main column had reached Tel Abu el Khanzir and the vanguard was climbing the slopes of Tel Abu en Neda which overlooks El Kuneitra. Eight Circassian horsemen who had sniped at our scouts were captured here. They were fine looking men, well mounted, and armed to the teeth. Fifty enemy cavalry were seen retiring from Ayun es Suaan but El Kuneitra was occupied by 1300 without opposition. Horses were watered in the village and at 1400 the Brigade moved on to the vicinity of Jeba and bivouacked for the night. Thirty five miles had been covered by the Brigade in 34 hours, some of it over very rough country and in the face of enemy opposition. Except for two hours at Deir el Sarass horses had been saddled for the whole of the time.
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:
3rd Military District Staff Roster and Allocations, 1914, Part 5 Topic: Militia - LH
3rd Military District
Staff Roster and Allocations
Staff and Regiment Lists, 1914, p. 28
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
After dealing with the structure of the 3rd Military District, the next task is to fill in the headings with people. This page from the Staff and Regiment Lists, 1914 details the permanent commissioned staff who were appointed to oversee the implementation of the training schemes for Tasmania. One quick look at the list and the reader will discover numerous names of people who served with distinction in the AIF after war was declare some seven months after this list was prepared.
Further Reading:
For the Victoria Light Horse Militia establishment, see:
3rd Military District Staff Roster and Allocations, 1914, Part 4 Topic: Militia - LH
3rd Military District
Staff Roster and Allocations
Staff and Regiment Lists, 1914, p. 27
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
After dealing with the structure of the 3rd Military District, the next task is to fill in the headings with people. This page from the Staff and Regiment Lists, 1914 details the permanent commissioned staff who were appointed to oversee the implementation of the training schemes for Tasmania. One quick look at the list and the reader will discover numerous names of people who served with distinction in the AIF after war was declare some seven months after this list was prepared.
Further Reading:
For the Victoria Light Horse Militia establishment, see:
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