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"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
The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre aims to present an accurate history as chroniclers of early Australian military developments from 1899 to 1920.
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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 95.
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
The Battle of Beersheba
Palestine, 31 October 1917
Friedrich Freiherr Kress von Kressenstein Account
The German General charged with the defence of Beersheba was General Friedrich Freiherr Kress von Kressenstein, commonly called Kress. He wrote his book Mit den Tèurken zum Suezkanal [With the Turks to the Suez Canal] as a memoir.
The only edition of Kress’s book to emerge was published in 1938 and released in Germany. While Kress may have commanded the troops that put down Adloph Hitler’s infamous Beer Hall Putsch in which some 16 Nazi rebels were killed, Hitler’s propaganda machine saw the ironical value of this work to encourage the German people with stories of sacrifice and victory against heavy odds. It was in this context that the book was published in the standard Nazi style Gothic script which makes it difficult reading for a modern audience.
Kressenstein, Friedrich Freiherr Kress von, Mit den Tèurken zum Suezkanal, 1938, pp. 276 - 279:
[276] When dawn broke on 31 October 1917, some 30 English light and heavy batteries opened fire on the trenches between Wadi el Saba to the Beersheba - Khalasa road held by the Turkish 27th Division. Under the cover of this fire, the English 60th and 74th Divisions [277] developed their attack. Between the front line and the Wadi el Saba were weaker enemy forces near the Turkish positions. The “Smith Detachment” - an infantry brigade strengthened by the Imperial Camel Brigade – was ordered only to threaten the Turkish positions rather than attack. At Bir Esani, the English 53rd Infantry Division was available to secure and attack the forces at Beersheba if necessary but with the objective of advancing northwards to Tel esh Sheria. On the southern Beersheba front only the weaker enemy cavalry appeared.
Messages from the friendly Bedouin given to Ismed, which was confirmed by our pilots in the morning, stated that during the night two divisions of cavalry had marched through Iswaiwin and Khashim Zanna. Ismed sent the Cavalry Division to the heights northeast of Beersheba with orders to prevent an encirclement of Beersheba by the enemy Light Horsemen. One of those many conical hills in this region, Tel el Saba, controlled the surrounding area but was inadequately held so Ismed had it occupied by a battalion consisting of 300 rifles and 6 heavy machine guns. With two battalions of the remaining reserves, he moved quickly to close the broad, five kilometre gap between the left wing of his prepared position at Tel el Saba and Ras Ghannam. Only much later in the battle was Ismed able to create a new reserve by withdrawing some companies out of the quiet section between railway and Wadi Saba. We worked on the assumption that the English would not proceed against the Beersheba southern and eastern fronts but their daring did not allow us to prepare our defence.
Between 8 and 9 o'clock the English stormed the Turkish artillery observation outpost on the southwest of the perimeter. The small detachment surrendered after putting up a courageous resistance.
Displaying cool ability, the Turkish batteries laid fire over the English infantry as they worked themselves to a position of about 400-600 meters in front of the 27th Division trenches. [278] Some of the English batteries moved closer to the Turkish forward positions and destroyed the thine line of wire with pulverising fire. At 12.15 o'clock the English began the storming of the Turkish trenches which lead to heavy fighting and considerable losses. While they forced remnants of the Turkish 27th Division to retreat back to the Wadi el Saba, they remained in the Turkish trenches and established their own defensive perimeter. In view of the water supply problem, General Allenby wanted Beersheba to be taken and occupied only by the Dessert Mounted Corps - a particularly instructive case where water exerts a clear influence over planning.
Between 8 and 9 o'clock in the morning by the eastern front of Beersheba enemy cavalry approached from direction Wadi el Imleih to besiege Tel el Saba, and short time later an English cavalry regiment was in the area of Khirbet um Butein and reached the Beersheba Hebron road. English patrols began feeling out the defences of the Turkish Cavalry Division; but no actual fighting took place at this part of the battlefield.
On the other hand, during the morning, with some assistance, the New Zealand brigade commenced a frontal assault against Tell it Saba. The open area provided no cover which allowed the Turkish machine gun fire to bring the attack to a stand still. Only after the English employed fresh forces and developed a comprehensive attack against both the north and south flanks of Tel el Saba, they succeeded in taking by storm the Turkish position at 3 pm. The under strength Turkish battalion entrusted with its defence doggedly held out with great courage and in so doing fulfilled its obligation. They held up two English cavalry divisions for six hours and had prevented them from expanding their outflanking manoeuvres around the Beersheba-Hebron road. Our pilots caused further losses to the English cavalry by their bombing of the horsemen.
The two Turkish battalions employed between Ras Ghannam and Tell el Saba were ordered to withdraw to positions behind Wadi it Saba [279] in the direction of Beersheba, when they were attacked of English cavalry. The English riders broke through the thin Turkish lines and carried their attack onto Beersheba. With no warning Ismed Bey and his staff were taken unawares. General Chetwode had given the 4th Cavalry Brigade the order to seize the place - an order, which the resourceful brigade commander, General W Grant, solved by a charge.
Unfortunately the destruction of the wells at Beersheba arranged by Ismed was only partially accomplished.
Note: The numbers in the brackets, eg [276], refers to the page numbers in the original German text. This allows the reader to compare the original text with the translation or quote from the above text with the correct page as if from the original text.
Additional Reading:
The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
10 October 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:
Finding more about a service person. See:
Navigating the National Archives Service File
Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 5 - 11 October 1918
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Bert Schramm
Thursday, October 10, 1918
Bert Schramm's Location - Kaukab
Bert Schramm's Diary - Things are still quiet. Summons of another move forward. Numbers of men going sick. Toby went to FA [Field Ambulance] this afternoon and seems pretty ill. Received a parcel from Lucy today.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Kaukab
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Usual Damascus leave parties proceeded. Down, 921 Corporal AC; and, Hanrahan, 2216 Lance Corporal EP, taken prisoner of war 29 September 1918 and recaptured in German Hospital 1 October 1918 now reported Died of Wounds. Nelson, Captain AH, proceeded to Damascus to assist in administration of hospitals.
Darley
Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924, pp 163 - 166.
No Entry
Previous: Bert Schramm's Diary, 9 October 1918
Next: Bert Schramm's Diary, 11 October 1918
Sources Used:
Bert Schramm's DiaryNational Archives Service File.
Embarkation Roll, AWM8.
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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:
Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, War Diaries and Letters, Site Transcription Policy
Further Reading:
9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF
9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, War Diary, Day by Day Account
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 10 October 1918
9th LHR, AIF
War Diary, 10 October
Pro Gloria et Honore - For Glory and Honour
Regimental March - Marching Through Georgia
The Diary
1914
Saturday, October 10, 1914Formation of Regiment occurring at Morphettville Race Course Camp.
1915
Sunday, October 10, 1915
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Rhododendron Hill
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - A message was received late last night stating that a gas cylinder had been opened at Hill 60 by the enemy. Precautions were taken. Two suspicious cases of Diphtheria were found today. A big Turkish bomb was exploded in the Regimental Headquarters bivouac at 1730. Two men were wounded. This bomb had been thrown 800 yards. State tonight 15 Officers, 302 Other Ranks, Total 317. Bayonet strength 193. Two wounded and two sick to hospital.
1916
Tuesday, October 10, 1916
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Bir el Abd
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - No entry
1917
Wednesday, October 10, 1917
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Um Urgan
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - The Regiment undertook routine work for the day.
1918
Thursday, October 10, 1918
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Kaukab
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Usual Damascus leave parties proceeded. Down, 921 Corporal AC; and, Hanrahan, 2216 Lance Corporal EP, taken prisoner of war 29 September 1918 and recaptured in German Hospital 1 October 1918 now reported Died of Wounds. Nelson, Captain AH, proceeded to Damascus to assist in administration of hospitals.
1919
Friday, October 10, 1918
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Adelaide
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Regiment disbanded.
Previous: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 9 October
Next: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 11 October
Sources:
See: 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Contents
Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy
Further Reading:
9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
9 October 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:
Finding more about a service person. See:
Navigating the National Archives Service File
Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 5 - 11 October 1918
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Bert Schramm
Wednesday, October 9, 1918
Bert Schramm's Location - El Mudhamiye
Bert Schramm's Diary - We moved about four miles further west of Damascus today hoping to find a healthier camping ground.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - El Mudhamiye
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 1400, Moved to a point two miles south west Kaukab arriving at 1510. Smith, 1212 Trooper EK, died from cholera this being the first cholera case to occur in the Regiment. King, 553 Sergeant AE, prisoner of war 29 September 1918 rejoined Regiment from hospital Damascus. Down, 921 Corporal AC; and, Hanrahan, 2116 Lance Corporal EP, both died of wounds.
Darley
Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924, pp 163 - 166.
No Entry
Previous: Bert Schramm's Diary, 8 October 1918
Next: Bert Schramm's Diary, 10 October 1918
Sources Used:
Bert Schramm's DiaryNational Archives Service File.
Embarkation Roll, AWM8.
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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:
Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, War Diaries and Letters, Site Transcription Policy
Further Reading:
9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF
9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, War Diary, Day by Day Account
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: Bert Schramm's Diary, 9 October 1918
The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre is a not for profit and non profit group whose sole aim is to write the early history of the Australian Light Horse from 1900 - 1920. It is privately funded and the information is provided by the individuals within the group and while permission for the use of the material has been given for this site for these items by various donors, the residual and actual copyright for these items, should there be any, resides exclusively with the donors. The information on this site is freely available for private research use only and if used as such, should be appropriately acknowledged. To assist in this process, each item has a citation attached at the bottom for referencing purposes.
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