During part of the course of his military service with the AIF, 2823 Private Herbert Leslie Schramm, a farmer from White's River, near Tumby Bay on the Eyre Peninsular, 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 1918 breakout 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.

 Bert Schramm's Diary, 21 January 1919

Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 18 - 21 January 1919

[Click on page for a larger print version.]

Diaries

Bert Schramm

Tuesday, January 21, 1919

Bert Schramm's Location - Tripoli, Lebanon.

Bert Schramm's Diary -  A mail has arrived at last. I had seven letters altogether but none from home. Four were from Lucy and the last two were written after the news of the armistice had got home and Lucy seemed very excited about it and was thinking I would be home soon but I am afraid it will be some time yet. But thank God, I have left wine and women alone since I have been here. I can go back with a clear conscience in that respect although I don't by any means wish to pose as a saint. I visited the Kadisha Lodge again tonight and had a very enjoyable evening.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Tripoli, Lebanon.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 1000 - 1100 - Troop drill dismounted. Sounding of trumpet calls commenced.

Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924.

Further Reading:

9th Light Horse Regiment AIF War Diary - Complete day by day list

Bert Schramm Diary 

Bert Schramm Diary - Complete day by day list

Additional Reading:

Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924.

Citation: Bert Schramm's Diary, 21 January 1919

Posted by Project Leader at 11:01 PM EAST

Updated: Saturday, 24 January 2009 6:19 AM EAST

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3rd LH Bde, AIF

3rd Light Horse Brigade

3rd LH Bde March Past in Melbourne, Wednesday, 20 January 1915

Actual Movie Footage of the March Past in Melbourne

[Click here or on picture for movie.]

Or view the clip on Youtube. 

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EAST

Updated: Sunday, 1 May 2011 11:30 AM EADT

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During part of the course of his military service with the AIF, 2823 Private Herbert Leslie Schramm, a farmer from White's River, near Tumby Bay on the Eyre Peninsular, 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 1918 breakout 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.

 Bert Schramm's Diary, 20 January 1919

Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 18 - 21 January 1919

[Click on page for a larger print version.]

Diaries

Bert Schramm

Monday, January 20, 1919

Bert Schramm's Location - Tripoli, Lebanon.

Bert Schramm's Diary -  Nothing worth recording. No news of a move from here.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Tripoli, Lebanon.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Donkeys and riding mules sold by public auction to inhabitants. Brigade physical training classes commenced. Three Officers and 6 Non Commissioned Officers from this regiment attended. Classes are to be held daily with the same personnel attending for one week.

Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924.

Further Reading:

9th Light Horse Regiment AIF War Diary - Complete day by day list

Bert Schramm Diary 

Bert Schramm Diary - Complete day by day list

Additional Reading:

Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924.

Citation: Bert Schramm's Diary, 20 January 1919

Posted by Project Leader at 11:01 PM EAST

Updated: Saturday, 24 January 2009 6:20 AM EAST

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During part of the course of his military service with the AIF, 2823 Private Herbert Leslie Schramm, a farmer from White's River, near Tumby Bay on the Eyre Peninsular, 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 1918 breakout 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.

 Bert Schramm's Diary, 19 January 1919

Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 18 - 21 January 1919

[Click on page for a larger print version.]

Diaries

Bert Schramm

Sunday, January 19, 1919

Bert Schramm's Location - Tripoli, Lebanon.

Bert Schramm's Diary -  Wrote a few letters today. No news.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Tripoli, Lebanon.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0930 Voluntary church services. Regimental censorship abolished.

Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924.

Further Reading:

9th Light Horse Regiment AIF War Diary - Complete day by day list

Bert Schramm Diary 

Bert Schramm Diary - Complete day by day list

Additional Reading:

Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924.

Citation: Bert Schramm's Diary, 19 January 1919

Posted by Project Leader at 11:01 PM EAST

Updated: Saturday, 24 January 2009 6:21 AM EAST

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British West Indian Regiment

History

At the outbreak of the Great War, the spirit of adventure reached the Caribbean Islands. Men of all races began to present themselves to recruiting centres to volunteer. 

The establishment of the Regiment was very hierarchical reflecting the nature of Caribbean society. All senior positions in the force were occupied by Europeans while men of other ethnic groups made up the bulk of the lower ranks.

Initially men from the various islands formed drafts for individual units within the Imperial Army. However, as time went on, the number of volunteers increased to such a level that individual companies from the Caribbean were formed. Although all the companies trained separately, the first muster as a full Regiment occurred in November 1915 at Seaford, West Sussex.

The company structure reflected to disparate make up of the West Indies. The companies were

"A" Company - from British Guiana (now Guyana).

"B" Company - from Trinidad

"C" Company - from Trinidad and St. Vincent.

"D" Company - from Grenada and Barbados.

In addition to these men, a further contingent of 725 men came from Jamaica, British Honduras (now Belize) and Barbados. With the addition of these numbers the regiment was expanded to four battalions.

While the various battalions saw service in East Africa, Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, France, Italy, and in Palestine, two battalions were deployed as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Forcee. The units involved were the 1st and 2nd Battalion, West Indies Regiment.

Initially the men were primarily involved in ambulance and labouring work in the Sinai but after the withdrawal of British units from Palestine in March 1918 due to the German offensive, the troops were placed into the front line sharing duties with the other troops. The first deployment was in the Jordan Valley where the 1st Battalion relieved the 3rd Light Horse Brigade.

Further Reading

AIF, MEF and the EEF

British West Indian Regiment

Posted by Project Leader at 4:28 PM EAST

Updated: Thursday, 16 July 2009 4:47 PM EADT

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