"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.
The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre site holds over 12,000 entries and is growing daily.
Contact:Australian Light Horse Studies CentreLet us hear your story:
You can tell your story, make a comment or ask for help on our Australian Light Horse Studies Centre Forum called:
WARNING: This site contains: names, information and images of deceased people; and, language which may be considered inappropriate today.
Monday, 15 June 2009
Order Of Battle of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, April 1917, Part 7, Desert Column Topic: AIF & MEF & EEF
Order Of Battle of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, April 1917
Part 7, Desert Column
As part of the Official British War History of the Great War, Captain Cyril Falls and Lieutenant General George MacMunn were commissioned to produce a commentary on the Sinai, Palestine and Syrian operations that took place. In 1928, their finished work, Military Operations, Egypt and Palestine - From the outbreak of war with Germany to June 1917, was published in London. Their book included Appendix 3 which specifically detailed the Order Of Battle of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, April 1917 and is extracted below.
MacMunn, G. & Falls, C., Military operations: Egypt and Palestine, (London 1930), p. 400:
Desert Column.
G.O.C. -
Major-General (temp. Lieut. General) Sir P. W. Chetwode, Bt., C.B., D.S.O.
G.S.O. 1 -
Major (temp. Lieut. Colonel) V. M. Fergusson, D.S.O.
Brig.-General, Royal Artillery -
Colonel (temp. Brig. General) A. D'A. King, C.B., D.S.O.
Order Of Battle of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, April 1916, Part 7, 4th Australian Division Topic: AIF & MEF & EEF
Order Of Battle of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, April 1916
Part 7, 4th Australian Division
As part of the Official British War History of the Great War, Captain Cyril Falls and Lieutenant General George MacMunn were commissioned to produce a commentary on the Sinai, Palestine and Syrian operations that took place. In 1928, their finished work, Military Operations, Egypt and Palestine - From the outbreak of war with Germany to June 1917, was published in London. Their book included Appendix 2 which specifically detailed the Order Of Battle of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, April 1916 and is extracted below.
MacMunn, G. & Falls, C., Military operations: Egypt and Palestine, (London 1930), p. 385:
4th Australian Division.
G.O.C. -
Major-General Sir H. V. Cox, K.C.M.G,,
G.S.O. 1 -
Captain (temp. Lieut.-Colonel) D. J. C. K. Bernard.
C.R.A. -
Lieut-Colonel (temp. Brig.-General) C. Rosenthal, C.B.
Gallipoli Campaign - 1915, Questions to the Turkish General Staff, Part 6 Topic: BatzG - Gallipoli
Gallipoli Campaign - 1915
Questions to the Turkish General Staff, Part 6
The Turkish General Staff Answers
During 1919, after the defeat of Turkey, a unique opportunity was opened up for CEW Bean to question the members of the Turkish General Staff about the Gallipoli Campaign. Bean presented a list of 111 questions. In June 1919, he received the answers. In the following transcription, the answers given by the Turkish General Staff will be qualified by the questions asked by Bean.
Questions 81 - 83
81. What was the Turkish appreciation of the attack at SUVLA ( ANAFARTA)?
82. What was the Turkish appreciation of the attack on SARI BAIR?
83. What was the Turkish appreciation of the attack on LONE PINE?
From these attacks the Turkish officers appreciated the ability or the Anzac troops to act on their own initiative, to profit by the shape of the ground, and to operate in difficult country.
Questions 85 – 87
85. What was their estimate of the position after August 10th?
86. Where did they estimate the most critical position to be?
87. What was the effect of the attack on HILL 60 across the KAIAJIK AGHALA?
After the 10th August it was thought that the British would continue their attack but after the attack of 21st August, the situation became more easy.
The most important consideration was the impossibility of driving out the British from their positions with the means available to the Turks at the time.
The attacks on Hill 60 opposite Kaiajik Aghilu had no effect except the shedding of blood.
Questions 88 - 90
88. What were the Turkish intentions after September?
89. What was their preparation for the winter?
90. What opinions did they hold an to the probability of an evacuation by us of the Peninsula?
After September the policy was to obtain heavy artillery and ammunition from Germany to beat down the opposition. The same line would be held throughout the winter. The general opinion was that the British would not evacuate their positions on the Peninsula.
Questions 91 - 93
91. What they thought of our cessation of fire on the 27th, 28th and 29th November?
92. Did they think that it might be due to our evacuating?
93. When did they first begin to suspect that an evacuation was probable?
Owing to the bad weather, on the 27th, 28th, and 29th it was not realised that the fire had slackened. This bad weather had affected both sides.
On the 28th November, we made a sudden bombardment for 10 minutes. At first the British artillery replied lightly but increased their fire later - the navy joining; in.
Some British units were known to have been sent to Macedonia.
The mining of our machine gun emplacements gave no indication of early evacuation.
Questions 94 - 96
94, What did they suspect in December, as to our evacuation?
95. Did they see any movement on our part and what did they attribute it to?
96. Was there any report of evacuation at SUVLA or ANZAC during the last two days or nights of our stay?
In December the front was quiet. 2 days before the Anafarta evacuation hostile aeroplanes were very active and bombed the back areas. Hostile artillery also visibly decreased.
Questions 100 - 102
100. What was the total number of Turkish casualties on the Peninsula and how they distributed between SUVLA (ANAFARTA ) ANZAC (ARI BURNU), and HELLES {SEDDUL BAHR}, and when did the bulk of these occur?
101. What were the casualties through sickness at these places respectively?
102. When was ammunition most and least plentiful?
The heaviest losses on the Peninsula were at Seddulbahr, then Ari Burnu and Suvla.
Most casualties occurred in the early counter attacks. Casualties from sickness were very small in comparison. Ammunition was always tight.
South Australian Mounted Rifles, Brief History Topic: Militia - LHS - SA
South Australian Mounted Rifles
Brief History
Members of the Mt Gambier 1897 Jubilee Contingent
The following is a transcription from a brief outline of the South Australian Mounted Rifles history produced in 1959.
A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MOUNTED RIFLES
Originally raised by Governor GAWLER in February of 1840 as 2 troops of cavalry to provide the mounted troops of the Royal South Australian Volunteer Militia Brigade, this Regiment is believed to be the first volunteer unit raised in Australia.
Even though not financed by the Government from 9 February 1856 until June 1877, the Regiment continued to exist, on a completely voluntary basis - horses, uniforms arms and equipment being provided by each member at his own expense.
In recognition of its having provided guards and escorts for H.H. the Duke of Edinburgh in 1867 the Regiment was dubbed the Duke's Own Cavalry. In June 1877, at the instigation of the Mayor of ADELAIDE the Regiment was reformed and financed by the South Australian Government.
It is interesting to note that in 1899, during the Regiment's Annual Camp, the Commandant General appointed a Cpl de Passy to be officer Commanding, as no officer with military knowledge was available, and later, as a lieutenant colonel, this same Cpl De Passy again commanded the Regiment in South Africa.
Twenty-five all ranks were selected in 1897 to represent South Australia at Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
The Regiment sailed for South Africa in 1899 and saw action for the first time at Britstown on 6 Feb 1900 on which day, the first decorations for bravery were won, three troopers each being awarded the DCM. The unit served under Lord Methuen who wrote of them, "they did splendid work and were cheerful in hardships. I cannot conceive any body of men of whom a commander has better reason to be proud."
On its return to Australia in 1902 after Federation, the Commonwealth Government re-organised the South Australian Mounted Rifles as three Regiments of Light Horse the 22nd, 23rd, 24th.
Upon the outbreak of war in 1914, these Regiments were again re-organised as the 3rd and 9th Australian Light Horse Regiments AIF and served on Gallipoli, and through Egypt, Palestine and Syria. It was during thus operations that the 9th Regiment captured the battle standard of a Turkish Regiment which now hangs in the War Museum, CANBERRA. Thus the Regiment has the honour of being the only unit to capture such a Standard during the Great War.
Both Regiments of the South Australian Mounted Rifles returned to Australia in 1919 and continued as Militia units until 1940, when they were formed into an Armoured Car Regiment, and reformed in 1948 into one regiment the 3/9 SAMR, which is now a unit of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps.
For service in the Boer and Great War the regiment was awarded two sets of Guidons one each to the 3rd and 9th Regiment of Light Horse.
This Table is based on the "War Establishments of the Australian Military Forces, 1912." Provision is made for an Armourer as a Staff Sergeant of the Regiment. No other "Attached" Officers, N.C.O.'s, or Men have been provided for. This latter personnel should come to the Regiment fully equipped.
"All Ranks" does not include Officers unless specially mentioned.
Signalling Equipment.
Section 8C
Cases, message book
7
Carried by signallers
Flags, signal, army
Blue
3 feet square
12
2 feet square
24
White, with stripe
3 feet square
12
2 feet square
24
Poles
5ft. 6 in.
30
3 ft. 6 in.
60
Heliographs, 5 in.
8
Lamps, signalling, "B"
8
Supply oil and wick will accompany every lamp
Panniers, signalling
4
Stands, lamp or helio, "A"
8
Wick, flat, 2⅝ in.
As required
Section 8D.
Compasses, prismatic
4
Compass cases
4
Watches
4
Section 9 A.
Oil, mineral, burning (flashing point about 150o Fahr.)
As required
Section 13C.
Cotton, waste, white, lbs
As required
Section 15B.
Binoculars
4
Stands, telescope, signalling
8
Telescopes, signalling
8
N.I.V.
Books, signalling manual
8
C.M. Form A39 (hundreds)
24
Pencils, gross
½
Equipment for Reconnaissance
Section 8D.
Compasses, magnetic, pocket
55
Section 15B
Binoculars
190
1 per officer, R.S.M., farrier Q.M.S., sergt. trumpeter, transp. sgt., S.S.M., S.Q.M.S., farrier sergt., sergt., corporal, corporal shoeing smith, and 1 per 3 lance corporals and privates of squadron. (Exclusive of signallers, artificers, batman, and drivers.)
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.
Please Note: No express or implied permission is given for commercial use of the information contained within this site.
A note to copyright holders
The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre has made every endeavour to contact copyright holders of material digitised for this blog and website and where
appropriate, permission is still being sought for these items. Where replies were not received, or where the copyright owner has not been able to be traced, or where
the permission is still being sought, the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre has decided, in good faith, to proceed with digitisation and publication. Australian Light
Horse Studies Centre would be happy to hear from copyright owners at any time to discuss usage of this item.
