Topic: AIF - 3B - 9 LHR
Return of the 9th LHR, AIF
Advertiser, 12 August 1919
Adelaide Advertiser, 12 August 1919, p. 6.
The transcription follows:
NINTH LIGHT HORSE.
HEARTY WELCOME HOME.
The members of the 9th. Light Horse Regiment, who returned by the transport Oxfordshire on Sunday, received a hearty welcome front the citizens of Adelaide on Monday morning, when they passed through several of the principal streets. At 9 o'clock the men paraded in the vicinity of the Cheer-up Hut, and half an hour later marched to King William-street, and along Grenfell, Poultney and Rundle streets. Members of the Cheer-up Society formed a strong post at the Anzac Arch, and the troops received on ovation from them. The men had a good reception all along the route of their march.
The Cheer-up Society entertained during the day a large number of light horsemen from the other States who are on their way home.
In the evening the members of the 9th Light Horse Regiment were tendered a welcome home dinner at the Cheer-up Hut, which was tastefully decorated with the colours of the regiment, green and yellow.
The president of the Cheer-up Society (Sir William Sowden) presided, and with, him were the Military Commandant (Brigadier-General Antill), the Minister of Repatriation (Hon. E. A. Anstey), Commander Bracegirdle, Major Brinkworth, O.C. of the 9th Light Horse, and Messrs. George Brookman and J. W. McGregor. The chairman mentioned that the original banner presented to the 9th Light Horse by Mrs. R. W. Bennett, at Montefiore Hill, in November, 1914, had been entrusted to the custody of Mrs. Seager, and was now hanging in the hut. Speaking of the illustrious dead, he said that twelve officers and 169 men connected with the regiment had paid the final price of victory, and the A.I.F. Mounted Division in Egypt lost 2,424 men by death and 5,004 were wounded. At his request the memory of departed comrades was honoured in silence.
The Military Commandant welcomed the comrades with whom he was associated ''on the other side." When he went away he was perhaps the most hated man of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade. He was the man who had to do all the dirty work. The 3rd Light Horse Brigade, of which the 9th Light Horse Regiment formed a part, was the finest light horse brigade in the world. Since he left for France he had watched their career with interest, for he knew they would keep up the record they had established on Gallipoli. He could say, as a professional man, that no regiment ever did finer work than that which had just returned from abroad. The casualties of the brigade were no less than 134 per cent. Within 14 days of their operations in Palestine the brigade had captured 11,025 prisoners, 22 big guns, and 183 others. He had lately received a special order of the day from General Allenby, in which the latter expressed his admiration and gratitude for the work they had done and said they had responded to every call. The work of the Light Horse during the past five years had been characterised by the greatest generals of the day as second to none of any troops in the world. (Applause.) He felt sure the men of the 9th Light Horse would always do their best to maintain the traditions they had made abroad.
Major Brinkworth, in responding, thanked the Cheer-up Society for their efforts on behalf of the men. After recounting experiences at the front, he said it was generally recognised that it took seven years to make a cavalry man. The Australian Light Horse, however, were given swords and turned into cavalry men in a fortnight. (Applause.)
Subsequently the men were entertained at a smoke social at the Y.M.C.A. Soldiers Lounge by the women of the 9th and 11th Light Horse Regimental Clubs and the 9th Light Horse Comforts Fund. Mr. B. S. Roach presided, and an entertaining programme was contributed by Misses Muriel Cheek and G. Campbell, and Mrs. Templer.
When the Oxfordshire, with the 9th Light Horse regiment on board, steamed into the Outer Harbor on Sunday she proudly flew the colours of the regiment. These consisted of (at the top foremast) the green and gold flag bearing the rising sun, the emblem of the regiment. Below that was the flag presented to them before leaving for the front, while third on the string came a flag of crimson satin, which was captured from the Turks at Damascus by the 9th. This flag is worked with gold, and has a gold fringe, with on one side Turkish wording, and on the other six medallions representing honours conferred on the Turks. The flags are at present in charge, of Major H.M. Parsons, D.S.O., of Victoria, the O.C. of the regiment.
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Citation: Return of the 9th LHR, AIF, Advertiser, 12 August 1919
Posted by Project Leader
at 10:16 AM EADT
Updated: Monday, 22 June 2009 10:18 AM EADT
