Western Australian Militia

Union Troop of W.A. Mounted Volunteers

The following is an extract from the book written in 1962 by George F. Wieck called The Volunteer Movement in Western Australia 1861-1903, pp. 32 – 33:

Union Troop of W.A. Mounted Volunteers

The Government Gazette of 19.7.1870 authorised the formation of a mounted corps in Perth to be designated the "Union Troop of Western Australian Mounted Volunteers", Lieut. de Lisle was appointed to command. The initial strength was three officers and 33 other ranks and this was easily maintained. The uniform adopted is stated to have been of Hussar type but this cannot be verified.

The frequency with which this corps was called upon to provide escorts for the Governor on official occasions suggests this as the chief reason for raising it. It appears to have performed its duties very efficiently.

Lieut. de Lisle resigned command and returned to England in 1872: he was succeeded by Capt. H. W. J. A. Blundell, an officer of British Royal Horse Artillery and an A.D.C. to the Governor.

On a date which may conveniently and satisfactorily be stated as 1.7.1872, the corps ceased to be Cavalry and was officially designated the "W.A. Troop of Volunteer Horse Artillery."


Officers of Union Troop of W.A. Mounted Volunteers

Lieutenant F de Lisle – 19 July 1870

Lieutenant CC Fauntleroy – 28 September 1870

Captain HWJA Blundell – 26 June 1872

Surgeon Dr T Hora - 28 September 1870

Previous:  Pinjarrah Mounted Volunteers, Nominal Roll, 1868

Next: Perth Company of W.A. Rifle Volunteers

Further Reading:

Western Australian Militia, Light Horse

Western Australian Militia, Infantry

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Friday, 14 August 2009 6:10 PM EADT

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[Photo by Jll.]

Three nations participated in the charge at the Nek on that early morning of 7 August 1915, and so those who died, deserve recognition. This list is as comprehensive as possible. It contains the names of the men who died as a consequence of that action at the Nek, either on the day or subsequently from wounds. The roll is based upon an extensive search of Australian, British and Turkish records. Much to my regret British and Turkish records do not contain the level of information available to Australian records and thus can only be included where possible to identify the individual.

We have an obligation to see the commonality of suffering experienced by all men that day, all the sons who lay in the soil. The following list aims to fulfil that aspiration by placing on equal footing all who died during that terrible slaughter at the Nek.

This is a historic document which acknowledges the common sacrifice of the Australians along with the British and the Ottoman Turks, all of whom gave their lives at the Nek.

They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Roll of Honour

 

A

678 Private Frank Leigh A'BECKETT, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

755 Private James Valentine AIREY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

682 Private Rollo Charles Stacpole ALBAN, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

756 Private Robert Osborne ALEXANDER, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

490 Private Ali Osman son of MEHMET, 3rd Battalion, 18th Regiment, Ottoman Turk

607 Private Patrick Joseph AMOR, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

801 Private Arthur Andreas ANDERSON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

544 Private George John Stewart ANDERSON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

235 Lance Corporal James Alfred ANDERSON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

778 Private James ANDERSON, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

Lieutenant Leo William Hall ANDERSON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

101 Private William Fleming ANDERSON, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

608 Private William Stowwell ANDERSON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

876 Private Stephen ARBUTHNOT, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

 

B

364 Sergeant Duncan Farquhar Grant BAIN, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

208 Private John Henry BAKER, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

103 Private Harold BARRACLOUGH, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

881 Private Walter Ernest BARTON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

806 Private Percy Hamlin BECKETT, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

527 Private Robert BEILBY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

878 Private James Alexander BELL, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

601 Private Charles BENSON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

234 Corporal Alexander Douglas BETHUNE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

372 Private William BLAKE, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

338 Private Victor Eric BLAKENEY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

805 Private Douglas BODDY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

46 Sergeant Henry BOHLSEN, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

Lieutenant Keith BORTHWICK, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

209 Lance Corporal John BOSWELL, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

934 Private Horace BOWER, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

880 Private Richard BOWERING, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

233 Corporal Alwynne Stanley BOWKER, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

709 Private Edgar Vernon BRADY, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

69 Private Hubert Howden BROCKMAN, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

11882 Private Thomas BROSTER, 8th Royal Welch Fusiliers, United Kingdom

244 Private Thomas BUCKINGHAM, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

379 Private Frederick John BUNCE, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

165 Lance Corporal Thomas Francis BURGES, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

342 Driver William BURKE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

712 Private Albert James BUTLER, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

 

C

311 Private Morton Alfred CAKEBREAD, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

937 Private James Percival CAMERON, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

300 Sergeant Major Colin Henry CAMERON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

605 Private James Pullar CAMERON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

853 Private James CARNEY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

59 Private Alfred Ernest CARPENTER, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

Lieutenant Charles CARTHEW, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

129 Lance Corporal Alfred CAVANAGH, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

2152 Private Arthur CHAMBERLAIN, 8th Battalion Cheshires, United Kingdom

860 Private Henry Thomas CHIPPER, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

97 Lance Corporal Lindsay Lewis Sterling CHIPPER, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

68 Private Ross Richard Vivian CHIPPER, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

281 Private Henry Norman CLAYTON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

776 Private Thomas George COATES, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

142 Private Albert George COBB, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

156 Private Dyson Frederick COLE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

155 Private Lionel William COLE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

787 Private Herbert Alfred COLLINS, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

93 Private Tom COMBLEY, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

689 Private Walter COMBS, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

115 Sergeant John Leslie CONNOR, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

151 Private John CONSIDINE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

240 Private James CONWAY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

12516 Private Francis James COOMBS, 8th Royal Welch Fusiliers, United Kingdom

70 Corporal Henry Lennox COWELL, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

534 Private Colin Hearden CRAMOND, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

58 Driver Alexander George CUMMING, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

139 Private Richard Edward CUMMING, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

884 Corporal Hubert Roulstone Clifford CURRIE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

 

D

Lieutenant Charles Coning DALE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

718 Private Rowland [Ronald] Dudley DAVIS, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

791 Private George Ernest DE MOLE, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

539 Private Reginald Garry DEMPSTER, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

694 Private Percy George DEWHURST, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

89 Private Oliver Ernest DONALDSON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

166 Private Amos Leonard DOUST, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

781 Private William DOW, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

542 Private Frank Napier DREW, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

690 Private Alfred DRISCOLL, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

693 Private Thomas Alfred DUDDERIDGE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

662 Private James DUFFY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

394 Corporal Denis DU VAL, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

692 Private Thomas Leo DWYER, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

84 Private Norman Charles DYER, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

 

E

817 Private Stanley EDMISTON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

618 Private Wallace ESSAY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

1804 Private William Williamson EUSTACE, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

368 Private Albert Lacey EVANS, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

369 Private Alexander George EVANS, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

889 Private Herbert Ernest EYERS, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

153 Private John Charles EYRE, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

 

F

109 Sergeant Basil Middleton FENWICK, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

212 Private Lawrence Gerald FINN, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

521 Private Jack FLUX, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

821 Private Benjamin FORBES, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

403 Corporal Richard Andrew FORBES, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

265 Sergeant Thomas Charles FORDE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

158 Private Arthur William FYFFE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

G

245 Private William Henry GALE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

526 Private Alexander GANNAWAY, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

824 Private Edward GIBBS, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

160 Private Frederick Gilbert GIPPS, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

893 Corporal Hugh Garfield GORDON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

286 Private Ernest Samuel GOULDEN, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

287 Private John George Letcher GOYNE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

768 Private Hugh GRACE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

894 Private Gerald Lawrence GRAHAM, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

929 Private Geoffrey Treacher GRANT, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

Lieutenant George Muir GRANT, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

559 Private Charles GREAVES, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

381 Sergeant Clifton Riversdale GRENFELL, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

698 Private Louis Gerald GRIFFIN, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

167 Private Alfred Henry GRIFFITHS, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

621 Private Mansell David GRIFFITHS, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

H

728 Private William HAHN, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

346 Private Halil son of ÖMER, 2nd Battalion, 18th Regiment, Ottoman Turk

760 Private Frederick George HALL, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

828 Private Arthur HANCOCK, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

11884 Private John Charles HARDING, 8th Royal Welch Fusiliers, United Kingdom

12376 Private George HARNEY, 8th Royal Welch Fusiliers, United Kingdom

113 Private Gresley HARPER, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

114 Private Wilfred Lukin HARPER, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

250 Private Reginald Desmond HARRIS, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

361 Squadron Sergeant Major William Edward HARVEY, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

112 Private Oscar Donald Humfray HASSELL, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

896 Private James HASTINGS, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

168 Private John HAY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

Lieutenant Thomas James HELLER, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

541 Private Edward Percival HENDY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

Lieutenant Edward Ellis HENTY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

19746 Private Alfred HICKINBOTHAM, 8th Royal Welch Fusiliers, United Kingdom

247 Private Bertie HILL, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

283 Private Henry George HILL, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

292 Private Henry HILL, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

213 Private William Arthur HIND, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

200 Corporal Russell George HINDHAUGH, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

314 Private Carl HOLMBERG, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

623 Private George Reuben HOPE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

897 Private Harry HOSKINS, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

Lieutenant Thomas Spencer HOWARD, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

96 Private Geoffrey Castell HOWELL, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

803 Private Raymond HOWELL, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

201 Lance Corporal George Thomas HUGHES, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

13175 Private Richard John HUGHES, 8th Royal Welch Fusiliers, United Kingdom

I

787 Private Ismail son of MUSTAFA, 2nd Battalion, 18th Regiment, Ottoman Turk

J

Lieutenant David Alexander JACKSON, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

742 Private Samuel JAMES, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

229 Private Douglas JAMIESON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

217 Private Donald Mathieson McGregor JOHNSON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

316 Lance Corporal John Joshua JOLLY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

828 Private Arthur JONES, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

394 Private Thomas JONES, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

K

130 Private Charles KELLY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

547 Private Frank Winterburn KEMP, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

400 Private Robert KERR, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

703 Private Edward Richard KILPATRICK, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

831 Private Martin Frederick KING, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

83 Private Allan Bruce KINNAIRD, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

141 Private Frederick William KIRSCH, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

150 Private Louis Alfred KLOPPER, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

251 Private Archibald Roland KNIGHT, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

L

33 Private William Henry LAILEY, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

898 Private William LANG, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

762 Private Michael Edward LARKIN, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

2242 Private William LEE, 8th Battalion Cheshires, United Kingdom

834 Private Ralph Vivian Worthington LEES, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

133 Private Hugh LENNON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

120 Private John Percival LEWIS, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

Captain Walter LLOYD, 8th Royal Welch Fusiliers, United Kingdom

132 Private Thomas LONGMORE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

116 Private Dudley LUKIN, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

M

906 Private Charles Russell MacNALLY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

Second Lieutenant Cyril Godfrey MARSH, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

255 Private Robert MARTIN, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

307 Private William Henry MASON, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

903 Private Oscar John MATTHIES, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

170 Sergeant Ernest McALIECE, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

744 Private Herbert McCARTHY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

450 Lance Corporal Alfred John McCLUSKY, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

263 Private Samuel Jeremiah McCOLL, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

177 Private William McELHINNEY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

123 Private John Blacklock McJANNET, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

813 Private William Cuthbert McKENZIE, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

962 Private Donald Shapley McLEAN, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

Captain Robert Thompson McMASTER, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

735 Private Henry George McNEILL, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

125 Private Gordon McRAE, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

2966 Private Mehmet son of HAMDI, 3rd Battalion, 18th Regiment, Ottoman Turk

178 Private Mehmet son of HASAN, 2nd Battalion, 18th Regiment, Ottoman Turk

179 Private Mehmet son of HASAN, 2nd Battalion, 18th Regiment, Ottoman Turk

2966 Private Mehmet son of HAMDI, 3rd Battalion, 18th Regiment, Ottoman Turk

Lieutenant Colonel Albert MIELL, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

254 Private Robert Reid MITCHELL, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

414 Private William MITCHELL, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

138 Sergeant Reginald Johnstone MOORE, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

542 Private Archibald Hubert MORETON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

11895 Private Randall Foulkes MORRIS, 8th Royal Welch Fusiliers, United Kingdom

663 Private Patrick MORRISSEY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

138 Private James Edgar MOYSEY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

766 Private Thomas Richard MURRAY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

1571 Private Mustafa son of HÜSEYIN, 2nd Battalion, 18th Regiment, Ottoman Turk

2776 Private Mustafa son of HÜSEYIN, 2nd Battalion, 18th Regiment, Ottoman Turk

1457 Private Mustafa son of MEHMET, 3rd Battalion, 18th Regiment, Ottoman Turk

N

142 Private Walter Edwards NEWTON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

325 Private Archibald NICOLSON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

80 Private William Reginald Eustace NORTHEY, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

O

554 Private Bernard Lindsay O'MULLANE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

432 Sergeant Sydney John O'NEILL, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

264 Private George Booth ORMEROD, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

2235 Private Osman son of MEHMET, 2nd Battalion, 18th Regiment, Ottoman Turk

P

41 Sergeant Ebden Harcourt Roger PALMER, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

702 Private John PALMER, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

910 Private Raymond Walter PATTERSON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

327 Private Frederick PAYNE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

741 Private Leonard Parker PAYNE, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

325 Private Arthur Albert PEARSON, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

966 Private Ernest PENNY, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

232 Sergeant James Burnett PICKETT, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

Captain Vernon Frederick PIESSE, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

327 Private Arthur Thomas PITTS, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

413 Private Ernest POLLITT, 8th Battalion Cheshires, United Kingdom

631 Private Herbert POPE, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

746 Private Allan PREECE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

482 Lance Corporal Godfrey Liddle PURVES, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

R

331 Private Alexander RAE, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

231 Sergeant Frank Albert RAWLINGS, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

198 Sergeant Victor Norman RAYMOND, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

Major Thomas Harold REDFORD, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

82 Private George Wallace RICHARDSON, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

42 Sergeant Henry George ROBERTS, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

333 Private Charles Archibald ROBINSON, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

715 Private Frederick RODERICK, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

12785 Lance Corporal Douglas ROGERS, 8th Royal Welch Fusiliers, United Kingdom

Second Lieutenant Leopold James Cecil ROSKAMS, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

130 Private William Allardyce ROSS, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

Captain Andrew Percival ROWAN, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

152 Private Harold RUSH, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

S

891 Private George Frederick Henry SANDY, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

226 Sergeant John Andrew SCOTT, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

62 Lance Corporal George Southwell SEAGER, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

182 Lance Corporal John Alexander SHAW, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

913 Private Ernest Lloyd SHEARSMITH, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

453 Private Herbert Steven SHELDON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

157 Corporal Clarence SHEPHERD, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

1728 Private George SIDEBOTHAM, 8th Battalion Cheshires, United Kingdom

131 Private Fred SINKER, 8th Battalion Cheshires, United Kingdom

746 Private Frederick Joseph SMITH, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

12684 Private William John SMITH, 8th Royal Welch Fusiliers, United Kingdom

147 Private William John SNUDDEN, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

722 Private Reuben Edward SOMERVILLE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

212 Squadron Sergeant Major John SPRINGALL, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

750 Private Abraham Joseph STANFORD, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

857 Private Herbert Edward STANLEY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

919 Private George STENZEL, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

643 Private James Alexander STEWART, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

1233 Private Süleyman son of HASAN, 2nd Battalion, 18th Regiment, Ottoman Turk 

296 Private Charles Tyler SUTHERLAND, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

898 Private Clarence Edward SUTTON, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

451 Private Patrick Joseph SWEENEY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

T

858 Private Nicholas TACKABERRY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

75 Private Stanley TAYLOR, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

304 Lance Corporal Arthur Norman TETLEY, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

184 Private James Gordon Ford THOMPSON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

821 Corporal Thomas THOMPSON, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

902 Private Owen Stanley TIMMS, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

923 Private William TOLEMAN, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

551 Private William TOSH, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

752 Private Angus Duncan TREWIN, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

Second Lieutenant Alexander Phipps TURNBULL, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

V

748 Private Leyshon VILLIS, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

W

850 Private Reginald WALLACE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

22 Private Claude Hallastone WALSH, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

150 Private Victor Kenneth WALTON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

298 Lance Corporal John Fortescue WEATHERHEAD, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

784 Private William Bradley WELCH, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

357 Private Frederick Harold WESTON, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Henry WHITE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

143 Private Edwin James WHITE, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

Second Lieutenant Henry Eric WHITEHEAD, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

71 Private James Thomas WILKERSON, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

532 Private Roy WILLAN, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

261 Private Alfred Spedding WILLIAMS, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

11910 Sergeant William Batting WILLIAMS, 8th Royal Welch Fusiliers, United Kingdom

475 Driver Richard WILLIAMSON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

Lieutenant Eliot Gratton WILSON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

29 Lance Corporal James Joseph Reginald WILSON, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

225 Private Charles Melbourne WINGROVE, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

333 Private John Wylie WINNETT, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

Lieutenant Cecil Talbot WOODS, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australia

Y

1060 Private Yakup son of HÜSEYIN, 3rd Battalion, 18th Regiment, Ottoman Turk

After all the rancour died down, in an effort to promote reconcilliation, in 1934 Atatürk wrote:

Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side now here in this country of ours... you, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land. They have become our sons as well.

The words are immortalised upon a wall specially constructed to preserve this sentiment.

 Lest we forget

Further Reading:

The Nek, Gallipoli, 7 August 1915

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Citation: The Nek, Gallipoli, 7 August 1915, Roll of Honour, Australian, British and Turkish

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 7 August 2011 9:26 AM EADT

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Battle of Romani

Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916

5th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, Unit History Account

[From Morrison, Ch VII, Illustration 12]

At the conclusion of the Great War, Colonel Frederick Lansdowne Morrison, the erstwhile Commanding Officer of the 1/5th Battalion Highland Light Infantry, 157th Infantry Regiment, 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division asked his officers to provide accounts of their time in the Sinai and Palestine. Morrison collected the stories and edited them. In 1921, in printed in Glasgow for a limited private edition, the book The Fifth Battalion Highland Light Infantry in the War 1914-1918 finally came available. It included a section specifically related to the Battle of Romani and is extracted below.

Morrison, F.L., The Fifth Battalion Highland Light Infantry in the War 1914-1918, Glasgow, 1921. 

Chapter VII

The Sinai Desert - Mahamdiya, Romani, Katia

The peaceful life of our seaside resort was soon destroyed by rumours that the Turks were moving. On the evening of July 19th, an aeroplane reconnaissance discovered a considerable force of them at Bir el Abd, some twenty-five miles to the east of us, and noticed smaller parties much nearer. The Turkish feat of moving a force, then reckoned at from 8000 to 9000 men, fifty miles from El Arish without our being aware of it, was a very fine one, and when it is remembered that they attacked us at Romani, seventy-five miles from their base, with 18,000 men and artillery up to 6 inch howitzers, everyone who has felt what the desert is like in July will be full of admiration. Nor can one wonder at the fact established by our all-wise Intelligence, that prisoners captured had sore feet. The first ripples of the commotion produced by this report reached us at 1 a.m. on the 20th, when the Adjutant was summoned to Brigade Headquarters. At 2.45 a.m. half "C" Company moved out to take over Redoubt No. 10, and later in the morning "B" Company garrisoned No. 8 and "D" Company No. 11, while the rest of "C" Company occupied 10A. These redoubts, though habitable, were still unfinished. They were part of the defences mentioned above as being in the hands of the Egyptian Labour Corps, a chain of posts running south past Romani and then turning west among the sand hills. The garrisons had at once to set to and improve their position, strengthen their wire and finish off the fire bays. At 10A a signal station had to be established in mid-desert some hundreds of yards from the redoubt, owing to a temporary shortage of signal wire. Signallers are naturally imperturbable, but the officer in charge confessed to a thrill of horror when, having with some difficulty made his way to his signal station at midnight and been handed the receiver, even as he uttered the preliminary "Hullo," the instrument suddenly sprang from his grasp and rushed off into the darkness. Mastering an almost overpowering desire to run for the redoubt, he assisted two signallers to investigate and discovered that the wire had caught in the foot of a straying camel, which had proceeded on its thoughtless way with the receiver attached.

But as is usual in desert warfare, time passed and nothing happened. "B" Company were relieved in No. 8 by the 53rd Division and rejoined "A" Company in camp. The other garrisons got into tents which they pitched in the ground behind the redoubts, so that the majority of the men could have shelter by day. At night the trenches were manned, and all was ready for an attack at dawn. But with the exception of some bomb-dropping raids by their planes, the enemy remained passive. The Australian Light Horse reported that he was busy digging in on a line through Oghratina, some miles east of Katia, and we began to think that he intended to put the onus of attacking on to us. The fear, however, was unfounded, he was only completing his preparations, and on the night of August 3rd-4th he advanced and occupied Katia.

This movement was reported, and "A" and "B" Companies, who had by now relieved "C" and "D" in the redoubts, were warned that the attack was now almost certain. Before dawn on the 4th a bombardment began, but its entire force fell a mile or two to the south of us upon the Romani defences; the Turkish plan being to attack there and, if possible, to turn our right flank. All the morning the artillery fire continued, our reply being strengthened by the "crack of doom imitations" of a couple of monitors out at sea to the north of No. 11. Little or no news filtered through to us, and the redoubt companies spent a hot day in their trenches, which were but ill suited for permanent occupation, while the reduction in the water issue, made necessary by the fear of future difficulties in refilling the storage tanks, started a thirst which was not appeased for many days. During the night, however, we heard enough to assure us that things were going well, and early on the 5th we received orders to leave the redoubts to a garrison of the unfit and to rendezvous in the old camp, prepared for a "mobile."

About midday the Battalion moved off, "A" and "C" Companies having only just arrived from the redoubts after a wakeful night and a heavy morning's work, and already thirsty, though no more water could be issued. A single water bottle, once filled, is but a poor supply for a long day under the Egyptian sun. Marching over heavy sand in the hot hours, even when the haversack has replaced the pack, soon produces an unparalleled drought. Sweat runs into a man's eyes and drips from his chin. It runs down his arms and trickles from his fingers. It drenches his shirt and leaves great white streaks on his equipment. And while so much is running out, the desire to put something in grows and grows. The temptation to take a mouthful becomes well nigh irresistible, and once the bottle of sun-heated chlorine-flavoured water is put to the lips, it is almost impossible to put it down before its precious contents are gone. Then a man becomes hopeless and there is danger of his falling out. All honour to those, and they were many, who through age or sickness, had greater difficulty in keeping up than the rest of us, but who yet carried on indomitably to the end, or only gave in when they had reached a stage of complete collapse. How often in such hours have we felt that if only we could live where one may have an unlimited supply of water just by turning on a tap, we should be content for ever. But are we, my friends? I fear not.

One cannot help feeling that the comparison made with the performances of regular battalions in the heat of India before the war, are unfair. These were trained men, caught young and developed to a high standard of physical fitness, marching along the excellent Indian roads, with a certainty of a good water supply at their night's camping place, and accompanied in many cases by travelling canteens and soda water machines. In our ranks were to be found many men of middle age, unused to active life, and many boys whose physique had not had time to respond to military training. Some had but recently joined us and were not acclimatised, others had not recovered their strength after the dysentery of Gallipoli. Roads or canteens there were none. Of course British troops have often found themselves in such conditions and worse on active service. But it is interesting to find that that fine old soldier R.S.M. Mathieson, always said that he personally never suffered from thirst to anything like the same degree during the Egyptian campaign of 1882.

We left the Battalion moving off S.E. from the camp for the Brigade rendezvous. Here we received orders to attack a "hod" named Abu Hamrah, which lay between us and Katia. The distance was not great, hardly six miles as the crow flies, but we were not crows and had to adopt less direct as well as more laborious methods. The Battalion was on the right in support to the 7th H.L.I., and the march continued with but short halts till 4 p.m., when we had a somewhat longer pause, and a chance to reinforce our early breakfasts. Few men, however, can eat either bully beef or biscuit when they are thirsty, and that was all we had. It always seemed strange that we should not have made more use of food more suitable to the climate. Later on dried figs and occasionally little dried apricots were issued with the mobile ration. Doubtless these are not very sustaining, but they are the fruit of the country, and it is better to have a little you can eat than a full ration that you cannot, whatever the decrease in caloric value may be.

There was neither sound nor sign of enemy opposition, and the advance was resumed in artillery formation in an hour or so. Darkness began to fall and great difficulty was experienced in keeping touch with the battalion in front and even between the different companies, a difficulty increased by the first line camels of the 7th, who were perpetually, though inevitably, getting in our way. When daylight had actually failed it must be admitted the Brigade had become somewhat disintegrated. The Argylls did not regain touch till next morning. The Battalion, minus "A" Company, who had been cut off by some camels and thus entered Abu Hamrah on their own, got up on the right of the 7th, where the errant company eventually discovered it.

Immediately strings of camels now appeared on all sides marching and counter-marching across everybody's front, holding up exasperated and desperate platoon commanders, who finally ruthlessly cut them in two and forged ahead to a chorus of blasphemy from weary escorts and lamentations from terrified native drivers. The peaceful hod had become an inferno. No one knew anything except that there were no Turks. After superhuman efforts on the part of various exalted personages, things were straightened out, pickets detailed and posted, and the men, too tired even to swear, dropped where they were, and rapidly cooled down in the chilly dew. It was now nearly eleven o'clock, and a half bottle of water was issued, enough merely to whet the consuming thirst which gripped everybody. Tunics were disentangled from the damp congeries on our backs and we had a few hours' precious sleep.

At 3 a.m. we stood to and began to dig ourselves in, in positions sited with extreme difficulty, in unknown country, in the dark. Soon, however, orders were received to prepare to move, and in spite of every effort, not more than half the men had had their bottles filled before we had to continue the advance. It was a very hot steamy morning, and the coolness of dawn soon disappeared. The advance was slow, and we grew thirstier and thirstier whether we moved or halted. On reaching a ridge overlooking Rabah and Katia it was found that the leading battalions were too far to the left. We and the Argylls were therefore ordered to turn right-handed and occupy Katia. The dark line of palms appeared very enticing, if very far away, and the Battalion struggled manfully on, shedding the weaker brethren as it went and, very nearly "all out," reached its objective about 10 a.m.

Our troubles were now nearly over. There were no enemy, and the trees gave us a grateful shade, which only "B" Company, pushed forward to hold an outpost line on the far bridge, had to forgo. A fine stone well was found in the oasis with a good supply of cool, though curious tasting water, and canteens were soon being let down into it at the end of puttees in a hopeless effort to cope with our thirst, after which the bolder spirits went so far as to nibble a ration biscuit. But one cannot help reflecting on what might have been the consequences for us if the Turks had adopted the German policy of well-poisoning.

We afterwards heard that the Turks, evacuating Abu Hamrah on our approach, had taken up a strong rear guard position at Katia, and had beaten off the cavalry, who had retired behind us to water their horses and get a much needed night's rest. The Turks had seized their opportunity and slipped away during the night. As far as we were concerned they were welcome to slip.

The story of the Battle of Romani can be read elsewhere. It was not an infantry show—at any rate on our side—though elements of the 52nd Division saw some fighting. No praise can be too high for the endurance and fine fighting quality of our cavalry, both Anzac and English. And it is reckoned that the Turks lost a good half of their force, either killed or captured, before they outdistanced the mounted pursuit.

Further Reading:

The British Army 

Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916, Roll of Honour, British Forces

Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916

Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 25 October 2009 5:26 PM EADT

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Australian Light Horse

Roles within the Regiment

Sentries Challenging

The following entries dealing with the roles and duties within the hierarchy of a light horse regiment are extracted from a very informative handbook called The Bushman’s Military Guide, 1898. While written in 1898, the information contained in the entries held true for the next twenty years with only minor modifications with the principles remaining as current then as now.

Sentries Challenging

 

(1.) When it gets dark the sentries will challenge in the following manner:

On the approach of any person the sentry will bring his carbine to the "Ready" position, and call out in a sharp tone "Halt: who comes there?" If the person approaching gives a satisfactory reply, the sentry will say, "Pass friend: All's well," remaining at the "Ready" till he has passed.

(2.) If the person approaching answers "Grand (or visiting) rounds," when there is no countersign, the sentry will say, "Pass grand (or visiting) rounds: All's well," shouldering his arm at the same time and presenting as they pass if they are grand rounds; but when there is a countersign, he will say, "Stand grand (or visiting) rounds; Advance one and give the countersign," still remaining at the "Ready"; in this position he will receive the countersign, and if it is correct will say, "Pass grand (or visiting) rounds," and proceed as above described.

(3.) If the sentry is on or near the guard-tent door, he will proceed as described under the topic: Guards Turning Out 

 

Previous: Sentries Paying Compliments 

Next: Instruction of Recruits as Sentries

Further Reading:

Australian Light Horse

Militia 1899 - 1920

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Wednesday, 2 September 2009 11:18 AM EADT

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Battle of Romani

Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916

Roll of Honour

Smith's Column

Poppies on the Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial, Canberra

The Roll of Honour contains the names of all the men from Smith's Column known to have served and lost their lives during the Battle of Bir el Aweidia as part of the Battle of Romani.

Roll of Honour

Killed in Action or Died of Wounds

Bertie Gerald BARRETT, 11th Light Horse Regiment, Killed in Action, 7 August 1916.

William CLARK, 10th Company, Imperial Camel Corps, Killed in Action, 7 August 1916.

Septimus Crown Vass DANSIE, 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), Killed in Action, 4 August 1916.

David William DAVIES, Imperial Camel Corps, Died of Wounds, 31 August 1916.

John Julius Jersey DE KNOOP, 6th Company, Imperial Camel Corps, Killed in Action, 7 August 1916.

Alan Frederick James, Baron DE RUTZEN, 6th Company, Imperial Camel Corps, Killed in Action, 7 August 1916.

Harold GIBBON, 11th Light Horse Regiment, Killed in Action, 7 August 1916.

Thomas Lambert GLASBY, 11th Light Horse Regiment, Killed in Action, 7 August 1916.

George HARRIS, 6th or 10th Company, Imperial Camel Corps, Killed in Action, 7 August 1916.

John William JONES, 4th Company, Imperial Camel Corps, Killed in Action, 6 August 1916.

Albert Edward PREWETT, 6th Company, Imperial Camel Corps, Killed in Action, 6 August 1916.

Allan James REED, 1/3 County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), Died of Wounds, 15 August 1916.

Harold Rowton STEVENS, 11th Light Horse Regiment, Killed in Action, 7 August 1916.

Cecil M. WILSON, 1/3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), Killed in Action, 8 August 1916.

 

Wounded in Action

Earl Clarence BRIDGES, 4th Company, Imperial Camel Corps, Wounded in Action, 7 August 1916.

Percy Alfred BUSHBY, 4th Company, Imperial Camel Corps, Wounded in Action, 7 August 1916.

William R. DICK, 7th Company, Imperial Camel Corps, Wounded in Action 8 August 1916.

Thomas GOUGH, 4th Company, Imperial Camel Corps, Wounded in Action, 7 August 1916.

John George HAMILTON, 4th Company, Imperial Camel Corps, Wounded in Action, 7 August 1916.

Arthur Edward MacPHERSON, 4th Company, Imperial Camel Corps, Wounded in Action, 7 August 1916.

Neville Liddell PORTEOUS, 4th Company, Imperial Camel Corps, Wounded in Action, 7 August 1916.

George Reginald SALISBURY, 4th Company, Imperial Camel Corps, Wounded in Action, 7 August 1916.

Jack Carmichael THOMSON, 4th Company, Imperial Camel Corps, Wounded in Action, 7 August 1916.

Ernest Frederick UPSON, 4th Company, Imperial Camel Corps, Wounded in Action, 7 August 1916.

 

Lest We Forget

Further Reading:

Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916 

Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 25 October 2009 3:08 PM EADT

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