"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
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The following entries are extracted and transcribed from the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, the originals of which are held by the Australian War Memorial. There are 366 entries on this site. Each day has entries as they occurred from 1914 to 1919. In addition to the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, when appropriate, entries from the 3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary and other regiments with the Brigade will also appear. Entries from the unit history, Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924 will also appear from time to time. The aim is to give the broadest context to the story and allow the reader to follow the day to day activities of the regiment. If a relative happened to have served in the regiment during the Great War, then this provides a general framework in which the individual story may be told.
The following entries are extracted and transcribed from the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, the originals of which are held by the Australian War Memorial. There are 366 entries on this site. Each day has entries as they occurred from 1914 to 1919. In addition to the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, when appropriate, entries from the 3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary and other regiments with the Brigade will also appear. Entries from the unit history, Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924 will also appear from time to time. The aim is to give the broadest context to the story and allow the reader to follow the day to day activities of the regiment. If a relative happened to have served in the regiment during the Great War, then this provides a general framework in which the individual story may be told.
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Abasan el Kebir
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - The Regiment undertook routine work for the day. Replacement khaki tunics issued.
Chauvel, Major General Sir HG, spoke to all officers of the Brigade on his taking over command of the Desert Column.
1918
Thursday, April 25, 1918
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - 1½ miles north west of Jericho
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Daly, Major TJ, returned from three days Jerusalem leave.
Mueller, Lieutenant GLH, returned from Instruction School.
Stevens, Lieutenant WJ, returned from Scouts School at El Arish.
1919
Friday, April 25, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Zagazig
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Lieutenant Lawrence with patrol locating all Europeans, Jews, Greeks, Syrians and Armenians in El Abbasa sub sector.
Cruddas, Lieutenant GF, DCM, marched to A Details, Moascar for early embarkation to Australia.
The following entries are extracted and transcribed from the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, the originals of which are held by the Australian War Memorial. There are 366 entries on this site. Each day has entries as they occurred from 1914 to 1919. In addition to the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, when appropriate, entries from the 3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary and other regiments with the Brigade will also appear. Entries from the unit history, Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924 will also appear from time to time. The aim is to give the broadest context to the story and allow the reader to follow the day to day activities of the regiment. If a relative happened to have served in the regiment during the Great War, then this provides a general framework in which the individual story may be told.
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Abasan el Kebir
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - The Regiment paraded at 0600 and went down to Deir el Belah camp where the men changed clothes and swam. Returned to Abasan el Kebir at 1800.
Seventy five reinforcements marched in from Moascar and were allotted.
1918
Wednesday, April 24, 1918
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Talaat ed Dumm, Jericho
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - The Regiment with Regimental transport moved from Talaat ed Dumm, watered and proceeded by the old Jericho Road towards Jericho. The transport experienced great difficulty in negotiating the exceptionally steep decline leading down onto the plains of Jericho. The last steep decline leading down onto the plain of Jericho near Wadi Kelt presented the worst difficulties. Here the 8th Light Horse Regiment wagon collapsed and the items bolting into Wadi Kelt. B Squadron of the 9th Light Horse Regiment was dismounted and given orders to stand by and assist the 9th Light Horse Regiment Transport down this last decline. This was completed with the exception of the Maltese cart which was in the rear of the Regimental Transport and unfortunately when crossing a rut at the bottom of the hill the shaft broke throwing the driver, Learmonth, 2816 Trooper WJ onto the road, the cart passing over him and dragging him down until it collided with a limbered wagon in front. Trooper Learmonth died a few minutes afterwards.
The Regiment arrived at a point 11/2 miles north west of Jericho near Wadi Nueiameh. This completed a 61 mile trek from Selmieh and is up to date the most interesting trek undertaken by the Regiment.
The first two days of the march were down and across the fertile coastal plain, thence up into the well watered Judean hills between Latron and Jerusalem at an altitude of 2,920 feet above sea level, thence across the barren hills east of Jerusalem down onto the Plain of Jericho which is 800 feet below sea level.
An Officers' reconnaissance went to Auja Ford; El Mundessa Ford; and, El Ghoraniyeh Bridgehead.
Wastell, Lieutenant MF; and Lane, Lieutenant BGB; and, two Other Ranks proceeded to School of Instruction El Arish.
Three Other Ranks to Zeitoun.
1919
Thursday, April 24, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Zagazig
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Remainder of A and B Squadrons less A Squadron mounted troop at El Abbasa and B Squadron personnel at Belbeis Station exchanged positions.
el Qatiya, Sinai, 23 April 1916, Wilson Account Topic: AIF - 2B - 5 LHR
el Qatiya
Sinai, 23 April 1916
Wilson Account
Wilson account of the 5th LHR, AIF.
The Transcription:
5th Light Horse Regiment, AIF, Dueidar, 26th April 1916.
Report of Operations of Regiment from 22nd to 26th April 1916. (Inclusive)
22 April 1916
Regiment moved from Salhia at 0545 to Kantara by road, arrived 1300. Transport waggons, horses and personnel by rail. I reported to Headquarters 52nd Division and was instructed to proceed to Dueidar next morning, leaving transport at Kantara.
23 April 1916
About 0700 received instructions to send one squadron to report to 155th Brigade at Hill 40, as Dueidar being attacked. At 0800 "C" Squadron moved out under Major Cameron. He reported to Hill 40 to Lieutenant Colonel Leggett who instructed him to march to Dueidar and pursue the enemy who were reported as retiring in a south easterly direction and to endeavour to turn his southern flank and throw the enemy on to the Yeomanry, who it was expected were operating against them from Romani and Katia. "C" Squadron arrived at Dueidar at 1215 at which time a few rifle shots were being fired into the oasis. The Squadron moved out south east at 1230 a distance of 8 miles but did not get in touch with the enemy other than two armed men who were taken prisoners.
The remainder of the Regiment less transport moved from Kantara at 0850 and as instructed reported at Hill 70 to Lieutenant Colonel Leggett. "B" Squadron and the Machine Gun Section remained at Hill 70. "A" Squadron and the Regimental Headquarters came on with Lieutenant Colonel Leggett and two companies of Infantry to Dueidar, "A" Squadron supplying a screen and a right flanking guard of the column. On arrival of the party at Dueidar I was instructed to take all available men and pursue the enemy. "A" Squadron accordingly moved easterly, a distance of 5 miles and subsequently got touch with "C" Squadron on the right. This ("A") Squadron saw no enemy other than two armed unwounded men and one unarmed wounded man - these were taken prisoners. Both Squadrons ("A" & "C") returned to Dueidar at dusk. Numerous recent tracks of camels and men were observed by both Squadrons and it is estimated as representing a force of 500 men. "B" Squadron and the Machine Gun Section left at Hill 70 rejoined the Regiment at Dueidar at about 2000.
24 April 1916
Four patrols of one Officer and 20 Other Ranks each were sent out at 0345, returning after dawn. Four patrols were sent out at 0830 returning shortly after noon. These patrols went out a distance of about 6 miles each, south east, east, east north east, and north east north. The left one gained touch with Railhead - East north east patrol picked up 8 Engineers (Signallers) from Katia. Three patrols were sent out in the afternoon in the same directions, one picked up a wounded Turkish Officer and a camel driver. An Observation Post, signallers attached, was established at dawn on Hill 383, three miles south east of this Post, this post remains there daily from dawn till dusk.
25 April 1916
Similar patrols were sent out as on 24th. One picked up Lance Corporal Slater of the Warwick Yeomanry and 15 camel drivers between here and Katia. Touch obtained with Railhead. Command of this Post handed over to me, Lieutenant Colonel Leggett and 1 Company of the 5th Royal Scottish Fusiliers returning to Hill 40. The Regiment started a communication trench between the Oasis and Main Redoubt. One of the camel transport drivers picked up reported that when he left Katia that morning there were four English wounded soldiers and four wounded camel drivers left there. I telephoned this information to 2nd Light Horse Brigade at Romani and received a reply that they would send a Doctor with a patrol to Katia the following morning. (I was subsequently advised that they did so and recovered 5 wounded English soldiers.)
Three Officers Patrols sent out at 0345 one of which gained touch with Railhead. Four other patrols sent out during the day, one of which reached Bir el Dhaba, 7 miles east of here. A patrol of 7 of Bikanir Camel Corps with one of our Officers moved south a distance of about 8 miles to Hill B2, 10 miles east of Ballah Bunnion. Our Observation Post on Hill 383 is in Heliograph communication with Railhead, Romani, and Hill 70. They could get in touch with Hill B2 if the latter Post had the necessary helio. No enemy has been seen by any of the patrols of this Regiment other than those mentioned above as having been taken prisoner.
el Qatiya, Sinai, 23 April 1916, Ryrie Account Topic: AIF - 2B - 2 LHB
el Qatiya
Sinai, 23 April 1916
Ryrie Account
Ryrie report of the 2nd LH Bde, AIF.
The Transcription:
To: Anzac Mounted Division, Romani, April 26th 1916.
Report of Lieutenant Snow, Officer Commanding Quatia Patrol.
Report of Lieutenant Snow who took the patrol out to Qatia this morning attached.
It would appear from this that the Enemy had artillery, from a sample of a shell brought in I should say they were using twelve pounders.
He explained that he had not much opportunity of seeing what dead the Enemy had left as he did not get beyond our position and the Turkish dead would probably be 500 yards out. The Medical Officer, Captain O'Hara informs me that he examined two enemy dead and said they were typical Turkish soldiers similar to those at Gallipoli.
There would be no chance of occupying the camp or anywhere near it for a long time as the stench from the dead horses and camels is very bad.
Another patrol of a Squadron went out at midday under Major Sutton in accordance with your G486 with orders to do as much as possible but to return by dusk, another patrol of a Squadron will leave at dawn tomorrow morning to make a more extensive reconnaissance.
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