Diaries of AIF Servicemen

Bert Schramm

30 May 1918

Bert Schramm

Bert Schramm

2823 Private Herbert Leslie SCHRAMM, a 22 year old Farmer from Whites River, South Australia. He enlisted on 17 February 1916; and at the conclusion of the war Returned to Australia, 10 July 1919.

During part of the course of his military service with the AIF, Bert Schramm 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 Offensive 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.

The Diaries

The complete diary is now available on the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre Site at:

Bert Schramm Diary

Finding more about a service person. See:

Navigating the National Archives Service File 

Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 28 May - 3 June 1918

[Click on page for a larger print version.]

Bert Schramm's Diary

Thursday, May 30, 1918

Bert Schramm's Location - Auja bridgehead defences, Jordan River

Bert Schramm's Diary -   Have been out on day patrol all day. Things much the same as usual.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Auja bridgehead defences, Jordan River

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Mueller, Lieutenant GLH, evacuated to Field Ambulance.

9th LHR AIF War Diary, 30 May

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

No Entry.

Previous: Bert Schramm's Diary, 29 May 1918

Next: Bert Schramm's Diary, 31 May 1918

Sources Used:

Bert Schramm's Diary

National Archives Service File.

Embarkation Roll, AWM8.

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

Nominal Roll, AWM133, Nominal Roll of Australian Imperial Force who left Australia for service abroad, 1914-1918 War.

War Diaries and Letters

All War Diaries and letters cited on this site should be read in conjunction with the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, War Diaries and Letters, Site Transcription Policy which may be accessed at:

Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, War Diaries and Letters, Site Transcription Policy 

Further Reading:

Bert Schramm Diary

Bert Schramm Diary, Album

Bert Schramm's Photo Album

9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF

9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, War Diary, Day by Day Account

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Citation: Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 30 May 1918

Posted by Project Leader at 1:01 AM EADT

Updated: Saturday, 28 May 2011 5:01 PM EADT

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9th LHR, AIF

Pro Gloria et Honore - For Glory and Honour

Regimental March -  Marching Through Georgia

The Diary

1914

Saturday, May 30, 1914

See 4th Military District, South Australia for militia activities.

1915

Sunday, May 30, 1915

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Walkers Ridge

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Turks attacked No 3 Outpost held by New Zealanders. Throughout the day our troops were employed in searching ground which was believed to contain enemy trenches. Ranges 1100 yards and 1400 yards. Results could not be ascertained.

3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary - Brigadier placed in command for night of Section 4 - No. 1

Carew Reynell Diary - No entry.

1916

Monday, May 29, 1916

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Roadhead Serapeum

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - The following "Appreciation " order (extract from Brigade Orders) by Major General Sir HV Cox, KCMG, CB, CS.

"In handing over Command of the Subsection of the Canal Defences, the GOC wishes to place on record his appreciation of the good work done by all ranks of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade, in the front line. The cheerful spirit of the men and the way their often trying duties are performed reflect great credit on them and their officers. Their camps and sanitary arrangements are thebest the GOC has seen in this country."

1917

Wednesday, May 30, 1917

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - El Shellal

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Operating Order received from Brigade headquarters for a raid to be made on small patrols of enemy troops known to be in vicinity of El Magam and Khirbit Erk.

1918

Thursday, May 30, 1918

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Auja bridgehead defences

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Mueller, Lieutenant GLH, evacuated to Field Ambulance.

1919

Friday, May 30, 1919

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Tel el Kebir

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0700, Tod, Lieutenant PA; and, 20 Other Ranks proceeded to patrol as far east as Ez Abou Gazia.

Parsons, Major HM, DSO reported from duty at military courts, Zagazig.

Previous: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 29 May

Next: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 31 May

Sources:

See: 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Contents

Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy

Further Reading:

9th Light Horse Regiment AIF

Bert Schramm Diary

9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour 

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Monday, 26 July 2010 9:57 AM EADT

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Diaries of AIF Servicemen

Bert Schramm

29 May 1918

Bert Schramm

Bert Schramm

2823 Private Herbert Leslie SCHRAMM, a 22 year old Farmer from Whites River, South Australia. He enlisted on 17 February 1916; and at the conclusion of the war Returned to Australia, 10 July 1919.

During part of the course of his military service with the AIF, Bert Schramm 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.

The Diaries

The complete diary is now available on the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre Site at:

Bert Schramm Diary

Finding more about a service person. See:

Navigating the National Archives Service File 

Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 28 May - 3 June 1918

[Click on page for a larger print version.]

Bert Schramm's Diary

Wednesday, May 29, 1918

Bert Schramm's Location - Auja bridgehead defences, Jordan River

Bert Schramm's Diary -   Received several more letters today including one from Fred saying he had been wounded again. Everything is fairly quiet.

[Note: Fred was 5751 Pte Frederick Lincoln Schramm, 48th Infantry Battalion, AIF. He was wounded in France for the third time on 3 May 1918.]

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Auja bridgehead defences, Jordan River

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Nelson, Captain AH, evacuated to Field Ambulance. Twelve Reinforcements marched in from Reinforcements Camp, Jericho.

9th LHR AIF War Diary, 29 May

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

No Entry.

Previous: Bert Schramm's Diary, 28 May 1918

Next: Bert Schramm's Diary, 30 May 1918

Sources Used:

Bert Schramm's Diary

National Archives Service File.

Embarkation Roll, AWM8.

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

Nominal Roll, AWM133, Nominal Roll of Australian Imperial Force who left Australia for service abroad, 1914-1918 War.

War Diaries and Letters

All War Diaries and letters cited on this site should be read in conjunction with the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, War Diaries and Letters, Site Transcription Policy which may be accessed at:

Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, War Diaries and Letters, Site Transcription Policy 

Further Reading:

Bert Schramm Diary

Bert Schramm Diary, Album

Bert Schramm's Photo Album

9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF

9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, War Diary, Day by Day Account

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Citation: Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 29 May 1918

Posted by Project Leader at 1:01 AM EADT

Updated: Saturday, 28 May 2011 10:37 AM EADT

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9th LHR, AIF

Pro Gloria et Honore - For Glory and Honour

Regimental March -  Marching Through Georgia

The Diary

1914

Friday, May 29, 1914

See 4th Military District, South Australia for militia activities.

1915

Saturday, May 29, 1915

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Walkers Ridge

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0317 Turks opened up heavy rifle fire under cover of which bomb throwers advanced and two bombs fell in the trench each accounted for one man. Then the parapet was manned and rapid fire opened on Turks advancing. About 8 bomb throwers were shot down and the Turks immediately retired.

Our casualties were 2 killed and 2 wounded. Turkish killed estimated at twelve.

0650 - 0730 Heavy hostile shell fire directed at our position from direction of Kuchuk Amafarta. Several shells burst in front in the rest trenches of the Reserve Squadron.

Casualties: 2 Killed, 9 Wounded.

Killed in action:

96 Private Alec Luffman Axtens, 20.

844 Private Harry Binyon, 35.

589 Private Edward Charles Clough, 25.

415 Private Thomas Griffiths, 19.

3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary - Turks mined Quinn's Post, blew it up at 0300 and captured it. Counter attack succeeded and post retaken at 0700. Turkish casualties estimated at 2,000.

Captain Jackson, Lieutenants Sherwood and Campbell and 17 men wounded, In No.4 Section, New Zealanders took the Turkish post on the left of the line, one killed and five wounded.

Section occupied by 8th and 9th Light Horse Regiments shelled and attacked with bombs. Of the 8th Light Horse Regiment, 7 men killed and three wounded. Of the 8th Light Horse Regiment, three men killed and eight wounded. Quinn's  Post, Major Quinn killed. Lieutenant Colonel Burrage seriously wounded. Casualties in all about 250. Quinn's Post taken by 13th Infantry assisted by 8th and 10th Light Horse Regiments.

Carew Reynell Diary - No entry.

1916

Monday, May 29, 1916

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Roadhead Serapeum

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Strength. Second Lieutenant HA Phillis is struck off the strength dated 10 May 1916 having embarked for Australia permanently unfit.

1917

Tuesday, May 29, 1917

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - El Shellal

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Scott, Lieutenant Colonel WH, DSO, was evacuated to the field Ambulance - gun shot wound.

Enemy aeroplanes flew over Regiment - bombed camp west of Brigade.

A party of the Regimental wheeled transport - wagons, limbered wagons and water carts - rejoined the Regiment having been detailed since the Regiment crossed the Canal in March 1916.

Daly, Major TJ, Acting Commanding Officer during absence of Scott, Lieutenant Colonel WH, DSO.

1918

Wednesday, May 29, 1918

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Auja bridgehead defences

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Nelson, Captain AH, evacuated to Field Ambulance.

Twelve Reinforcements marched in from Reinforcements Camp, Jericho.

1919

Thursday, May 29, 1919

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Tel el Kebir

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Usual camp routine.

Previous: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 28 May

Next: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 30 May

Sources:

See: 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Contents

Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy

Further Reading:

9th Light Horse Regiment AIF

Bert Schramm Diary

9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour 

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Monday, 26 July 2010 9:58 AM EADT

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Great War

Minnie Love

 [From: The Critic, 19 April 1916, p. 24.]

"The Searchlight" from The Critic, 3 May 1916, p. 9.

 One of the best mirrors of a society is found in the things people find entertaining. Below is one such mirror. It is an extract from The Critic of 3 May 1916 at page 9 where the popular column produced by a person taking the nom de plume "The Searchlight" wrote pithy little entries designed to be informative as well as humorous. The topics tackled are wide ranging. The Easter Uprising in Dublin, The Western Front, The Sportsman's Thousand, The Kaiser's Birthday, Land Agents, Wowsers, Early Closing, Horse Racing and Fashions to name some of the topics. One must realise that this is a theme of the times and part of that is the overt racism that flows through some of the comments. They will not be censored because this was the society at the time and this was a respected newspaper of that time.

THE CRITIC

May 3, 1916 p. 9

The Searchlight. (By "Adelaide")

The light that sprays a hundred ways
With biting phrase instead of rays.

The Outer Harbor is still popular for anglers. Well, if you travel second-class you don't need to get to your journey's end even before you get a bite.

During the Dublin riots some of the women, tis said, held out their aprons for the jewellery and other loot from the wrecked shops. Is this the conscription of wealth we are hearing such a lot about?

May Day passed off very quietly this year. Red ribbon was not at all prominent, and neither, for that matter, was green in tie white of the eye.

Managers say that the public are developing a taste for long picture-plays. Humph! Judging by the modern drama, we thought they would have preferred them short and broad.

A fashion exchange says briefly: "Long drops are very fashionable for women again." A leading hangman informs us, however, that he reckons the same length is necessary for both men, and woman. “Long drops,” he says emphatically, “are always preferable.”

On the Kaiser’s birthday six women were killed in Berlin, so great was the crush. And William the Awful will no doubt swank that he is quite a lady-killer now.

We hear a lot about Turkish atrocities. Well we've always reckoned their cigarettes were that, and it was by our idea - judged, and not our ears.

His Excellency the Governor says that the dressing up of the gentle nigger by the missionary is always a great mistake. They catch colds, of course. Niggers aren't the only ones, though, who suffer from colds from dressing up.

Skipping is now recommended as the very best exercise. House-agents declare that lots of their trusted tenants seem to exercise their ingenuity in this way everlastingly.

Theodore Roosevelt declares that he is not afraid to talk. No; it is other people who are afraid of Teddy's talking.

Lots of our swaddies expect to go to France. Judging by the farewell speeches they are subjected to, we should unhesitatingly say they should be quite impervious to gas.

There are many things, says a contemporary, to say about the Turk, but being a family paper it doesn't say them.

The "sweetest refrain" we know of is the encore that the brassy-haired serio-comic refuses to give her admirers.

A fire broke out in Melbourne Her Majesty's picture-palace on Saturday afternoon. Well some of the pictures lately have been a bit on the warm side.

German soldiers have to do a fearful lot of gymnasium work when they are first enrolled. Accounts for 'm being such remarkable bounders, perhaps.

The P.L.L. in Sydney has expressed its abhorrence of the system of boarding out the unfortunate little wards of the State to dairy-farmers and others. We can still weep over the wrongs of the negro slaves in "Uncle Tom's Cabin," but we have precious little sympathy for the real little white slaves of Australia.

The news that sackcloth is fashionable will be very irritating to most people.

There is said to be a great shortage in properly dyed serges, etc. So if you want to get a shot effect, dear lady or gentleman, you need only go out in the last smart shower that comes along, and behold! your smart new suit will achieve it free of cost.

Skirts are sometimes in extreme cases eight inches off the ground. All, what you might call, the height of fashion.

President Wilson is said to be fond of singing. We can picture him singing, "Hold your hand out, naughty boy;" to the Kaiser over the latest outrages.

Travellers on the Parkside and Glen Osmond tram lines are recommended to carry tin-openers with them, in order to cut their way through the other sardines when they desire to alight at any of the streets along Hutt Street.

There are now broad chalk lines on the roadway in King William Street to indicate where people should stand to wait for the trams. Evidently Mr Goodman didn't deem us capable of walking a chalk-line before six o'clock closing.

Dr. Seitz, ex-Governor of German West Africa, has a British guard-of honor, which turns out daily before him and presents arms. International usage, of course, but it's such silly footle that we shall expect to hear of the British presenting alms to their fallen foes presently.

At a recent Durban race meeting a horse named Wedding Chimes came first and Poverty romped in second. Anyone could have tipped it.

That bright musical comedy, "The Dairy Maids," is being revived. A can-can would be an appropriate feature, eh, what?

What's all this yowl about football, races, etc? All the good sports went to the front long ago.

Mr. Hardy Brown landed a 247-Ib. shark at Umkomas. Didn't know that even land agents went that weight very often.

In view of the legs now on view, we have come to the conclusion that Fashion was, after all, charitable enough in that she covered a multitude of shins.

The Temperance Bars are not the success they might have been. Like life, there is too much froth and bobble about their wares. In fact, the hotel-keepers are finding these soft drinks hard cheese, and no mistake.

[Editor's Note: The "the brassy-haired serio-comic" was none other than Minnie Love who made her appearance at the Royal Theatre as Jeannie McTavish in "The Dancing Mistress". She was a brilliant young London comedienne brought out to Australia by JC Williamson for the Royal Comic Opera Company.]

Further Reading:

Great War, South Australian History

Great War, August 1914

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 7:00 PM EADT

Updated: Monday, 26 July 2010 4:54 PM EADT

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