"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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Sunday, 29 June 2008
Miscellaneous Militia Topics, Hythe School of Musketry, Outline Topic: Militia - Misc
Miscellaneous Militia Topics
Hythe School of Musketry
Outline
School Of Musketry 1903, Hythe
[From: Frith Collection, No. 50380.]
Musketry
Prior to 1851 the majority of British soldiers were issued with the "Brown Bess" Land Pattern Musket, a smooth-bore, muzzle loading musket which had seen duty in one form or another since 1704. Lack of accuracy was compensated for by the practice of firing in volleys. Musketry, as shooting was known, was more like parade ground drill and as such was a matter for the Drill Sergeant.
More accurate rifles did exist (indeed the principle of rifling the barrel had been known about since 1515) but took so long to reload that it was deemed unwise to have them on general issue. At this point only a few regiments had been equipped with rifles, notably the 60th and the 95th whose special rifle drill stems from this time.
In 1849 a Frenchman, Claude-Etienne Minié, produced a rifle named after himself which, although still a muzzle loader had an expanding bullet that greatly reduced the time required for reloading a rifle. Re-equipment of the Army with this new weapon began in 1851.
The consequence of this was that the Army now had a weapon that was not only more accurate, but had a longer range. For the first time since the demise of the bow and arrow true marksmanship was possible. Shooting ceased to be a drill and became an art based on personal skill. Elevation, windage and ballistics now played a part.
In order to study these new problems and introduce a shooting doctrine for instruction in Rifle Shooting it was decided to form a special Corps of experts, who would also develop and improve the rifles. In March 1853 the Army Estimates included the princely sum of £1,000) for Lord Hardinge to form an "Establishment for the instruction of the Army in rifle and target practice."
Foundation
In June of that year Colonel Hay arrived at Hythe, Kent with a small staff of officers. On 1 August the first instructor, CSgt MacKay of the 19th Foot, was appointed. By 15 September a further three instructors were on strength. They were Sgt. Ruston (3 Gren Gds), Sgt. Lobes (2 Gren Gds) and Sgt. Morris (97th Regt).
The first mention of the establishment of the School was in the Army List of 1854 when it was referred to as the School of Musketry, a name it bore until 1919 when its name was changed to the Small Arms School.
In September 1855 a Corps of Instructors was added to the establishment, consisting of 100 First Class and 100 Second Class Instructors who, as soon as they were sufficiently experienced (except for three who remained at Hythe), were distributed to Depot Battalions and Regiments as required. These men were the Corps of Instructors of Musketry, a misnomer as muskets were being withdrawn from service.
Sergeant Major Instructors with their students, 1860.
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.
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary - Casualties: 8th Light Horse Regiment, one killed, two wounded. 9th Light Horse Regiment, one wounded.
Kenneth Alan McKenzie Diary - Back in trenches. At 2100 Turks opened with heavy fire which died down. At about midnight 8th and 9th lines began with loud cries of Allah and Mahomet and at same time they advanced between dead end of No. 5 and Turks Point and over Secret Sap. No control or leadership. It was like potting rabbits. They wandered aimlessly about and were surprised at the Secret Sap. Bomb throwing, flares etc. Lasted till daybreak. It was slaughter pure and simple. Interpreters induced many wounded to come in. Opposite us about ten yards off one was lying in the scrub waving a white flag. We told him to come in and two more followed. They seemed terribly scared that we would shoot them but they were very glad to surrender. One Armenian could speak excellent English and said that Enver Pasha had come from Constantinople to see them attack and push us into the sea. He was serving under compulsion and the officers forced the Turks out of the trenches staying behind themselves. Poor devils, one couldn't help pitying them. Collected a lot of rifles, ammunition etc, also personal articles. The are lying thick along the trenches. Many have been carried in and buried. Very poorly clothed, especially in footwear. Some of their guns played on us but were engaged by destroyer. Saw Clarence night of 29th. Got letter from Sandford. Brigade Casualties: Seven killed [Hopping 9th] 21 wounded. Turks estimated 250 killed, 200 wounded and 12 captured.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Routine training and patrol work.
1917
Friday, June 29, 1917
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - El Shellal
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - During absence of Royston, Brigadier General JR, CMG DSO, Maygar, Lieutenant Colonel LC, VC DSO, will command the Brigade.
Mounted training carried out in afternoon - troop, Squadron and Regiment.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Scott, Lieutenant Colonel WH, CMG DSO, who has had indifferent health for some time evacuated to 14th Australian General Hospital.
Parsons, Major HM, DSO, assumes command of the Regiment. Making preparations for move to Moascar where concentration is being made prior to embarkation to Australia.
Kildea, Lieutenant FJ; and, 21 Other Ranks proceeded direct from Zagazig [where they attended 10th Light Horse Regiment Meeting on the 28th June 1919] securing 3rd place in the steeplechase. [Kildea, Lieutenant FJ, with his horse "Never Again"] and 1st in Other Ranks [McCann, 1587 Trooper JF, and his horse "Stiffener Joe"] to No 3 Remount Depot and handed over four rides. This leaves the Regiment without any Animals.
2000, Kildea, Lieutenant FJ; and, two Other Ranks returned from handing horses at Belbeis - four rides. This leaves the Regiment without any animals.
Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 29 June 1918 Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
29 June 1918
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:
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:
The Australian Imperial Force, 3rd Echelon, Letter by WO Vickery Regarding Amalgamation of Records Sections, 27 October 1917 Topic: AIF - HQ - 3rd Echelon
The Australian Imperial Force
3rd Echelon
Letter by WO Vickery Regarding Amalgamation of Records Sections, 27 October 1917
Page 1
The letter reads:
To Lieutenant Colonel D Fulton
Commandant, AIF Headquarters, Egypt.
Cairo.
In compliance with your instructions I herewith submit a report on the work of 3rd Echelon, General Headquarters, which is to be transferred to AIF Headquarters, Cairo, in the near future.
I have not submitted a report to you before as this had already been done by the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, AIF, earlier in the week.
Since Lieutenant Jarman's return to Cairo, I, together with Staff Sergeant Long and Stevenson, have continued to avail myself of the opportunity to familiarize myself with all branches of the 3rd Echelon work which will immediately effect us.
The same courtesy and assistance is still being extended us by Colonel Scudmore, his officers and men, as was the case during Lieutenant Jarman's visit.
During the first day or two, I was inclined to think, how little there was that would not affect the AIF, but the more one sees, the more work there appears to be, but at the most it is nothing very much and I can see nothing that is going to present to us any serious difficulties.
I have gone thoroughly into the work of "A", "B" and Reinforcement Branches of 3rd Echelon, and I have also seen our Australian Records Section Central Registry and Transit Branch and had the systems in vogue at the two latter branches fully explained to me by Warrant Officer Boyle, he having had considerable experience in Registries, having been in charge of the Central Registry in the Public Health Department in Sydney.
I would respectfully suggest that this Warrant Officer should supervise the combined Central Registry and transit department on the amalgamation of the two offices at Cairo, in addition to whatever duties he is called on to perform under the new regime.
In view of the information I have been able to gather regarding the work done at 3rd Echelon and Australian Records Section, and knowing exactly what work has been done in the past at AIF Headquarters, I have after consultation with the Chief Clerk of the Australian Records Section, compiled a list (which is attached) showing the various subjects classified and allotted to the various sub-sections, which I respectfully submit for your consideration.
It will be noted that many of the subjects mentioned on the 3rd Echelon List (copy of which is also attached) do not appear on my list, as many of these subjects are now being dealt with by the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General at AIF Headquarters, Cairo, such as:- Commissions, discharges, transfers, leave, furlough, promotions etc.
I have spend half a day in with each of the Superintending Clerks of the "A", "B", and Reinforcement Branches respectively and have seen and noted the method in which they conduct their correspondence with the various formations and departments and I have further noted all their inward correspondence.
Both inward and out-ward correspondence in each of the three branches is considerable and it will also form a great part of our extra work after the move is effected.
I am attaching to this letter a brief comment on the work of the three branches of 3rd Echelon, which together with list before referred to, may better convey to you my opinion of the duties we are taking over.
Page 2
The letter continues:
To date no representative of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force have reported to the "Metropole" in order to take over the work pertaining to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, but the Officer Commanding, New Zealand Records Section, Lieutenant McKenzie, (who by the way seems hostile towards the move) has informed me that he is expecting two clerks for this duty to report to him immediately.
I am taking it for granted that Lieutenant Jarman has informed you regarding the fittings and typewriting machines, and if they are going to cause no delay, I consider that so far as 3rd Echelon work is concerned, we could confidently move at any time now, but naturally that should be after the New Zealand Representatives have mustered their work (which should only take 3 or 4 days) and after the first batch of casualties come through, that is of course providing they will be received in the next few days.
In short the position is that as soon as you decide on the date the "shift" is to take place, I can undertake that we can transfer the work, and carry it on satisfactorily, with a minimum of inconvenience to all concerned, and I am of the opinion that the Australian Records Section could move within 48 hours, providing they have been already advised to prepare for same at short notice.
I must admit that I cannot now see where "a big economy in men" is going to be made and my ideas in that respect were evidently wrong at the time the arguments were submitted in order to have the amalgamation brought about, though of course since that time additional work has been taken in hand and more is about to be taken up, such as Wills, Historical Records (possibly), etc, but I do now, more than ever, consider that the move will tend towards greater efficiency being obtained even though a small increase in staff will be necessary.
From what I can gather I think that the authorities here are not desirous of the move being put into effect in the immediate future, but I consider that in the interests of the AIF, I should remain here as well as the two Staff Sergeants who are to by mind both most suitable for the duties at present allotted to them.
May I please be advised if it is your intention and the intention of Colonel Chaytor that after the move, the Sections in Cairo are to be known as Anzac or Australian and New Zealand Sections respectively. I ask this as Lieutenant McKenzie leads me to understand that they (The New Zealanders) are to be situated at Kaar el Nil and we at our own Headquarters and that we are going to work as the Anzac 3rd Echelon. There would appear to be strong argument in favour of each force working entirely independently, but my query is raised only because the information would possibly be useful to me in making arrangements regarding details.
In conclusion, may I further suggest that a cablegram be despatched to "Adminaust" London, asking that all attestation papers for AIF personnel serving in Egypt, be immediately forwarded to AIF Headquarters, Cairo.
Yours Obediently
817 Warrant Officer Allan Kingston Vickery
The above letter is written by 817 Warrant Officer Allan Kingston Vickery and sent to Lieutenant Colonel Fulton, the Commandant of AIF Headquarters, Cairo in Egypt, dated 27 October 1917. This letter is in the form of a report outlining the processes required to ensure the smooth transfer of 3rd Echelon functions to AIF Headquarters over the next few weeks
The letter is illuminating on all the aspects that operate within a bureaucracy such as this. Petty jealousies and a turf war is explained in an understated manner when Vickery describes the problems with the New Zealand head of records, Lieutenant McKenzie, and his expressed hostility to any such move. Vickery indicates in a subtle manner that it would be in the interests of bureaucratic harmony to sever NZ records from those of Australia.
The other issue raised is the purpose for the move. Stated bluntly, it was to release men for other duties. Vickery makes it clear that he thought that this was an illusion and the new work loads required additional personnel which was sold as an increase in efficiency, an ironical and bureaucratic juxtaposition of ideas if ever there was one. However, Vickery is quite content with the additional staff under his charge as the flow of paper work appears to have increased.
It is self evident that Vickery has had a long career in clerical work, especially in a large office environment. His report indicates a wealth of experience as well as a keen understanding of internal political processes. Fulton appears to be his mentor and guardian within AIF Headquarters.
Acknowledgement: Thanks are given to Steve Becker for additional identifying information.
Great War, Military Biographies, 1547 Driver Charles Burns Topic: GW - Biographies
Great War
Military Biographies
1547 Driver Charles Burns
Desert Mounted Corps Routine Order No. 763
During the Great War, there were many unsung heroes who came to the fore from the most unlikeliest of sources. The story of 1547 Driver Charles Burns is one such illustration of a quiet hero.
The record transcribed:
23rd September 1917
763. Act of Gallantry
The Corps commander directs that a record be made of the gallant conduct of the undermentioned man, under the following conditions:-
No. 1547 Driver C Burns, "B" Troop, ALH Signal Squadron.
No. 7/472 Trooper Moffat, New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade was bathing on the evening of the 11th instant, when he was carried out to sea. On hearing his call for help, Driver Burns swam out to his assistance, and with great difficulty, after the life line had broken, brought in Trooper Moffat, very exhausted. The current was very strong at the time and another Trooper of this Brigade who went out at the same time as Driver Burns had in turn to be assisted in regaining the shore.
An entry will be made in the conduct sheet in Driver Burns in accordance with King's Regulations para. 1919 (XIV).
On 23 September 1917, he was mentioned in the Routine Orders of the Desert Mounted Corps for a singular act of bravery.
The person transcribing the story was a little bit careless with his work and mixed up some very important details. The person Burns rescued was 11/1472 Trooper George Shepherd Moffat from the Wellington Mounted Rifles, who came from Masterton in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand. The number allocated to Moffat in the RO actually belongs to 7/472 Trooper Charles Augustus Evans of the Canturbury Mounted Rifles, a man who came from Wairau Bar near Blenheim on South Island. It is a salutary lesson to realise that the contemporary records are also riddled with errors and thus should never be used without scrutiny. Despite the mistake, the heroism of Burns was recognised and well deserved. His other heroism, doing his duty to the best of his ability also finds recognition in other places.
During his work with the Signal Squadron, he is credited as never having missed a single day's duty. All through the campaign, he cared for a pair of heavy draught horses in the peak of condition.
Charles BURNS
Regimental number
1547
Religion
Church of England
Occupation
Striker
Address
Bridgetown, Western Australia
Marital status
Single
Age at embarkation
18
Next of kin
Guardian, Frederick S Brockman, Bridgetown, Western Australia
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