A DAY AT THE RACES

On Saturday, 19 September 1914 Helena Vale held its Annual Vale Handicap Race, the culmination of the Helena Vale Turf Club's year, sort of their version of the Perth Cup. The picture quality is unavoidably poor reflecting the copy available. The images are still recognisable.
 

Picture #1.

High society of Helena Vale gathered around the Tote in the hope of being seen or being seen winning.

[Click on photograph for a larger version.]

Picture #2.

The finish of the Vale Handicap, Rathkeale winning by 3 lengths in front of Lord Mural who is a nose in front of Reverage.

[Click on photograph for a larger version.]

Picture #3.

The winner of the Vale Handicap, Rathkeale and his owner, Dr EA Officer.

[Click on photograph for a larger version.]

Picture #4.

The real winner of the day - the Tote. however, in this pic you will see the soldiers lining up for their dividends. On this day, the men from Blackboy Hill Camp were all invited to attend the race meeting. Being inveterate gamblers, this was an invitation to good to miss. On five bob a day in the pocket, there was some real money to be made by everyone.

[Click on photograph for a larger version.]

Posted by Project Leader at 7:10 PM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 20 July 2008 7:16 PM EADT

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The story of Maud Butler appears unique. Below is an extract from the Sydney Mail of 15 March 1916 taken from page 23 dealing with the arrest of Maud Butler who tried to pass herself off as a soldier and stowed away on a troop ship. It is an interesting story which sows the seeds of doubt.

Sydney Mail, 15 March 1916, p. 23.

[Click on photograph for a larger version.]

Just looking at the photograph, if the young lass wasn't lacking in the knowledge of military identification, she would have had no troubles. She certainly seems to have fooled most men on board the ship.

This was not an incident Maud Butler related to her children and grand children. After this episode, Maud settled down and moved past the derision that inevitabley followed such an action. Maud lived for many years in Campsie, Sydney where she ran a private hospital until retiring. She died in 1987 aged 88 and was buried at the Rookwood cemetery.

Posted by Project Leader at 1:05 PM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 20 July 2008 1:12 PM EADT

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Another entry from the book written by Lieutenant Colonel Hüseyin Hüsnü Emir, called Yilderim. Every day, one page of the book will be posted. This is Page 13.

[Click on page for a larger print version.]

Citation: Colonel Hüsnü, Yilderim, Page 13

Posted by Project Leader at 11:23 AM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 20 July 2008 11:27 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

Monday, July 20, 1914

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

1915

Tuesday, July 20, 1915

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Walkers Ridge

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - No Entry.

3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary - Preparing tunnel for search light Bully Beef Sap and emplacement for another mortar.

Confidentially informed to expect attack on 23rd - 100,000 reinforcements of Turks arriving. Colonel Hughes assumed command No. 1 Sub Sector.

Colonel Smyth to 2nd Infantry Brigade.

Turks tried to reconnoitre Second Sap last night. Two were killed.

Casualties:

8th Light Horse Regiment, one wounded.

9th Light Horse Regiment, two wounded.

Wellington Mounted Rifles, three wounded.

Total 6 wounded.

All warned and instructed to make every preparation for attack.

Carew Reynell Diary   - No Entry.

 

1916

Thursday, July 20, 1916

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Roadhead Serapeum.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Training and lectures carried out throughout the week. Patrols and outpost work continued as in previous details.

Major HM Parsons is taken on the strength of the Regiment (from Double Squadrons) and posted to command "A" Squadron.

Major RA McKenzie transferred to "C" Squadron to command.

System of Patrols to Mukshieb - Et Tassi and Et Tassa commenced.

Patrol of 1 Officer, 1 Sergeant and 12 Other Ranks to patrol daily to Mukshieb from Point "580" from 0430 to 1830 and on alternate days to Et Tassa or Et Tassi from No. 3 Patrol Post.

1917

Friday, July 20, 1917

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - El Gamli, Abu Yahia, Bir el Esani

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - At 0300 saddled up and stood to arms.

At 0430 the Regiment moved across the wadi as advance guard to the Brigade and advanced towards Beersheba.

“B” Squadron and one troop “A” Squadron formed the screen and pushed forward on a north to south line through Reshid Bek keeping well south of Beersheba - Karm Road.

In the vicinity of Abu Yahia enemy patrols were encountered but fell back on the screen being pushed vigorously forward. A line was taken up about one mile east of Point 840 - El Hathira and two troops from “A” Squadron were sent to make good the cross roads before the A of cultivAtion [Square F10] and to obtain touch with the Anzac Mounted Division on the left. This was done.

The enemy kept up intermittent rifle and shell fire but caused no casualties. One gun fired a number of rounds and the enemy were observed to leave several of their positions and retire.

At 1100 word was received to withdraw and the screen was first pulled in and then the withdrawal successfully carried out by squadrons in turn.

El Gamli was reached at 1500 and horses watered - the first drink since 1800 the previous night - and the column then moved back to the bivouac at Abasan el Kebir which was reached at 1830.

During this time the men had only two meals, 1100 on the 19th July and 1800 on the 20th July 1917, on the limbers with the rations for the 20th July not available.

Casualties - personnel, nil; horses, one slightly wounded.

1918

Saturday, July 20, 1918

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Madhbeh

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Aikman, Lieutenant GE; and, Stephen, Second Lieutenant HH, joined from Moascar.

Fletcher, 3012 Corporal GEP, died of wounds.

1919

Sunday, July 20, 1919

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - SS Oxfordshire

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Routine.

 

 

Previous: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 19 July

Next: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 21 July

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: Wednesday, 15 September 2010 6:29 PM EADT

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Diaries of AIF Servicemen

Bert Schramm

20 July 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:

Bert Schramm Diary

Finding more about a service person. See:

Navigating the National Archives Service File 

Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 19 - 25 July 1918

[Click on page for a larger print version.]

Bert Schramm

Saturday, July 20, 1918

Bert Schramm's Location - Madhbeh, Jordan Valley, Palestine.

Bert Schramm's Diary - Things have been pretty busy with artillery fire and we have had some casualties. We were out on a working party until midnight and were heavily shelled.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Madhbeh, Jordan Valley, Palestine.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Aikman, Lieutenant GE; and, Stephen, Second Lieutenant HH, joined from Moascar.

Fletcher, 3012 Corporal GEP, died of wounds.

9th LHR AIF War Diary, 20 July

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

No Entry

Previous: Bert Schramm's Diary, 19 July 1918

Next: Bert Schramm's Diary, 21 July 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, 20 July 1918

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Thursday, 2 June 2011 11:21 AM EADT

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