Diaries of AIF Servicemen

Bert Schramm

21 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

Sunday, July 21, 1918

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

Bert Schramm's Diary - Squadron went out and demounted tonight. I am on guard but will join them tomorrow. We had good news from France today also had a letter from Jim.

[Jim was 5752 Corporal James Kintore SCHRAMM, 10th Battalion, 18th Reinforcement.]

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary

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

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - A Squadron moved out to Abu Tellul to take up counter attack position remaining there dismounted strength, five Officers and 63 Other Ranks. The lead horses at Wadi Nueiameh Sq 127 C7a. Strength one Officer, 42 Other Ranks, 120 animals.

9th LHR AIF War Diary, 21 July

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

No Entry

Previous: Bert Schramm's Diary, 20 July 1918

Next: Bert Schramm's Diary, 22 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, 21 July 1918

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Thursday, 2 June 2011 11:33 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

Tuesday, July 21, 1914

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

1915

Wednesday, July 21, 1915

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Walkers Ridge

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - No Entry.

3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary - Issued with additional 3.7 mortar which is installed.

Two acetylene search lights installed, one on Bully Beef Sap to light salient in front of No. 1 Post, the other at head of Secret Sap to light between main fire trench and cliff.

Casualties:

9th Light Horse Regiment, six wounded, all by bombs.

Wellington Mounted Rifles, one wounded.

Reporting for duty:

Brigade Headquarters, 1;

9th Light Horse Regiment, 2;

10th Light Horse Regiment, 2.

Special Operations Order No. 9 issued with special instructions by GOC New Zealand and Australian Division in view of probable attack at any moment. Special precautions have been taken in every possible way to provide for every contingency but the personnel of Regiments is rapidly decreasing from overwork and sickness. This has been represented to higher authority.

The Brigadier, Brigade Majors of 5, 8, 9 and 10th Light Horse Regiments were taken by destroyer to view the left flank toward Amafarta and Chocolate Hills. Enemy is daily strengthening all positions and installing new guns and machine guns. Enemy has two trench mortars which are very active and cause casualties regularly.

Summarising eight weeks in regular occupation of trenches, a vast amount of good work has been carried out. Daily sapping and road work by regiments continuously. A good rest is urgently needed.

Carew Reynell Diary   - No Entry.

 

1916

Friday, July 21, 1916

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Roadhead Serapeum.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Routine Patrol and Outpost Work. Training in musketry and mounted work.

Owing to shortage of drinking water the ration is reduced to one gallon per head.

Regiment inspected by the General Officer Commanding Brigade (Brigadier General Antill) after having been turned out at 0830 on a Practice Alarm.

1917

Saturday, July 21, 1917

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Abasan el Kebir

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Legate, Captain Chaplain RM, marched in and is attached to the Regiment.

Received order from Brigade Headquarters. Intention - to move to the beach in vicinity of Tel el Marakeb on the 22nd July 1917 on being relieved by the Yeomanry Mounted Division.

1918

Sunday, July 21, 1918

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Madhbeh

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - “A” Squadron moved out to Abu Tellul to take up counter attack position remaining there dismounted strength, five Officers and 63 Other Ranks.

The lead horses at Wadi Nueiameh Sq 127 C7a.

Strength one Officer, 42 Other Ranks, 120 animals.

1919

Monday, July 21, 1919

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - SS Oxfordshire

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 2000 Concert on boat deck forward.

 

 

Previous: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 20 July

Next: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 22 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 6:30 PM EADT

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9th Light Horse Regiment

Routine Order No 851, 22 January 1918

Entitlement to wear the Anzac "A" Badge

Apart from the War Diary which presents a reflected view of Regimental history, one of the best sources of understanding the immediate challenges facing a regiment is to be found in the Routine Orders. They are a wealth of detail.

9th Light Horse Regiment Routine Order No 851, 22 January 1918, is important in that it lists all the surviving Gallipoli veterans in that Regiment on that date. At the time, by gazetting the relevant men in this manner, it allowed them to wear the "A" badge in the middle of their regimental colour patch.

This is the particular Routine Order

9th LHR Routine Order No 851, 22 January 1918, p. 3.

[Click on page for a larger version.]

9th LHR Routine Order No 851, 22 January 1918, p. 4.

[Click on page for a larger version.]

The list of Gallipoli Veterans within the 9th Light Horse Regiment as per Routine Order No 851, 22 January 1918 included these men.

Anzac "A" Badge Recipients

 

Hugh George ADAMS.

George Ernest AIKMAN.

William ANDREWS.

William Henry ANDREWS.

Charles ARBLASTER.

Sydney Hamilton AYLIFFE.

 

Samuel John BAILIE.

William BAKER.

Harry Forrest BANKS.

Titan BARRINGTON.

Arthur William BEARD.

Arthur Augustine BELL.

William John BENNETT.

John Thompson BERRIMAN.

Arthur Leslie BETTERIDGE.

Harold Frank BISHOP.

Arthur Charles BLAND.

Felix Baron BOCKELBERG.

George Baron BOCKELBERG.

Aubrey Oswald BOWER.

Roy BROOKER.

Francis George BROWN.

John Kennard BROWN.

Angus Robert BURLEY.

 

Harold Francis CARLYLE.

William CARMICHAEL.

James CATTERALL.

Hurtle William CHESSON.

Hugh Angus COCHRANE.

Arthur Thomas COLLER.

Sidney COLLINS.

William Arthur Leslie COOK.

Arthur Alderson COOPER.

Thomas COOPER.

Eric Osborne COULTHARD.

Ernest Lindsay COZENS.

Maurice CROTTEY.

George Frederick CRUDDAS.

 

Cyril William DAVIES.

George Henry DEER.

George Wilfred DIBBEN.

Arthur DOUEAL.

Arthur Christopher DOWN.

Leonard Seagram DRISCOLL.

Paul Joseph DUIGAN.

 

William Frederick EDGERLEY.

Rayston Cooper ELEY.

 

Frank FARMER.

Archibald Roy FERRIS.

George Fred FISCHER.

John Lester FOREMAN.

Joseph Raymond FORRESTER.

Thomas FRY.

 

Horace GANDY.

Bernard Edward GIBNEY.

Alan Clifford GILSON.

Roy GOSLING.

John GREENBANK.

William James GRIBBLE.

 

George Edmund HAGEL.

Howard James HAHN.

Noell St John HALL.

Thomas Ian HAMILTON.

William HAMILTON.

Arthur Edward HARDINGHAM.

George James HAYHOE.

Joshua James HEALEY.

Charles Spearman HEYWOOD.

Joseph D HILLGROVE.

Sydney HILTON.

Ronald George HOGG.

Frank Lewis HOLTHOUSE.

Harry Raymond HOWARD.

 

William INGLIS.

 

George Alexander JACKSON.

Arthur Alfred JOHNS.

Joseph James JOHNSON.

Stanley Richard JOHNSON.

Charles JOLLY.

Albert Edward JONES.

 

Gordon James KEARNEY.

Harold Vernon KELLY.

James KERR.

Archibald KINCAID.

Albert Ernest KING.

John Fleming KITHER.

George Charles KLINE.

 

Ernest Percy LEE.

Thomas LEONARD.

William Alexander LOGAN.

 

Henry Thomas MACKERETH.

Francis Leonard MARRON.

Gerald Gustave MASSON.

Haswell Charles MAXWELL.

Frank MAYFIELD.

Donald Spence MCCORD.

James Ross MCLAREN.

John Lawrence MCLAREN.

Charles Hayden MEREDITH.

Harold Edgar MILLER.

James Mclntyre MILLOY.

Charles Leslie MITCHELL.

Frederick Richard MORGAN.

Allen Lorimor MOUNSEY.

Rosalyn James MUSGRAVE.

Royal John MYREN.

 

John Hovenden NEWNHAM.

Edward Pringle NEYLAND.

 

Joseph Ralph PADDICK.

Alfred PARKER.

Harold PATERSON.

Lawrence POLLOCK.

Frank PORTER.

Henry Leonard PORTER.

William Allen PORTER.

Gillard John PRETTEJOHN.

Walter Henry PRETTEJOHN.

Frederick Gregory PRICE.

Harold Tennyson PRISK.

 

Arthur Albert RANDALL.

Reginald RANKINE.

David RETALLICK.

James John RIPLEY.

James Oxen ROBERTS.

William Henry ROBERTS.

Arnold RUMBALL.

Timothy RUNDLE.

Henry Edward RUNN.

 

Percy Samuel SARGENT.

Horace Oliver William SHORT.

Gavin SHUTTLEWORTH.

John SIMPSON.

Gilby Roy SMART.

Egbert Charles SMITH.

George Victor SMITH.

Hubert Roy SMITH.

Thomas SMITH.

James Norman SMYTH.

Harold Edwin SNELL.

Henry Herbert STEPHEN.

Robert STRAIN.

 

Edward Leonard TAYLOR.

Angus THOMAS.

David Norman THOMPSON.

Phillip TOD.

William TREVORROW.

Arthur Ernest TRINNE.

Eddil TRITHSCHLER.

Arthur Leslie TURNER.

 

Roland Arthur VIRGO.

 

Leonard Nelson WAINWRIGHT.

John Wilberforce WALDON.

Reginald Alanby WAMSLEY.

William Henry WATSON.

Claude Thomas WATTS.

Raymond Meredith WELFARE.

John Lynne WHARTON.

Joseph WHELAN.

Stanley WHITING.

William Thomas WIDLAKE.

Horace William WILLIAMS.

George WILLIAMSON.

Robert Watmaugh WISHART.

William Ferguson WOOD.

John Dunstan WOON.

Benjamin George WUCHATACH.

 

Richard YATES.

Albert Roy YEO.

William YOULA.

 

The wearing of the Anzac "A" Badge is illustrated in the picture below.

Light Horse Officer with Anzac "A" and 1914 Leave Rosette

The men wore the "A" with great pride and jealously guarded their right to wear it. During the 20's and 30's, there are many letters from the various RSL branches seeking information about a particular ex-serviceman and his right to wear the "A".

Further Reading:

Medals and Badges awarded to the Light Horse

The Australian Light Horse

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Citation: 9th LHR Routine Order No 851, 22 January 1918, Entitlement to wear the Anzac "A" Badge

Posted by Project Leader at 8:09 PM EADT

Updated: Monday, 1 March 2010 12:13 PM EAST

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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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