Double Squadrons.

Between 28 December 1915 and February 1917, there was an oversupply of men in the Light Horse Regiments. When flushed with such riches, these highly trained men were squandered on various other projects. This solved short term problems but sowed the seeds for an acute shortage of trained light horsemen towards 1918. No regiment was ever up to full war strength again with every precious replacement being fought over like water in the desert.

When there was a plethora of men in the Light Horse Training Regiments, those that did not go to the artillery or service corps but remained as potential Light Horse replacements were formed into active service units known as Double Squadrons charged with the purpose of guarding the Suez Canal. Each Double Squadron was named after the Brigade from whence it was drawn. So the 1st Double Squadron was drawn from the 1st Light Horse Brigade which comprised men from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Light Horse Regiments. Similarly it was the same for the 2nd and 3rd Double Squadrons. These squadrons were formed in June 1916 although officially they were activated on 6 July 1916.

By November 1916 the threat to the Suez Canal had been removed and the purpose for the Double Squadrons no longer existed. The formations were broken up with most of the men from the Double Squadrons becoming the 4th Battalion of the Imperial Camel Corps on 2 November 1916. Here most remained until the Imperial Camel Corps was disbanded on 1 July 1918 and the men transferred to the newly formed 5th Light Horse Brigade.

Some from the 11th and 12th LHRs remained attached to the Double Squadrons until the formation of the 4th Light Horse Brigade in February 1917. With the new brigade, the last Double Squadron ceased to exist.

Further Reading:

Double Squadrons

Posted by Project Leader at 2:12 PM EADT

Updated: Wednesday, 5 August 2009 4:58 PM EADT

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Much has been written about Albert (Tibby) Cotter. He was an extra-ordinary bowler with a pace that reached at least 160kmph. Cotter was feared by all who faced him in the international arena of test cricket. During the Great War, Cotter enlisted with the 12th Light Horse Regiment as 924 Tpr Albert Cotter.  He saw service at Gallipoli until his death at Beersheba on 31 October 1917. 

There are a number legends that surround Cotter. The most commonly known legend related to his bowling performance at the Gezireh Sports Club. Harold "Lol" Larwood, the nemisis of the Australian batsmen during the infamous "Bodyline" Series relates this anecdote. 

The Larwood Story by Harold Larwood, Sydney [1982] pp 53-54.

When I first went to Trent Bridge they were still talking about the terrifying speed of Albert (Tibby) Cotter, the human catapult who was reputedly a menace with the ball even when a boy in short pants playing for Forest Lodge public school in Sydney.

When he came into the game in Australia, Trumper, Noble, Duff, Hopkins, Syd and Charles Gregory were all in their prime, with colts like Bardsley, McCartney and Kelleway looming up behind.

Cotter was picked for Australia against England in the Fourth Test in Sydney in 1904 at the age of twenty-one, the youngest fast bowler to win Australian colours since Sammy Woods in 1888. Ernie Jones had finished his career by riding his bicycle into a water-cart and breaking his arm.

Although the returning Englishmen reported that Australia had un-earthed a new pace bowler nobody was prepared for the Cotter who demoralized English players in 1905 (he took 8 for 65 in the last Test). At Worcester he so unnerved the County team that he took 12 wickets for 34 in one day. He bagged 124 wickets on the tour, leaving behind many a set of bruised ribs. The Sydney Express, as they called him, was described on all sides as terrifying, his deliveries frequently playing about the ears.

Cotter won several Tests with his bowling and big hitting. And in a club game in Sydney he once hit 121 for Glebe in 64 minutes and for New South Wales against Victoria scored 68 in 20 minutes.

No cricket enthusiasts were surprised when Tibby was mentioned in despatches for gallantry in the First World War in bringing wounded out under heavy Turkish fire.

In March, 1916, when the war was at its height, a cluster of troops on leave renewed memories of more peaceful days when they gathered at the Gezireh Sports Club, Cairo, to watch a cricket match. The game was between a team of English troops and A.I.F. members. Some of the Australians were from the small headquarters staff left in Egypt after the Gallipoli evacuation, the rest were light-horsemen training for the campaign which eventually was to beat the Turks in Palestine.

The odds were on the Tommies. Several had played for English counties and their captain. Colonel J. W. H. T. Douglas, was the celebrated "Johnny" Douglas who had led England to victory against Australia and South Africa.

Expecting an easy win the Englishmen weren't prepared for the shock they got from a big and powerfully built light-horseman who was brought in from the Suez Canal and dressed for the match simply by discarding hat, shirt and leggings.

Apologizing for being a bit out of practice the Australian skittled the Tommies with short-pitched bumpers, yorkers that knocked bats out of some hands, full tosses which broke a couple of stumps and occasional good-length balls. Most were out before scoring. He then pasted the bowling all over the field before retiring to catch a train back to Suez.

A bullet ended Tibby Cotter's life. About eighteen months later, on October 20, 1917, he was shot through the head at Beersheba by a Turkish soldier, and was the first Australian international cricketer to be killed in war.

Another version of this story will appear in a subsequent post.

Posted by Project Leader at 1:53 PM EADT

Updated: Saturday, 9 August 2008 2:17 PM EADT

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Great War Attrocities

Introduction to the framework of atrocities

Hun Kultur

Western Mail, 25 September 1914, p. 24.

[Click on picture for larger version.]

The single thread that appears in all the press, cartoons, photographs, movies and the like of the Great War is the portrayal of the Germans as the bloodthirsty Hun.

The link to the following cartoon was the standard portrayal of the German soldier undertaking his dastardly handy work:

This theme is repeated ad nauseum throughout all the Australian press of the time right from the get go.

The aim is quite simple - to put into sharp relief the behaviour of the Germans when compared to that of the Australians. It is the simple but effective binary:

"Germans = evil;"

"Australians = good".

But how realistic is this picture?

Even when viewed through the vision of the times, cracks were already appearing in the story. It is important that these elements are explored since it is all too easy to gloss over the evil in pursuit of the excellence. But to ignore the evil that was perpetrated is to reduce oneself to the "evil" part of the equation for it makes the Australian story no better than the German Story as portrayed in the press at the time.

By dehumanising the Germans, it made it acceptable to perpetrate outrages against Australian citizens of German origin.

This may be an uncomfortable subject, but it is through discomfort that we understand who we are and where we have come from rather than who we would like to have been and build a fiction around that wish. So this is a reality check for all historians. There will be an exploration of allegations of attrocities committed by Australian soldiers, of which there are many. Some will have substance and others will be nothing more than myth and fantasy. But each known allegation shall be examined over time.

Further Reading:

Great War Attrocities

Posted by Project Leader at 10:51 AM EADT

Updated: Wednesday, 5 August 2009 3:56 PM EADT

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Tasmania, 1914

Brighton and Pontville Camps

Watering Horses at Brighton Camp

Often mention is made in the early records to both Brighton and Ponville camps located just north of Hobart in Tasmania. At the outbreak of the Great War, the men from "C" Squadron, 3rd Light Horse Regiment trained at Brighton while the infantry trained at Pontville. Yet on a map they appear to be at the same location. To clear up any confusion, both camps are described below.

Brighton

Here is the AWM commentary:

Brighton is a small town 28 kilometres from the Tasmanian capital of Hobart. Brighton was one of five sites selected for townships in Tasmania by the Governor of New South Wales, Lachlan Macquarie, in 1821 and for a while was spoken of as a potential capital. A military post was established on the main Hobart-Launceston road at Brighton in 1826 beginning a military presence there that would last for over 170 years. Troops were prepared at Brighton Camp for service in both the First and Second World Wars, and it was also a site familiar to Tasmania's citizen soldiers throughout the Twentieth Century. In the later years of the Second World War Brighton Camp was also used to house prisoners of war and after the war it became a reception camp for refugees from Europe. From the early 1950s onwards, Brighton's primary use was for the training of members of the Citizens Military Forces and Later the Army Reserve. Such usage declined after 1993, and in 1999 it was one of several military camps across Australia used as a save haven for refugees from the conflict in Kosovo. Brighton Camp was closed and sold off soon after.

See:

http://www.awm.gov.au/units/place_1673.asp

Pontville

Extracted from the Aussie Heritage site:

Pontville's involvement in the First World War included volunteers and the establishment of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in Tasmania. The Pontville Army Camp was renamed Brighton Army Camp, becoming the focus of military training in Tasmania on 13 August 1914. An ordnance depot was established and volunteers trained as members of the Light Horse, the Field Artillery, Infantry, Engineers and Army Medical Corps. Prior to embarkation South Australian Troops were also in camp at Pontville, and with the Tasmanian Infantry were formed into the 12th Battalion. Historical photographs c.1914 clearly delineate the use of the area by Light Horse Soldiers and it is likely that the name of Rifle Hill, which occupies the centre of the range was named at that time, and that the rifle range was also completed at that time. The rifle range may also incorporate an earlier range used by the Derwent Company of volunteers, since it was usual to retain and develop existing ranges.

See:

Aussie Heritage - Pontville Small Arms Range

That answers the question. Pontville and Brighton camps are two different camps serving different arms of the AIF in 1914.

Just to add to the moment, here is a picture of some horsemen watering their horses at Brighton Camp.

It is part of a series of pictures taken by William Williamson, a respected Hobart photographer. This picture is clearly identified as having been taken at Brighton.

Further Reading:

Tasmania, 1914

Posted by Project Leader at 10:33 AM EADT

Updated: Wednesday, 5 August 2009 4:54 PM EADT

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Queensland, 1914

Farewells at Warwick and Kingaroy

It is a very busy scene with quite a large rail station. When I saw this picture, I hadn't realised just how big the station was at Warwick. There is a sign commemorating the historic rail station although I suspect that it does not do the scene justice as it understates the significance. Warwick is a town travellers pass through on the inland road journey to Brisbane.

The next picture is from Kingaroy.

The picture was taken as the troops march down the main street.

The pastoral scene of mothers and their children in the middle of the street give this pictue a wonderful bucolic flavour of simpler times. Behind them are buggies full of people viewing the parade. There is a feeling of both excitement but also a matter of fact scene. It portrays the essential laid back nature of the average Australian. The parade  looks as though it is going down Haley Street, Kingaroy.

Further Reading:

Queensland, 1914

Posted by Project Leader at 10:05 AM EADT

Updated: Wednesday, 5 August 2009 4:06 PM EADT

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