9th LHR, AIF

Pro Gloria et Honore - For Glory and Honour

Regimental March -  Marching Through Georgia

The Diary

1914

Sunday, August 30, 1914

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

1915

Monday, August 30, 1915

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Gazli Beit Dere

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 1630 Inspected positions to be held by 3rd Light Horse Brigade on Rhododendron Ridge and Tabletop in company with the Brigade Major and Lieutenant Colonel P Abbott.

Bivouacked at Gazli Beit Dere with D Squadron 9th Light Horse Regiment [late “C” Squadron 11th Light Horse Regiment].

The 9th Regiment less D Squadron is at present in No 6 Section under General Cox and are not expected back until the 4th September 1915.

Bivouac under fire from 2000 to 2100.

Mule transport under Lieutenant Levingston when proceeding along the beach at 2200 was shelled. But no casualties.

3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary - On 27 - 28 the 9th Light Horse Regiment were sent to capture position of a Turkish trench lost by a British Battalion. This they did [AB] the lost position being bombed out.

Same night Lieutenant Colonel Reynell 9th Light Horse attacked BC with Yeomen: He got into AB which was partly held by men of his Regiment[see C] then made for BC. This was shortly after midnight - he was seen to disappear with some of his men into some Turkish trenches. Some 20 afterwards were traced through Dressing Stations and four were wounded - the casualties reported as Lieutenant Colonel Reynell, Captain Callary, Captain Jaffray and 68 others =- this will probably be corrected later - on 28th -29th 9th Light Horse were again sent at the trench and link up with the 10th Light Horse which had about 0100.

The losses of the latter were, Killed Captain Fry, Second Lieutenant IC Burgess [wounded] CH MacBean and GA Leake killed and 3 others wounded 2nd Lieutenants Sanderson and Throssell, Other Ranks 54, Total 57.

The affair was a brilliant example of dash and courage as the Turks held some of the trenches and all in front from which with maxim fire, our men were bombed continuously, the captured Turkish trenches only 4 feet deep were nearly full of dead of both sides and these had to be cleared and deepened without any cover: Generals Cox, Godly and Russell spoke of the unit as very fine - Lieutenant Colonel Reynell was a splendid man and an exceptionally fine and dashing leader and his loss will be severely felt:

General Cox informs the Brigade that the post is so important that he will not contemplate the withdrawal of the 8th and 10th until the trenches have been made perfectly safe $$ and other troops broken into them. Hill 60 practically controls the North and East salients after another portion to its North has been taken. Under the new allotment and disposition of troops, 3rd Light Horse Brigade holds Table Top and the Northern slopes of Rhododendron and No 5 Section - $$ as and near the sea and the 1st Light Horse Brigade.

Extracts from Dispatch from Major WH Scott, Acting CO 9th Light Horse about recent operations:

Ninth Regiment arrived at Arshal Dere 2130 on 26th August and reported to General Cox and went into bivouac at 2200 and rested during 27th August till word came at 1900 to be prepared to send men to support General Russell who was in charge of part of attack on Knoll 60. , AAD at 2130. Second Lieutenant Phillis and 50 men were supplied and went into fire trench LF [see plan] towards right of sector, to assist New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade to hold trench then AAA.

At 2330 Major Parsons, Captain Jaffray and Temporary Second Lieutenant McDonald with 100 were supplied and twenty minutes late Captain Callary and 25 men were also sent AAA.

Of these last two parties, Major Parsons with 52 men of “A” Squadron bombed their way along fire trench BG to M, about 100 yards but had to retire about 20 yards and put up barricade at N AAA At 2430 Lieutenant Colonel Reynell, Captain Callary, Captain Jaffray and Temporary Second Lieutenant McDonald with about 75 men attempted to cross from D to E to join the New Zealanders there then fight their way along trench FG from N to G.

They appeared to lose direction in the scrub which abounds there and arrived at point C in trench BG which Major Parsons was holding. AAA They at once set out again for point E but came under a withering fire from rifles, a machine gun and bombs, and the party literally faded away. AAA Temporary Second Lieutenant McDonald, Squadron Sergeant Major Shaw and three men got back to safely and about twenty wounded crawled in. AAA One sergeant and fifteen men on right of party became detached and finally reached our trench about F. AAA Temporary Second Lieutenant McDonald after reaching safety then gallantly returned four times to the scene of disaster and brought in four wounded men. AAA Major Parson's party were then bombed back to P but when day broke fought back to C, his casualties altogether were about twenty. AAA During day of 27th both sides were quiet but a few men were hit by snipers. AAA At 0100 on 29th August, Temporary Second Lieutenant McDonald with a covering party fought their way with bombs to M and connected up with 10th Light Horse Regiment who had at the same time reached trench BGK from right and taken it. AAA Our men remained in trenches until 2100 when all except 25 were relieved. AAA The bodies of Lieutenant Colonel Reynell and Captain Jaffray were recovered on morning of 29th August and are being buried at 0900 today.

Major WH Scott, Acting CO, 9th Light Horse Regiment, 0800, 30 August 1915.

1916

Wednesday, August 30, 1916

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Hod Nabit

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Received Operation Order from Brigade for the Regiment to move out ot Bayud in support of the Mobile Column who were to make a drive of the country from Bayud to Aweida and 513.

Regimental Operation Order issued and attached.

1917

Thursday, August 30, 1917

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Abasan el Kebir

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Regiment carried out practice Dismounted Attack - 0630 to 0800. Three Other Ranks left to attend Shoeing School at Veterinary Hospital Belbeis.

1918

Friday, August 30, 1918

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Ludd area

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Usual routine carried out. Thirty four reinforcements arrived from Moascar.

Preparations carried out for inspection of General Officer in Command 3rd Light Horse Brigade.

1919

Saturday, August 30, 1919

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Adelaide

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Regiment disbanded.

Previous: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 29 August

Next: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 31 August

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: Thursday, 16 September 2010 8:52 AM EADT

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9th LHR, AIF

9th Australian Light Horse Regiment

Roll of Honour

Andrew Powell Yeates

Andrew Powell Yeates's name on the Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial

Service number: 211

Rank: Trooper [Tpr]

Unit: 9th Light Horse Regiment

Service: Army

Conflict: 1914-1918

Date of death: 30 August 1915

Cause of death: Died of wounds

Cemetery or memorial details: 6. Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli

War Grave Register notes: YEATES, Tpr. Andrew Powell, 211. 9th Light Horse Regt. Died of wounds at sea 30th Aug., 1915. 9.

Source: AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army

Death Notice for Andrew Powell Yeates, KIA Hill 60

[From: Adelaide Chronicle, 25 September 1915, p. 31.]

Lest We Forget

Further Reading:

Hill 60, Gallipoli, 1915

Citation: 9th LHR, AIF, Roll of Honour, Andrew Powell Yeates

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Monday, 8 June 2009 7:15 PM EADT

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Diaries of AIF Servicemen

Bert Schramm

30 August 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, 27 August - 3 September 1918

[Click on page for a larger print version.]

Bert Schramm

Friday, August 30, 1918

Bert Schramm's Location - Ludd area, Palestine.

Bert Schramm's Diary - Good news from France today things are looking much better. Saw planes brought down. Two enemy machines today.

[See: The Pasha Units on the Southern Front]

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Ludd area, Palestine.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Usual routine carried out.

Thirty four reinforcements arrived from Moascar.

Preparations carried out for inspection of General Officer in Command 3rd Light Horse Brigade.

9th LHR AIF War Diary, 30 August

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

No Entry

Previous:  Bert Schramm's Diary, 29 August 1918

Next:  Bert Schramm's Diary, 31 August 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 August 1918

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 5 June 2011 10:25 AM EADT

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50  Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Robert Hamilton, MM, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, "C" Squadron.

Robert HAMILTON brief military biographical details from The AIF Project:

Regimental number :  50
Religion:    Presbyterian
Occupation:    Labourer
Address:    Urana, New South Wales
Marital status:    Single
Age at embarkation:    21
Next of kin:    Stonehouse, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Enlistment date:    10 September 1914
Rank on enlistment:    Private
Unit name:    1st Light Horse Regiment, C Squadron
AWM Embarkation Roll number:    10/6/1
Embarkation details:    Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board Transport A16 Star Of Victoria on 20 October 1914
Rank from Nominal Roll:    Regimental Quartermaster Sergaent
Unit from Nominal Roll:    1st Light Horse Regiment
Recommendations (Medals and Awards): Military Medal
Recommendation date: 4 November 1917
Fate:    Discharged 15 March 1919
Medals:    Military Medal, 14/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal

Of course, there is a bigger story behind this man than the bare facts reveal. 

Born at Kittymuir Farm, Stonehouse, Lanarkshire, Scotland on the 30 December 1892, Hamilton grew up tough and resilient.

At the tender age of 16, in 1909, he sailed for New Zealand to find work. A few years later, in 1912, he enlisted as a volunteer in the New Zealand Territorial formation, the Otago Mounted Rifles based around the Dunedin region. The Otago Mounted Rifles was composed of the following regional squadrons: the Southland Mounted Rifles, the Otago Hussars, and the North Otago Mounted Rifles. Since Hamilton's bank account was located at Invercargill, it is reasonable to assume that was the region and town close to where he worked and lived. If that is so, then it is highly likely the Territorial squadron Hamilton served with was the 7th (Southland) Squadron, Otago Mounted Rifles. 

Hamilton's first camp began in July 1912. A photographer was there to take a picture of this event.

Hamilton standing guard outside the Guard Tent on his first bivouac with the Otago Mounted Rifles.

Under the tent, various faces of men can be seen. These men include: Sergeant Paterson, Tpr Kerse, Tpr Turnbull, Tpr Edge, Tpr Watt, Cpl France, Buglar Paterson, and Cpl Kerse.

By 1914 Hamilton was working at Urana, NSW but was still a registered member of the Otago Mounted Rifles. When the Great War began, he was one of the very first men to put his name down to serve with the 1st Light Horse Regiment, then being formed and trained at Rosebery Park, Sydney. Hamilton was allocated the regimental number  "50" on 28 August 1914 and allotted to the Machine Gun Section. However something happened which immpeded his enrolment to the regiment. Hamilton was obviously a man the officers wanted so his position was held open for him in the regiment although his place in the Machine Gun Section was taken by someone else. His problems seem to have been resolved by 11 October and duly allotted to the last squadron to be formed - "C" Squadron.

Routine Order No. 48, 14 October 1914 appointing Hamilton to "C" Squadron

After serving time in Egypt, the Light Horse volunteered to go to Gallipoli and fight as dismounted infantry. The 1st LHR embarked from Alexandria with 25 officers and 447 other ranks,  9 May 1915 on the HMAT Devonha for Gallipoli. The Regiment landed at 6.00am, 12 May 1915, some 200m south of Fisherman’s Hut, ANZAC Cove. Their place at Gallipoli involved work around Pope’s Hill where they remained for most of the campaign.  The Regiment was evacuated from Gallipoli by 21 December1915 and sailed for Egypt.

Hamilton followed his regiment throughout the Sinai and Palestine campaigns. After the opening of the Third Battle of Gaza with the taking of Beersheba, the next objective was Tel el Khuweilfeh where a battle ensued for almost the next week. It was a difficult and tough fight whereby the attacking units were attempting to dislodge Ottoman forces which were well entrenched around hill tops. The hills themselves provided little cover for the attacking force and thus winning this battle was accompanied by outstanding bravery and sacrifice. It was here that Hamilton was awarded a Military Medal for bravery. The citation reads:

On 3rd November 1917 at Tel el Khuweilfeh this NCO took forward a Hotchkiss gun detachment to a forward flank position and considerably helped to keep down the enemy’s fire, and carried in a wounded man under very heavy fire. His coolness and bravery set a fine example to his men all day. Recommended by Lt Col Granville 

On 12 November 1917 Hamilton was wounded in the neck at Jisr Esdud, a place north of Gaza. The wound was not serious enough to require evacuation so Hamilton remained on duty.

At the end of the war, Hamilton took UK leave and travelled to South Hampton on the HT Bermudian where he arrived 19 December 1918. Hamilton returned to Scotland and his parents in time for his 26th birthday, a five year veteran and a war hero. One can only imagine the jubilation in the Hamilton household in Stonehouse, Lanarkshire that Christmas and New Year. The next year, Hamilton applied for his discharge in the UK which was granted on 15 March 1919.

He returned home to Stonehouse and married Annie Naismith (grandaughter of Robert Naismith author of Stonehouse Historical and Traditional) of Cross View. The couple established their family home at Hamilton Ferme at the Cross. They brought eight children into the world, they being Minnie, Robert, James, William, Ian, Douglas, Evelyn and Norman.
 
Hamilton, in partnership with his brother in law, James Watson of Thorndale, Manse Road, set up a bus company,  The Admiral. They ran Lancier’s from Strathaven to Cathedral Street in Glasgow. Eventually they gave up the service due to the evil practice by competitors of running buses a few minutes before their scheduled service. This practice still occurs to this very day.

After the bus business, Hamilton took over High lanrig Farm for a year. With the completion of the Council houses built in Newfield Road, Hamilton moved his family into 4 Newfield Road, December 1927.   He bred Greyhounds, and had kennels down at the oilworks under the viaduct. His best dog was Avonhope, a prolific winner and nick named "The rent payer". In pursuit of his passion Hamilton took on work with Sam Park of  Lesmahagow and his business partner George Reid of Larkhall. His role was as the Racing Manager and Handicapper at Larkhall Greyhound Stadium. He held this job from 1936 until 1964 when it closed.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Hamilton was appointed Section Commander of the Local Defence Force, No 5 Coy,  No 22 Platoon  Section 1.
The platoon members names taken from his diary 26 August 1940 include  David Brown,  Alexander Bambrick,  James Cryan,  William C S Whitelaw,  Henry McFarlane,  David Finnie,  George Harrison,  Archibald Miller,  David Miller,  James Miller, Walter Mitchell,  Henry Speirs,  Andrew McLellan,   Walter Lang,  Thomas Moffat  Hugh Boyle,  John Whitelaw, and George Spence.

Hamilton’s four eldest enlisted in the armed forces

L/Cpl W/ 217659 Minnie Hamilton, 11 September 1942  to  9 March 1946
Auxiliary Territorial Service; Attached   606 (Mixed) Heavy Anti Aircraft Bty   Royal Artillery; Plotter operator on gun sites, South Coast of England and Newhaven.

Cpl Robert Hamilton 1942  to 1947, Royal Artillery served  in  India  and  Burma

WO2 James Hamilton 1942 to 1947; 1 year Royal Artillery, 4 years Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, served in India

Lt Ian Hamilton 1944 to 1948; 1st Bn Seaforth Highlanders, served in India, Java and Malaya.                                                            

Hamilton retired in 1964, kept bee’s, went fishing and carried out maintenance on the vehicles of his sons fruit & veg business and did some handicapping for Shawfield Stadium. Robert Hamilton died in 1970.

Acknowledgement: Many thanks to the kind assistance of William Mackie, the grandson of Robert Hamilton who kindly provided the photographs and biographical details for this entry. Also thanks to Phil for providing the information regarding the Otago Mounted Rifles.

Further Reading:

1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF, History 

1st Australian Light Horse Brigade

Otago Mounted Rifles, NZMRB, History

Australian Light Horse Order of Battle

Citation: 50  Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Robert Hamilton, MM, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, "C" Squadron.

Posted by Project Leader at 10:57 PM EADT

Updated: Monday, 5 January 2009 11:06 AM EAST

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Memorandum on proposed Reconnaissance to Bir el Abd, 5 May 1916, Page 1

Posted by Project Leader at 1:01 AM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 31 August 2008 2:08 PM EADT

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