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Wednesday, 17 September 2008
Bir el Mazar, Sinai, 17 September 1916, 10th LHR, AIF, War Diary Account Topic: AIF - 3B - 10 LHR
Bir el Mazar
Sinai, 17 September 1916
10th LHR, AIF, War Diary Account
War Diary account of the 10th LHR, AIF.
The transcription:
15 September 1916
Regiment assembled and mounved out as part of Brigade to Salmana arriving 0330.
16 September 1916
Biviouac until 0700, water and feed horses. Planes hovered over troops all day. Also Taubes. One man killed by machine gun fire from Taube. 1800 Brigade moved out in dark for Mazar.
17 September 1916
Arrived 0600 18th [Ed: This should be 17th]. Attack not pushed hom, troops returned at 1015. 1030 Brigade massed and moved off to Salmana, watering on return journey.
Bir el Mazar, Sinai, 17 September 1916, 10th LHR, AIF, Unit History Account Topic: AIF - 3B - 10 LHR
Bir el Mazar
Sinai, 17 September 1916
10th LHR, AIF, Unit History Account
Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Charles Niquet Olden produced the unit history for the 11th LHR in 1921 called the Westralian cavalry in the war: the story of the Tenth Light Horse Regiment, A.I.F., in the Great War, 1914-1918, which included a section specifically related to the Battle of Bir el Mazar and is extracted below.
Olden, A.C.N., Westralian cavalry in the war: the story of the Tenth Light Horse Regiment, A.I.F., in the Great War, 1914-1918, (Melbourne 1921):
For three weeks the Regiment remained based on Hod Fatir, having made provision for its own local protection by a chain of day and night outposts. Mounted escorts for the never-ending stream of supply and water camels were provided daily, each of the three squadrons taking its turn in rotation. An occasional reconnaissance by the Regiment and sometimes the whole Brigade - the other units of which occupied hods close handy - also marked this period.
The front line at this time consisted of a chain of strong posts running north and south through Hod el Hisha, Bir el Abd, and Hod-el-Bada, and on September 3rd the Regiment moved out from Fatir and took over this portion of the line. Each of the three places named was held by a squadron - "B" Squadron (Major Robertson) with Regimental Headquarters at Bada, "A" Squadron (Captain Timperley) at Abd, and "C" Squadron (Major Grimwood) at Hisha.
The main work consisted of patrol and outposts, but with the exception of an occasional visit from hostile aeroplanes, the line was left unmolested by the enemy. The Turks were now busy forming defences in the vicinity of Mazar, and several reconnaissances in force were carried out, though not with any great success on our part. They were chiefly productive of long rides, sleepless nights, and extreme fatigue of both men and horses without much actual achievement to show for it. Fortunately the casualties were few, being mostly caused by stray shots from German aircraft.
10th LHR Routine Order No 6, 4 November 1914 Topic: AIF - 3B - 10 LHR
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. Over the following weeks, the Routine Orders for the 10th Light Horse Regiment will be posted. They are an almost complete collection from commencement as 7th Light Horse Regiment, "C" Squadron to reformation as the 10th Light Horse Regiment. It tells the story of the regiment in a way never touched by a unit history. What is revealed is the day to day lives faced by the men in the Regiment. It lists the highs and lows but in so doing, is the history of the common man.
10th LHR Routine Order No 6, 4 November 1914
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Strength
This Routine Order provides a mine of information about the troop allotments of the new recruits who have just arrived from the rural centres.
In addition, a group from the north west of West Australia have enlisted and await shipment to Perth. In the meantime, they have been formed into a squad for training purposes. Again, the men are named giving a wealth of detail about these specific men and their movement into the Regiment. One name stands out immediately, that of the future 114 Acting Quartermaster Sergeant Wilfred Lukin Harper who died at the Nek during that fateful charge, 7 August 1915.
Discharges
In addition to the recruits, there is a list of men who were discharged for medical reasons, failing the riding test and for their own personal reasons.
Lecture
Major Love was scheduled to deliver a lecture and demonstration on drill at the Officers' Mess Room.
10th LHR Routine Order No 5, 3 November 1914 Topic: AIF - 3B - 10 LHR
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. Over the following weeks, the Routine Orders for the 10th Light Horse Regiment will be posted. They are an almost complete collection from commencement as 7th Light Horse Regiment, "C" Squadron to reformation as the 10th Light Horse Regiment. It tells the story of the regiment in a way never touched by a unit history. What is revealed is the day to day lives faced by the men in the Regiment. It lists the highs and lows but in so doing, is the history of the common man.
10th LHR Routine Order No 5, 3 November 1914
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
The quality of this RO has deteriorated due to the nature of the paper, water damage and conservation techniques. The paper is wafer thin, about 40 gsm carbon copy paper of the time and this is the third copy, consequently the resulting type was blurred even at the time of production.
Appointments
On this day, both Herbert Bowen Hamlin and Leslie Craig received confirmations of their appointments as Second Lieutenants.
Recruits
A couple recruits were taken in at the Guidford Camp and allotted to squadrons.
10th LHR Routine Order No 4, 2 November 1914 Topic: AIF - 3B - 10 LHR
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. Over the following weeks, the Routine Orders for the 10th Light Horse Regiment will be posted. They are an almost complete collection from commencement as 7th Light Horse Regiment, "C" Squadron to reformation as the 10th Light Horse Regiment. It tells the story of the regiment in a way never touched by a unit history. What is revealed is the day to day lives faced by the men in the Regiment. It lists the highs and lows but in so doing, is the history of the common man.
10th LHR Routine Order No 4, 2 November 1914
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
"C" Troop, "C" Squadron
In terms of tracing the roles played by people during the various actions, this RO gives away a goldmine of information. The allocation of men to "C" Troop, "C" Squadron allows a person to trace the fate of their relative from inception. This allottment was subject to change due to the needs of the Regiment. The men did not necessarily remain in "C" Squadron during their whole service period.
Here are a few names identified:
445 Pte Philip Lester Moran 430 Pte Thomas Victor Lakeland, KIA 10 September 1915 219 Sgt William Lauchlan SANDERSON 89 Pte Francis McMahon, KIA 29 August 1915
Lest We Forget
Discharges
Alfred Aylemore and CA Whyatt were both discharged from the 10th LHR as unlikely to become efficient soldiers. These are two men who served with the 10th LHR, albeit for a short period, but do not make it onto the rolls. Without this RO, their names would be lost as would their role in this conflict.
Transport Wagons
Corporal Brown with five men was ordered to obtain one day's rations and report mounted for the purposes of leaving camp and obtaining the newly available transport wagons. These are the first wagons allocated to the Regiment.
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