Australian Light Horse Studies Centre

Citation: The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917, 8th Sanitary Section, AIF, Unit History Account

Posted by Project Leader at 12:48 PM EADT

Updated: Thursday, 8 October 2009 3:44 PM EADT

6th Light Horse Regiment, AIF

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The Battle of Beersheba Palestine, 31 October 1917, 6th LHR, AIF, War Diary Account
Topic: AIF - 2B - 6 LHR

The Battle of Beersheba

Palestine, 31 October 1917

6th LHR, AIF, War Diary Account

Original 6th LHR War Diary Entry

War Diary account of the 6th LHR, AIF.

The transcription:

Operations

October 30th
Left Asluj at 1800 with Brigade and marched towards Bir Arrara 7th finding advanced, this Regiment in reserve.

October 31st
Halted for 2 1/2 hours near cross roads arriving at Bir Arrara at 0300.
Then proceeded to Bir el Hamam arriving there at 0800.
Watered at Bir el Hamam and proceeded towards Tel el Sakaty arriving there at 1400.
"A" Squadron found two troops as observation on point 1120. "B" Squadron found 1 troop as day post north-east of camp "C" in reserve. 6th Regiment found night protection for Brigade Headquarters north and north-east of camp. "B" and "C" Squadrons found night posts. "A" in reserve.

1st November
6th Regiment relieved the 7th Regiment in W.A. Ja 11 and "A" Squadron found day posts. Regiment took up night dispositions from Khirbit Um Butein to Khirbit el Ras.

Roll of Honour

Lest We Forget

Map detailing the movement of the 6th LHR as per the War Diary, 31 October 1917

[Click on map for larger version.]

Further Reading:

6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour

The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917

Citation: The Battle of Beersheba Palestine, 31 October 1917, 6th LHR, AIF, War Diary Account

Posted by Project Leader at 10:13 AM EADT

Updated: Monday, 5 October 2009 8:28 AM EADT

The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917

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The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917, 5th Mounted Brigade War Diary
Topic: AIF - DMC - British

The Battle of Beersheba

Palestine, 31 October 1917

5th Mounted Brigade War Diary

Lieutenant Colonel P J Kelly, CO of the 5th Mounted Brigade

[From: AWM H00588]

The origins of the 5th Mounted Brigade go back to the commencement of the Great War when the formation was called 1/1st South Midland Mounted Brigade as part of the 2nd Mountded Division. In May 1915 the brigade was renamed to 1st (1/1st South Midland) Mounted Brigade. During the extended period from September to December 1915, the remnants of the Brigade were combined with the remainder of the 2nd (1/2nd South Midland) Mounted Brigade. The new formation was called the 1st Composite Mounted Brigade. On the break up of the 2nd Mounted Division in January 1916, the resulting unit became known as the 5th Mounted Brigade. In February 1917 it was attached to the new division known as the Imperial Mounted Division and remained with that division when the 4th ALH Brigade was added and the name changed to the Australian Mounted Division. The Regiments in the Brigade were:

1/1st Gloucestershire Yeomanry
1/1st Warwickshire Yeomanry
1/1st Worcestershire Yeomanry

War Diary of the 5th Mounted Brigade

The War Diary provides an excellent reference to the day to day activities of note that occurred within a particular unit. They were never designed to be histories in themselves but aids to future historians who wish to write about their deeds. The War Diary was often written up at the end of the day when most men were weary and seen as just another useless activity demanded by "the Heads" in far off places. It was only years later when unit histories were produced that the value of the War Diaries became to be realised by the men. The result is that the War Diary is usually light on detail. These details can be supplemented by Routine Orders and signals where these may exist.

War Diary Entries

October 1917

28th - At 0200 the Bde. relieved the I.C.C. Bde taking aver the line Khalasa - Ghalyun - then to Malaaga to Abushar inclusive. This line was subdivided into Northern and southern Sectors and allotted to Worcesters and Warricks respectively - dividing line - Khalasa - Beersheba read inclusive to Worcester Yeo. In accordance with Divisional instructions a reconnaissance was carried out by Warwick Yeo to ascertain the whereabouts of the enemy, Ss of Ras Ghannam and Ras Hablein. Enemy were seen to be occupying trench system Ras Hablein - um Farrath also bivouac shelters and tents were obsessed NW of Ras Hablein. Turkish mounted patrol approaching Ibn Saiid was fired on and 1 Turk killed.

29th. - The Brigade stood to at 0500. All clear received at 0530.

Gloucester Yeo, found 2 Sgdns, on Outpost with 1 in reserve line 870 just W. of 910 with strong standing post on Khalasa - Saba road.

Worcester Yeo. joined up with post on high ground on E.1, road Sqdn, on Ibn Saiid post reported usual movement of enemy infantry about redoubts E. of Abushar. About 8 explosions were heard at redoubts of Ras Hablein also 2 working parties of 50 each working on the Khalasa - Saba road.

Much less enemy activity than yesterday.

30th - Stood to at 0500, "all clear" received at 0530. Nothing of importance occurred until the Brigade withdrew at 1700.

The afternoon was spent in resting the troops not on outpost. Orders were received for the Brigade to march from Khalasa via Asluj to Iswaiwin. The Brigade left camp at 1900 marching in the following order:
Gloucester Yeo. Bde. Hdqrs, Half of 16th MG Sqdn. 'B' Battery HAC. Remainder of 16th MG Sqdn, Warwick Yeo. Field Amb. Echelon, Remainder of Worcester Yeo.

31st - From 2330/30th- to 0200/31st the Brigade, halted at Asluj, and finally arrived at Iswaiwin about 1000, in reserve.

At 1600 Warwick Yeo. was detailed to support Genl. Grant, 4th ALH Bde, in an attack on Beersheba. This was cancelled and Brigade proceeded to water at Bir Hamam and Bir Imshash.

Enemy aeroplanes bombed and machine gunned us on the way. The Warwick Yeo. having 1 man killed and 2 wounded. 2 horses were also killed and several wounded.At 2000 the Brigade marched to Beersheba and found it occupied by 4th ALH Bde.

Bivouacked on S. side of wadi by the viaduct.

Further Reading:

The British Army

Citation: The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917, 5th Mounted Brigade War Diary

Posted by Project Leader at 9:11 AM EADT

Updated: Thursday, 8 October 2009 7:52 PM EADT

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Colonel Husnu, Yildirim, Page 100
Topic: Tk - Bks - Yildirim

Another entry from the book written by Lieutenant Colonel Hüseyin Hüsnü Emir, called Yildirim. Every day, one page of the book will be posted. This is Page 100.

Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 100.

[Click on page for a larger print version.]

Citation: Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 100

Posted by Project Leader at 1:01 AM EADT

Updated: Tuesday, 14 October 2008 6:18 PM EADT

The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917

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The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917, 2nd Signal Troop Unit History Account
Topic: AIF - 2B - 2 Sig Trp

The Battle of Beersheba

Palestine, 31 October 1917

2nd Signal Troop Unit History Account

2nd Australian Signal Troop

[From: AWM picture P00061.009]

At the conclusion of the war, an officer belonging to the 2nd Australian Signal Troop produced an unpublished manuscript in 1919 called 2nd Australian Signal Troop, which included a section specifically related to the battle of Beersheba and is extracted below.

Anonymous, 2nd Australian Signal Troop, unpublished:

On the evening of the 30th October 1917, the whole Anzac Mounted Division, moved up towards Beersheba. The Anzac Mounted Division cable wagon, which was following the column, was laying the wire as the 2nd ALH Brigade moved along.
2 miles south of Amara, the 2nd ALH Brigade, halted to allow the 7th ALH Regiment to go ahead to clear the place of the enemy. One pack set went along with them with sufficient wire to lay to their objective. Upon the post being found clear of the enemy, the 2nd ALH Brigade, pushed forward till 0700, when a short halt was made for breakfast. We pushed forward at a hand gallop at 0730 eventually taking up a position for Headquarters, about 5 miles north east of Beersheba and 2 miles east of Sekatia. Visual communication all day with Anzac Mounted Division, and Regiments.
The work with Divisional Headquarters, was very heavy, until sundown, a lamp was then brought into play, but although we called all night at regular intervals no reply was received. The wireless was erected but was unable to raise Anzac Mounted Division. Telephone communication with 5th and 7th ALH Regiments. (6th ALH Regiment in reserve).
Next morning (1st November) a line was laid from Divisional Headquarters, they having established their Headquarters at Tel el Saba. The 6th A.L.H. Regiment moved out further across the Hebron Road, and the line was extended to them from the old Regimental Headquarters, of the 7th A.L.H. Regiment. Visual common. with Anzac Mounted Division, and Imperial Camel Corps Brigade along the hill tops directly north of Beersheba.

Further Reading:

2nd Signal Troop

Citation: The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917, 2nd Signal Troop Unit History Account

Posted by Project Leader at 12:49 AM EADT

Updated: Thursday, 8 October 2009 7:47 PM EADT