"At a mile distant their thousand hooves were stuttering thunder, coming at a rate that frightened a man - they were an awe inspiring sight, galloping through the red haze - knee to knee and horse to horse - the dying sun glinting on bayonet points..." Trooper Ion Idriess
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Monday, 20 October 2008
The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917, 5th ALHR, AIF, War Diary Account Topic: AIF - 2B - 5 LHR
The Battle of Beersheba
Palestine, 31 October 1917
5th LHR, AIF, War Diary Account
War Diary account of the 3rd LHR, AIF.
The transcription:
31 October 1917
Day Patrols found. Regiment moved out with rest of Brigade for advance to rear of Beersheba to Point on Hebron Road near Sakaty.
Arrived at Hanam in Wadi el Saba at 0700 on morning of 31st.
After watering horses in this Wadi, the Regiment was ordered forward to support the 7th LH Regiment which had crossed the Hebron Road under very heavy shell fire and occupied a position in Wadi Itmy. The Regiment was heavily shelled crossing the Wadi Khalil and Hebron Road. High ground to the north and north-west was held by enemy with guns and machine guns.
This Regiment and 7th LH Regiment engaged enemy during the remainder of day and held outpost line covering Beersheba-Hebron Road and approaches from the north-east during night 31st October/1st November.
Roll of Honour
Lest We Forget
Map detailing the movement of the 5th LHR as per the War Diary, 31 October 1917
Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 20 October 1918 Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
20 October 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's Handwritten Diary, 20 - 26 October 1918
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Bert Schramm
Sunday, October 20, 1918
Bert Schramm's Location - Kaukab
Bert Schramm's Diary - I was sent into Damascus on duty today but was only there for a couple of hours. Got back to camp about 4.00.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Kaukab
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Stephen, Lieutenant HH, returned from Field Ambulance. Elay, Sergeant RC proceeded to Cadet School Zeitoun. Bavin, 1729 Driver JP, died of illness.
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:
The following entries are extracted and transcribed from the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, the originals of which are held by the Australian War Memorial. There are 366 entries on this site. Each day has entries as they occurred from 1914 to 1919. In addition to the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, when appropriate, entries from the 3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary and other regiments with the Brigade will also appear. Entries from the unit history, Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924 will also appear from time to time. The aim is to give the broadest context to the story and allow the reader to follow the day to day activities of the regiment. If a relative happened to have served in the regiment during the Great War, then this provides a general framework in which the individual story may be told.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Formation of Regiment occurring at Morphettville Race Course Camp, Adelaide, while "C" Squadron is formed at Broadmeadows Camp, Victoria.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Brigadier General Lesslie inspected the position today. Captain TA Siekmann evacuated today sick.
1916
Friday, October 20, 1916
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Bir Ganadil
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - No Entry.
1917
Saturday, October 20, 1917
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Um Urgan
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Stood to arms at 0500. B Squadron on night outpost. Quiet night. Commanding Officer inspected Regiment at 1100.
1918
Sunday, October 20, 1918
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Kaukab
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Stephen, Lieutenant HH, returned from Field Ambulance. Elay, Sergeant RC proceeded to Cadet School Zeitoun. Bavin, 1729 Driver JP, died of illness.
1919
Minday, October 20, 1918
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Adelaide
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Regiment disbanded.
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 105.
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 105.
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
These are events that led to the capture of Beersheba, 31 October 1917.
The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917, 8th ALHR, AIF, War Diary Account Topic: AIF - 3B - 8 LHR
The Battle of Beersheba
Palestine, 31 October 1917
8th LHR, AIF, War Diary Account
War Diary account of the 8th LHR, AIF.
The transcription:
Operations
31 October 1917
0700 Took up line 1210-1180-1280 and made dispositions for attack on Beersheba. Linked with 7th Mounted Brigade on left and New Zealand Mounted Rifles on right.
Ras Ghannam redoubt was held very strongly by enemy and the main attack was made on Tel el Saba which fell at 1500.
The Regiment was relieved at 1500 moved to Desert Corps Headquarters wherein instructions were given to join the 5th Mounted Brigade.
At 1730 enemy aeroplanes raided and bombed various bivouacs. Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Cecil Maygar VC was wounded also Captain James Sproat and 2 Other Ranks, whilst 2 horses were killed and several wounded.
Major Archibald McGibbon McLaurin assumed command and Regiment proceed to Wadi Saba to water. There touch was gained with 3rd LH Bde and coming under the orders of this Brigade, Regiment was ordered to bivouac for the night in Wadi Saba.
Casualties in firing line at Ras Ghannam were 1 man (1571 Tpr John Henry Gallagher, "C" Squadron) seriously wounded and one horse killed.
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