"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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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 113.
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 113.
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
This chapter deals with Hüsnü observations and critiques on the Ottoman conduct of the capture of Beersheba, 31 October 1917.
The New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade at Esanicrossing Wadi el Esani in preparation for the march to Khalassa
This remarkable photograph shows the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade baggage train in a waggon park in the foreground while in the background a Regiment is seen crossing Wadi el Esani and essembling on the southern bank at Esani during the late afternoon of 28 October 1917. Each Troop of every Squadron is clearly separated giving the ability to determine the number of troops approaching the crossing in the picture. The men in the photograph have received their final orders for the attack on Beersheba and are moving to their jump off point, a march of two nights to arrive on the morning of 31 October 1917.
Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment War Diary
Auckland Mounted Rifles War Diary Entry, 28 October 1917.
The transcription:
The Regiment stood to Arms at 0400 till 0600, and remained in bivouac all morning. At 1330 orders were received that the Brigade would move out to Khalassa at 1700. Wadi Imal Aaga was crossed at Malassa at 1800, and the Brigade moved to Khalassa via Esani - Khalassa Road on East side of Wadi. At 2030 the Regiment reached a Point 1 mile north of Junction Esani - Khalassa and Beersheba - Khalassa roads, and bivouaced there for the night.
The road map of the route taken by the NZMR
The road from Esani to Khalassa
[Click on map for larger version.]
The Journey
Following the directions given in the AMR War Diary entry, the crossing in the photograph was the crossing of Wadi el Esani at Esani, 28 October 1917. In finding the crossing on the map, it is the segment of road marked "D1" to the north of Esani following the route over Wadi el Esani along the road markded "C". Later on, the Brigade crossed Wadi Imal Aaga at Malassa, This is found on the segment between the portions marked "C" in the west and "E" on the east of Wadi Imal Aaga with the figure "E2" in the centre of these two marks but to the north. The men then followed the road marked "E" south to Khalassa.
Acknowledgements:
Many thanks to the following two people -
Judith Brown, the daughter of Trooper Frederick Foote, who has kindly given permission to use the photograph taken by her father.
It is through the generosity and spirit of such people that the people of Australia and New Zealand know and understand the history of these brave men.
Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 27 October 1918 Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
27 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, 27 - 31 October 1918
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Bert Schramm
Sunday, October 27, 1918
Bert Schramm's Location - Kaukab
Bert Schramm's Diary - Things are still quiet. Rumours of Turkey suing for peace and the news from France is exceptionally good etc. But Toby invalided. We moved from camp at 9.30 this morning and tonight we are camped around a small village called Harista about four miles north of Damascus on the Aleppo Road. Confirmed officially that Aleppo had been occupied by our troops on 24th inst. Aleppo is nearly two hundred miles from Damascus.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Kaukab
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0945 The Regiment moved out on first stage to Homs, joined remainder of Brigade and proceeded by main road through Damascus to Jobar arriving at 1540 and bivouacked for night. Twenty one Other Ranks and 70 spare horses were left at Divisional Depot Damascus to collect reinforcements. Charley, Major WT, left as Officer in Command Divisional Depot.
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 Battle of El Buqqar Ridge, 27 October 1917, 91st Anniversary Topic: BatzP - El Buggar
The Battle of El Buqqar Ridge, 27 October 1917
91st Anniversary
The scene from El Buqqar Ridge, Hill 720, facing north west
[Photo by courtesy Gal Shaine]
27 October 1917 was the opening battle in the Third Battle of Gaza. While a comparatively small action when compared to Beersheba which followed, it was hard fought and necessary to ensure the next phase of the battle could occur with the movement of the Allied forces remaining screened and thus undetected.
The action itself produced the first VC in this battle, that given to Major "Laffy" Lafone.
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 112.
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 112.
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
These are events that led to the capture of Beersheba, 31 October 1917.
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