"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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Tuesday, 11 November 2008
11 November 1918, Celebrations for the Armistice, Kerr Account Topic: GW - 11 Nov 1918
11 November 1918
Celebrations for the Armistice
Kerr Account
2825 Private Peter William Kerr
[From: Wynn, NI, Behind the Lines, p.1.]
Narelle Wynn writes: "This recording of his stories took place in July 1983, 6 months before he died in February 1984, while I was home from England for 3 months. Spoken by Peter William Kerr and written by Narelle Wynn, Granddaughter."
Wynn, NI, Behind the Lines, Brisbane 1997, p. 46:
More military discipline, you not supposed to be sick. We didn't last long before they put us into a couple of barges and sent us off down to Port Said to our own hospital. The morning after I was discharged out of GBH, that was the morning Armistice was signed, 11 November 1918.
And we were about half way across the canal in a rowing boat, about 4 of us in this boat with a Egyptian going over to the convalescence camp in Port Said. We never got any news we didn't know what was happening. Not like today, you get the news before it happens. There we were half away across the canal and holy sailor, the whole of the canal went up. Shotguns were shooting, guns were roaring, whistles were blowing. We said. "What the bloody hells going on?" We thought that a sudden attack occurred. We didn't know what the hell had happened. The old Egyptian didn't know whether to jump over board or not. He didn't know what the hell to do. We didn't know what had happened until we got to the other side. It was quite a step across the canal there, it had been widened out, we found out afterwards that the Armistice had been signed "
Our convalescence camp was just in the suburb of Port Said. We were just on edge, just off the main street just a couple of yards. And we were poor as crows and hungry as dogs.
Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 11 November 1918 Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
11 November 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, 10 - 11 November 1918
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Bert Schramm
Monday, November 11, 1918
Bert Schramm's Location - Mejdelaya, Tripoli
Bert Schramm's Diary - A day to be remembered. About 5.30 tonight official news stated that hostilities ceased with Germany at 6 am this morning *. I believe it is an armistice but is certain to end in peace. The noise around here when the news was made known was deafening, firing of rifles, revolvers, flares etc and cheering galore. All the boats in the harbour have been blowing their whistles ever some gunboats firing and our brigade battery firing blank ammunition. All the bells in the surrounding villages have been ringing one would imagine he was in Adelaide and I guess there are some joyful bash there tonight. I intend writing some letters tonight that when the news came through I was too excited to do anything. It has been very wet and cold today and snow has fallen in the hills above us and the hills look nice in their white covering.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Permission received for one officer and ten Other Ranks per Regiment to proceed to Tripoli daily for purchasing. Orders issued to Squadrons for parties to proceed daily.
1800 Information received that Germany had signed the armistice at 0500 today. Armistice to come into force at 1100.
This stupendous news was received within 3rd Light Horse Brigade very calmly. Half an hour's fireworks display from flare pistols, a few field artillery and machine gun firing. The local church bells ringing heralded the great news. The blowing of ship sirens at sea penetrated far inland.
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:
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 127.
Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim, Page 127.
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
This chapter deals with Hüsnü observations of the Turkish response to Beersheba on other parts of the battlefield.
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. Signalling instruction begins at Signalling School, Broadmeadows Camp.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - New Regimental Headquarters shelled. One man wounded with shrapnel in the knee.
Wounded man: 473 Private William Ernest Quirk
1916
Saturday, November 11, 1916
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Bir Etmaler
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Boards of Enquiry assembled to inquire into losses of equipment etc.
1917
Sunday, November 11, 1917
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Arak el Menshiyeh.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0500 Stevens, Lieutenant WJ, with troop C Squadron moved on Summeil and found it clear of the enemy.
The Regiment concentrated in high ground one mile north east of railway station at 0900 commenced watering in Arak el Menshiyeh village bivouacking one mile south until 1600.
Horses were off-saddled here for 4½ hours this being the first time off-saddled since 4 November 1917.
At 1600 moved to one mile south of El Faluje and bivouacked for night.
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary -
At 0430 the Brigade stood to arms. The situation was quiet. The 10th Light Horse Regiment took over the outpost line from 9th and 8th Light Horse Regiments who on relic proceeded to water at Arak El Menshiyeh, and draw rations.
At 0500 patrols from 9th Light Horse Regiment and Brigade scouts were pushed forward from the outpost line to reconnoitre Summeil, and at 0600 occupied that place an found it clear of the enemy.
At 0730 patrols were in communication with Yeomanry Division on the right and 4th Light Horse Brigade on the left. The situation along the entire front remained quiet, and no enemy activity was observed.
At 0930 the enemy was observed in strength holding high ridge 1½ miles north east of Summeil, and they commenced shelling Summeil from a position on high ground about three miles east. Patrols reconnoitred further forward, and came under heavy rifle and machine gun fire from these positions, and also from the high ridge one mile further north. It was now seen that the enemy had reorganised and was determined to make a stand with this rear guard, 10th Light Horse Regiment was ordered to carry out active patrolling, making itself as conspicuous as possible, without becoming seriously engaged, the object to attract attention to a line then held while the remainder of the Division moved north.
At 1700 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment occupied night outpost line Arak el Menshiyeh to Summeil, linking up with the 5th Mounted Brigade on the right and 4th Light Horse Brigade on the left, and was relieved by 8th Light Horse Regiment by 2400.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Permission received for one officer and ten Other Ranks per Regiment to proceed to Tripoli daily for purchasing. Orders issued to Squadrons for parties to proceed daily.
1800 Information received that Germany had signed the armistice at 0500 today.
Armistice to come into force at 1100.
This stupendous news was received within 3rd Light Horse Brigade very calmly. Half an hour's fireworks display from flare pistols, a few field artillery and machine gun firing. The local church bells ringing heralded the great news. The blowing of ship sirens at sea penetrated far inland.
Smith R2826 Trooper LJ, died of illness.
1919
Tuesday, November 11, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Adelaide
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Regiment disbanded.
The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre in conjunction with the various Education authorities in Australia, has embarked upon producing a program of instruction targeted initially towards the Later Adolescence band of scholars, characteristically those who are studying in Year 9 and 10 within Australia. Each lesson will be a self contained module. Some will be more difficult than others and graded accordingly.
Lesson 11 Aboriginal Light Horsemen
Resource - Light Horseman Service Record - Essential Pages
2439 Pte William Nicholld, Attestation Paper, p. 1.
[Click on document for larger version.]
The front cover of the Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad provides the reader with the following information:
Service Number,
Surname,
Given Names,
Age,
Employment,
Married or Single,
Next of Kin Relationship,
Next of Kin Name and Address,
Enlistment Date.
This information is vital as it identifies the specific soldier and in case of death or injury, allows the relatives to be informed. The next of kin was important for another reason. Each soldier was compelled to give an allotment of their daily wage to the person nominated as the next of kin. This was an essential financial consideration.
Once this information was gathered, the second page dealt with an oath to the King. The next page to give information was page 3.
2439 Pte William Nicholld, Attestation Paper, p. 3
[Click on document for larger version.]
The third page of the Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad provides the reader with the following information:
Height,
Weight,
Chest Measurement
Complexion,
Eyes,
Hair,
Religion.
The health of the potential soldier was important as the life was particularly strenuous. The ability to carry heavy weights for great distances was most important.
The next form that is most common in the Service File is the B103, the Casualty Form - Active Service. Every movement of the soldier is recorded. The reasons for this are fourfold.
1. The location of the soldier at any one time was essential to establish where his rations were to be drawn.
2. The form established the entitlements to drawing pay at a particular level. A soldier in the field was allowed to draw pay but when in hospital was not allowed to draw their pay as it was considered that everything to assist the soldier's recovery was provided.
3. By tracking the movements of the soldier, it allowed early detection of desertion if that were to occur.
4. At the end of the war, the chronology of this form was used as the basis for post war entitlements such as medals, pensions, repatriation assistance, access to hospitals and any other service available for an ex-serviceman for the rest of his life.
The B103 may be as simple as one sheet or multiple sheets. It depended upon the individual serviceman.
To assist in understanding this particular form in relation to the men from the 11th LHR, Lesson 11 Resource, a list of terms and names are available at the Index to Common B103 Terms. The link is below.
2439 Pte William Nicholld, B103, p. 1.
[Click on document for larger version.]
The front of the B103, the Casualty Form - Active Service provides the reader with the following information:
Regiment
Rank on Enlistment,
Terms of Enlistment,
Embarkation Date,
Embarkation Port,
Embarkation Ship,
Date Taken on Strength.
As can be seen, the form is a chronology of the man's service in the AIF. All B103 forms in every service file is similar.
In this case the man has two pages to the form. To finish his story, the page will be turned over.
2439 Pte William Nicholld, B103, p. 2.
[Click on document for larger version.]
The back of the B103, the Casualty Form - Active Service provides the reader with the following information:
Chronology,
Fate,
Date.
Once the B103, the Casualty Form - Active Service was completed due to the expiration of service, any transactions during subsequent to service were recorded on a flimsey called Transferred to Australian Imperial Force D and it was here that all post service information was maintained.
2439 Pte William Nicholld, AIF D, p. 1.
[Click on document for larger version.]
Page 1 of the Transferred to Australian Imperial Force D provides the reader with the following information:
The last rank held in the AIF,
The date of Discharge,
The place where Discharged,
The eligible medals awarded to the serviceman.
Information on this form depends upon the individual. This particular form can at times run into many pages.
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