During part of the course of his military service with the AIF, 2823 Private Herbert Leslie Schramm, a farmer from White's River, near Tumby Bay on the Eyre Peninsular, 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 1918 breakout 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.

 Bert Schramm's Diary, 24 December 1918

Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 21 - 27 December 1918

[Click on page for a larger print version.]

Diaries

Bert Schramm

Tuesday, December 24, 1918

Bert Schramm's Location - Tripoli

Bert Schramm's Diary -  Very well again today. Went into Tripoli this afternoon. A fair amount of liquor about and some of the lads are going to have a merry Xmas.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Tripoli

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - One hundred Other Ranks proceeded to El Mina for delousing and hot baths. Extra rations, local vegetables etc purchased for Christmas Day.

Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924.

Further Reading:

9th Light Horse Regiment AIF War Diary - Complete day by day list

Bert Schramm Diary 

Bert Schramm Diary - Complete day by day list

Additional Reading:

Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924.

Citation: Bert Schramm's Diary, 24 December 1918

Posted by Project Leader at 1:37 PM EAST

Updated: Wednesday, 24 December 2008 1:52 PM EAST

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9th LHR, AIF

Pro Gloria et Honore - For Glory and Honour

Regimental March -  Marching Through Georgia

The Diary

1914

Thursday, December 24, 1914

9th Light Horse Regiment Location -  Broadmeadows Camp, Victoria. 

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Organising, training and equipping of troops.

See: Broadmeadows 1909

1915

Friday, December 24, 1915

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - At sea.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary -   No entry.

1916

Sunday, December 24, 1916

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Hod Masaid, Sinai

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Arrived at 1000 from El Magdhaba and night bivouac in hod.

1917

Monday, December 24, 1917

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Suffa.

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 20 Other Ranks marched in from led horses.

1918

Tuesday, December 24, 1918

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Tripoli

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - One hundred Other Ranks proceeded to El Mina for delousing and hot baths. Extra rations, local vegetables etc purchased for Christmas Day.

1919

Wednesday, December 24, 1919

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Adelaide

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Regiment disbanded.

Previous: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 23 December

Next: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 25 December

Sources:

See: 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Contents

Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy

Further Reading:

9th Light Horse Regiment AIF

Bert Schramm Diary

9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour 

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 12:51 PM EAST

Updated: Thursday, 23 September 2010 9:21 AM EADT

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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 170.

[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.

List of all Yildirim pages

Posted by Project Leader at 11:01 AM EAST

Updated: Wednesday, 24 December 2008 2:13 PM EAST

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The Battle of Magdhaba

Sinai, 23 December 1916

3rd LH Bde, AIF, War Diary Account

The transcription:

3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade

Operations of 23rd December 1916.

Upon receiving orders from Brigadier General Chaytor, the Brigade moved to a commanding ridge north and a little east of the Stone Huts of Magdhaba and about 4 miles distant.

From this point at 0930 the 10th Light Horse Regiment and two Sections of the Machine Gun Squadron were despatched to operate on the extreme left flank, keeping in touch with the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade on their right with the object of encircling the enemy right and getting behind them if possible. This was done on my own initiative. This was done and no doubt their position of the Regiment by 1600 materially added to the success of the operation by 1630. Two Squadrons had worked into the nullas south of the huts.

At this point they were opposed by an enemy redoubt but having made touch with the 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade this position was captured; a certain part of the ridge being galloped with fixed bayonets which apparently demoralised the enemy.

Some three to four hundred prisoners were captured on this side of the position which included some senior officers the chief ???? of the Turkish Desert Force, ???? of them. Sixty (60) camels with supplies and ammunition were also captured and sent in.

The remainder of the Brigade was held in reserve on the high ground previously gained until 1300 when orders were received to push the remainder of the Brigade into the attack. The 8th and 9th Light Horse Regiments went forward with two Sections of the Machine Gun Squadron with the former. The right of the right Regiment (the 9th Light Horse Regiment) was directed on the guts of Magdhaba. The 8th Light Horse Regiment extending to the left and being in touch with the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade.


Two Sections of the Machine Gun Squadron under Major Nicholas supported the attack on the right flank but the ground worked over gave little assistance for overhead covering fire; the guns at all time being pushed well forward into the firing line, which necessitated their being manhandled for a distance of 1,000 yards as horses could not be brought up owing to the nature of the ground.

As soon as launched this attack pushed steadily forward to the final stage when bayonets were fixed, but by this time the enemy were surrendering on all sides. In one case the bayonet got home and one man of the 9th Light Horse Regiment received a bayonet wound. As soon as the general surrender was evident steps were take to collect the killed and wounded and prisoners; the Turkish Hospital being made the collecting point. At this point between 700 and 750 prisoners were sent to the rendezvous, having been collected by the Brigade together with the number sent in by the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade and the 1st Australian Light Horse. The casualties in the Brigade were as follows:

Killed in Action - 3 Officers; 8 Other Ranks
Wounded in Action - 2 Officers; 30 Other Ranks

During the operations the bearing of all ranks was excellent.

In conclusion I wish to state that from the time the two Regiments were put into the attack on the trenches, no time was lost and I cannot do otherwise than compliment the three Commanding Officers for the prompt way they got their Regiments into action.

Mention must be made of the excellent work done generally by the Lewis Gun Detachments. They proved splendid weapons for covering the bounds.

John R Royston
Brigadier General
Commanding 3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade
Masa'id, 25th December 1916.

 
Additional Reading:

1st Australian Light Horse Brigade

The Battle of Magdhaba, Sinai, December 23, 1916, Roll of Honour, 3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade

The Battle of Magdhaba

The Battle of Magdhaba, Sinai, December 23, 1916, Roll of Honour, Australia and New Zealand

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1919

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EAST

Updated: Sunday, 22 November 2009 7:52 AM EAST

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The Battle of Magdhaba

Sinai, 23 December 1916

2nd LHR, AIF, Unit History Account

Lieutenant Colonel George Herbert Bourne's unit history of the 2nd Light Horse Regiment, AIF, included a section specifically related to the Battle of Magdhaba which is extracted below.

Bourne, Lieut-Colonel GH, "NULLI SECUNDUS" - The History - of the 2nd Light Horse Regiment Australian Imperial Force - August 1914 - April 1919, (Tamworth 1926), pp. 37-39:

Information having reached the Turks that these two patrols had penetrated their lines, however, they became nervous as to the safety of Mazar. They therefore evacuated that place and concentrated their force at El Arish. The instant this became known to General Chetwode, he ordered the advance on El Arish. This was accomplished by the Anzac Division (less 2nd Brigade) and Camel Corps marching round it during the night - the infantry of the Column moving on the place by direct road. By daylight it was surrounded; but the birds had flown. Having found that our horses were equal to such performances as that of Captain Brown's patrol, the Turks knew they were not safe at El Arish, and consequently sought the security of Magdhaba, evacuating the former place just before our arrival. Magdhaba was distant, 27 miles, along a practically unknown and waterless track, but in spite of that, and the fact that the Column had just had one night march General Chetwode decided to surprise the Turks there at dawn on December 23 with the mounted troops of his command, viz: - 1st, 3rd and NZMR Brigades, and Imperial Camel Corps, 18th Brigade, RHA and Hong Kong and Singapore Mountain Battery.

After a long and tiresome wait for rations to come up we accordingly started on the night of December 22 for Magdhaba - "C" Squadron, 2nd Regiment being Advance Guard. The enemy position was very difficult to locate; his trenches were beautifully sited. The attack was opened by the Camel Brigade. The 1st Brigade went in on their right - the 3rd Brigade and NZMR Brigade on their left, practically enveloping the position. The situation was that the Turks were sitting on the only water within miles; and the position had either to be taken or we would go thirsty for at least 24 hours.

The Turk ever proved himself a splendid and stubborn fighter from behind cover. So, in this case we found the job much more difficult than had been anticipated. This Regiment was not engaged as a unit; having been detailed as Brigade Reserve and split up in different jobs. The final result however, was largely contributed to by the energy of Major Markwell, who gathered up some details of 3rd Regiment in addition to three troops of "B" Squadron, 2nd Regiment under Major Chambers, and successfully led them against the chief remaining enemy redoubt. Major Birkbeck skilfully led two troops right round the position and threatened a mounted attack from the enemy's only line of retreat. This manoeuvre decided the Turkish Commander to hoist the white flag; the entire force surrendering.

Lieutenant Guiren, of this Regiment, and his troop, just beat the 3rd Brigade into Magdhaba itself.                                

The enemy force of about 2,500 was captured or killed. We also got a battery of mountain guns, about 2,000 rifles; machine guns, s.a.a. etc., a many horses and mules.

The 1st Regiment was detailed to clear up the battlefield, and bivouacked for the night; and 2nd Regiment was detailed to escort the prisoners to El Arish - another night march thus being necessary. During the previous 84 hours we had practically no sleep, so that the journey back was by no means a pleasant one; men went fast asleep on their horses or camels, some falling off. Most of us experienced optical delusions, induced by want of sleep. We halted to rations at Lafan, half-way to El Arish. Our bivouacs at El Arish were reached at dawn on Christmas Eve. The weather was wet and of course there were no tents owing to want of transport - indeed it was proving a difficult matter to even feed us as we had got so far beyond Railhead  the trackless sand rendering wheeled vehicles of little use. Much heavy work was therefore thrown on the excellent Camel Transport Corps.

The prisoners were handed over y Major Stodart before noon on 24th. In order to ration them, our friends of the 52nd Division had to go short for a day or two. The "Scotties" were amusingly indignant, and repeatedly told our fellows that they had taken too ___ many prisoners, and should have used the ___ bayonet more.

Further Reading:

2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF

2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour

The Battle of Magdhaba

The Battle of Magdhaba, Sinai, December 23, 1916, Roll of Honour, Australia and New Zealand

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EAST

Updated: Sunday, 22 November 2009 12:41 PM EAST

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