"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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Saturday, 28 February 2009
Query Club, 5 January 1916 Topic: Gen - Query Club
The Query Club
5 January 1916
The large scale of the Great War often gave people a sense of alienation from the activities of the government and the army. To overcome this, newspapers of the day commenced columns called Query Club or similar names, where ordinary people could clarify their understanding of the complex processes. They also provide us, the historians, an insight into witnessing first hand, the responses of the various bodies to public concerns. The end product is a window into a society now almost out of living memory.
This is the Query Club from the Sydney Mail, 5 January 1916, p. 30.
ALL INFANTRY
"Glen Innes"
The Light Horse Battalions we have sent to the front are not cavalry regiments; they are mounted infantry. The troopers receive the same rate of pay as the other infantrymen.
THE KING'S VISIT
"WBE"
King George's visit to France was made in the last week of October. The exact dat has not been mentioned, but it was probably about the 25th that he inspected the Australian voluntary hospital at Wimereux.
INTERNED CIVILIANS
"St John's" writes to say that intered civilians in Germany may be communicated with through the Mount Pleasant Post Office, London, as well as through Cook's Agency, to which we referred in the last issue.
Unstamped postcards only are permitted to go through. They should be addressed after this style:
"A---- B----, Civil Prisoner of War, No. 4 Marrack, Englanderlaager, Ruhleben, Germany."
The card should be enclosed in a stamped envelope addressed:
"A---- B----, Civil Prisoner of War, Germany, c/- Mount Pleasant Post Office, London."
Bert Schramm's Diary, 28 February 1919 Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
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, 28 February 1919
Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 26 February - 1 March 1919
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Diaries
Bert Schramm
Friday, February 28, 1919
Bert Schramm's Location - Tripoli, Lebanon.
Bert Schramm's Diary - I visited the Kadisha Lodge tonight and had a good evening. I expect it will be the last as I believe weather permitting we will be leaving in a day or so.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Rafa, Egypt.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Orders received that Australian Division Group would entrain on the evening of the 2nd March 1919 and move early on the morning of 3rd March 1919 to Moascar.
Darley
Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924.
Pasha and Yildirim, the Palestine Front, 1915 to 1918
A Rumpler C.I and Pfalz E.I (Lt Henckel) flying over Beersheba Airfield, April 1916
[From: Ole Nikolajsen, Ottoman Aviation 1911 - 1919, p. 203.]
Part 1 - A Token Force
With the outbreak of the 1st World War in August 1914 it was planned that the Palestine Army Command in Damascus should be equipped with a Tayyare Boluk (Aircraft Company) of two flights, each with two aircraft. As the previously ordered French aircraft not were delivered the unit was formed initially with only a Rumpler Doppeltaube taken over from the German flyer Dr. Elias. (Dr. Elias later served as aircraft company commander for FA305 in 1918 in Palestine.)
This aircraft was chosen as it had the longest range of any available Turkish aircraft. Lieutenant Sakir who had received biplane training in Germany was selected to pilot the aircraft. This token force was to provide reconnaissance for the planned Turkish assault on the Suez Canal.
An aircraft named "Fazil" arrived at Aleppo on 28 December 1914. Here luck ran out and it crashed the next day during take-off when the engine failed. Lieutenant Sakir escaped unhurt and was soon sent to Germany to procure new aircraft for the 4th Army in Palestine.
In May 1915, Austria promised to deliver 12 LVG B.I's, but the first crashed during delivery and another 2 were delayed for many months during their transport through Romania. The rest of the order was never delivered.
Meanwhile the Turkish attack on the Suez Canal had been repulsed largely due to lack of Turkish aircraft to provide reconnaissance.
In this situation, for the task the unsuitable acrobatic training aircraft of Ponnier design was rushed to Palestine. However, it was the only Turkish aircraft available and it safely arrived at Damascus on the 17th of March. After a few flights however it crashed on the 9th of April.
While the Ottoman Army was trying desperately to get aircraft to Turkey the German Major E. Serno arrived to reorganize the flying units. Another German named Dittmar took a commission in the Ottoman Army and was soon sent to Palestine where he organized an airfield near Beersheba in late 1915.
Source: The above extract is obtained from a self published work by Ole Nikolajsen called Ottoman Aviation 1911 - 1919. A Token Force comes from Chapter 8, Pasha and Yildirim, the Palestine Front, 1915 to 1918, p. 174. The text has been edited to remove errors and make it readable for an English speaking audience.
Third Ypres, Belgium, September till to November, 1917 Topic: BatzWF - Westn Front
Third Ypres
Belgium, September till to November, 1917
Aerial photograph of Ypres taken at 3,300 metres from an observation balloon.
Third Ypres, the collective name given to the campaign fought between September and November 1917 aimed at capturing the Gheluvelt Plateau in southern Belgium. The operations followed earlier campaigns over the same ground, the first during October - November 1914 and the second in April-May 1915.
This time they were directed by General Sir Herbert Plumer, commander of the British Second Army, who decided on a step-by-step approach of limited advances preceded by heavy artillery bombardment. Once each attack had attained its objective, the attacking troops were to be protected by further barrages while they consolidated their positions-this measure being necessary to thwart the German tactics of dealing with each penetration of their line with an immediate counter-attack by formations held well hack specifically for this purpose.
When Plumer requested fresh troops he was given I Anzac Corps under Lieut.-General Sir William Birdwood. The actions in which the Australians took part are listed individually.
See:
Menin Road;
Polygon Wood;
Broodseinde;
Poelcappelle; and,
Passchendaele.
Fred Leist painting of the Cloth Hall, Ypres, 1917.
Extracted from the book produced by Chris Coulthard-Clark, Where Australians Fought - The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles, Allen and Unwin, Sydney, 1998, p. 130.
Additional References cited by Chris Coulthard-Clark:
C.E.W. Bean, (1933), The Australian Imperial Force in France 1917, Sydney: Angus & Robertson.
P.A. Pedersen, (1985), Monash as Military Commander, Carlton, Vic.: Melbourne University Press.
Query Club, 12 January 1916 Topic: Gen - Query Club
The Query Club
12 January 1916
The large scale of the Great War often gave people a sense of alienation from the activities of the government and the army. To overcome this, newspapers of the day commenced columns called Query Club or similar names, where ordinary people could clarify their understanding of the complex processes. They also provide us, the historians, an insight into witnessing first hand, the responses of the various bodies to public concerns. The end product is a window into a society now almost out of living memory.
This is the Query Club from the Sydney Mail, 12 January 1916, p. 30.
CONSCRIPTION
JH
The conscripts of France, Russia, and Germany are liable for service wherever they may be sent.
BRIGADES
"The Elms"
There are four battalions to every brigade, so that the fifth battalion would be in the second brigade, the ninth in the third, the 25th in the seventh, and so on.
ENGLISH PAY
"G.P.O."
A Lieutenant in the Imperial Army receives from 9s a day, according to the regiment to which he is attached, and field allowances. A second lieutenant receives 7s 6d a day and allowances.
THE HAGUE
The Hague is a permanent court of arbitration consisting of representatives nominated by the Governments of 44 nations. The Court meets at the Palace of Peace when there is anything upon which to adjudicate. The last case decided was that between France and Italy over the seizure of the steamers Carthage and Manouba in 1913.
BILLETING OF SOLDIERS
"Mac" asks if it is legal to billet soldiers in private houses.
It is legal in some continental countries, but no in Britain or in Australia. Providion is made in the annual Mutiny Act, however, by which troops in Britain may be billeted among the innkeepers, victuallers, wine merchants, wine and beer retailers, licensed grocers, etc, wherever a body of soldiers halts on the march.
FLYING IN AUSTRALIA
"Biplane"
The personnel of the flying squadron that is to go to the front from Australian has already been selected. The squadron will include 28 commissioned officers and 181 other ranks. The Australian Military Flying School is in Victoria. If you have no experience either of flying or engineering, it is not likely that you would be accepted as a pilot. Write to Colonel Reynolds, Director of Military Operations, Melbourne, for further information.
YOUNG SOLDIERS
"Woy Woy"
It is necessary to obtain your parents' consent to your enlisting under the age of 21. Whilst young men over that age are usually better able to stand the hardships of a strenuous campaign, the fact that the military authorities accept youths of 18 who are sufficiently developed physically is a complete answer to the allegation that these young fellows do not make good soldiers. The strictness of the medical examination is proof of the fact that only men who are physically fit are wanted. The measurements you give stamp you as a robust type, and provided you have no inherent weakness, such as heart trouble, etc, you should do well. Whilst training shows up a man's weakness very quickly, it also shows up his strong points. It makes men of thousands of boys who have the constitution, but have not had the training necessary to their development. With the certificate you hold you may confidently look forward to promotion. Non-commissioned rank should be quite within your grasp.
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