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Friday, 9 January 2009
The Battle of Rafa, Sinai, 9 January 1917, 1st Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron , Roll of Honour Topic: AIF - 1B - 1 LHMGS
The Battle of Rafa
Sinai, 9 January 1917
1st Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron
Roll of Honour
Poppies on the Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial, Canberra
The Roll of Honour contains the names of all the men from the 1st Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron, AIF known to have given their lives during the Battle of Rafa, Palestine, 9 January 1917.
Roll of Honour
Rupert Clarence ACKLAND, Died of Wounds, 10 January 1917.
Francis James Kearsey ROBERTSON, Killed in Action, 9 January 1917.
John Vernon WHITE, Died of Wounds, 12 January 1917.
The Battle of Magdhaba, Sinai, December 23, 1916, 1st LHMGS, AIF, War Diary Account Topic: AIF - 1B - 1 LHMGS
The Battle of Magdhaba
Sinai, 23 December 1916
1st LHMGS, AIF, War Diary Account
War Diary account of the 1st LHMGS, AIF.
The transcription:
22 December 1916
Brigade concentrating at 1730 for move to Magdhaba. At starting point 1800.
23 December 1916
Waited until 0100 when division moved out. Reached first halting about 3 miles from Magdhaba 0530 - 0600 and waited a little when general advance made up closer to position. 1st Light Horse Brigade moved out to frontal attack across the open - met by shell, machine gun and rifle fire. Deployed into main wadi. When 3rd Light Horse Regiment ordered to make attack on redoubts and trenched. Took four guns into action with Regiment, one on right flank (Sergeant Gordon) two in centre with Lieutenant Kemp and one (early in operations) with Lieutenant Davis on left flank. These guns came into action and afforded good covering fire to the troops which pushed home the attack, especially in the right and left flanks and assisted materially (as evidenced by statements made by Turkish prisoners) in breaking the defence and capture of the position by the 1st Light Horse Brigade. Early in the afternoon a more vigorous offensive being ordered. The Regiments acted accordingly. The balance of guns was thrown into the firing line. But there was not the same opportunity for working as the four guns had in the morning but where ever possible they assisted the troops to advance until all redoubts had been silenced and the trenches captured when the operation was concluded (between 1500 and 1600).
After the conclusion of operations, men and horses fed up, the Brigade concentrated where the Division halted in the morning - where water was issued to the men (such horses as there was water for - being watered at the well near the hospital buildings). The Division left on return journey at 2300 and arrived El Arish at 0530 - 0630 on 24 December 1916.
Bir el Mazar, Sinai, 17 September 1916, 1st LHMGS, AIF, War Diary Account Topic: AIF - 1B - 1 LHMGS
Bir el Mazar
Sinai, 17 September 1916
1st LHMGS, AIF, War Diary Account
War Diary account of the 1st LHMGS, AIF.
The transcription:
15 September 1916
Issued with Camels etc for stunt to Bir el Abd. Left Romani 1900.
16 September 1916
Reached Bir el Abd 0545. Bivouacked.
17 September 1916
Let Bir el Abd and reached Moseifig when we lay in reserve of attacking force at Mazar. Services not required. Left for Bir el Abd between 1430 and 1500 and bivouacked there for the night.
Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, 1st LHMGS, AIF, War Diary Account Topic: AIF - 1B - 1 LHMGS
Bir el Abd
Sinai, 9 August 1916
1st LHMGS, AIF, War Diary Account
War Diary account of the 1st LHMGS, AIF.
The transcription:
9 August
Arrived Bir el Abd and soon got engaged at enemy. Machine Guns in position and got into good targets. Remained for few hours and then took gun right up and opened fire on Turkish infantry stopping their advance. On position becoming untenable, withdrew. Artillery in action. Machine Gun Sections attached to Regiments and covered withdrawal of troops. After which Brigade retired and withdrew to Oghratina, bivouacking there until 10th.
The Battle of Rafa, Sinai, 9 January 1917, 1st Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron, War Diary Account Topic: AIF - 1B - 1 LHMGS
The Battle of Rafa
Sinai, 9 January 1917
1st Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron War Diary Account
1st Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron, War Diary Account
The following is a transcription of the 1st Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron, War Diary Account detailing their role at the Battle of Rafa, Sinai, 9 January 1917.
El Arish 9 January 1917
The month of January 1917 has been an uneventful period - with the exception of 9th inst. when the Machine Gun Squadron (in conjunction with the Regiments and Division) was engaged in the raid at Rafa, Prior to the engagement the officers concerned were taken and shown the enemy positions and four guns were detailed and sent with the 1st Light Horse Regiment which was to open this Brigade's part in the attack - two more guns were detailed to afford protection on the left flank of the same Regiment. When the 2nd and 3rd Regiments were ordered to reinforce the firing line the balance (less one) of guns were attached to these regiments and all guns assisted materially in the advance and final capture of the position. Casualties - Killed Other Rank one - died of wounds - Other Rank one - wounded Officers 3 - Other Ranks - Eight. The remainder of the month occupied in fitting up guns etc; training and start work on musketry on 31st inst.
War Diaries
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