Battle of Romani

Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916

1st LH Bde, AIF, War Diary Account

The transcription:

3 August

Observation Posts of on Section each were posted on Mount Meredith and Mount Royston. At 1100 orders were received that for night 3/4th August an Outpost Line was to be established by this Brigade from Infantry Post No. 1 exclusive on the left to Hod el Enna inclusive on the right connecting up by patrols with the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade. Advanced Posts at Bir abu Raml and Bir en Nuss.

The Outpost Line was in position just after dusk, 3rd Light Horse Regiment holding left sector from Infantry Post No. 1 exclusive to Mount Meredith inclusive. 2nd Light Horse Regiment holding Bir abu Raml and Bir en Nuss. 2nd Light Horse Brigade who were in touch with the enemy during the day passed through the Outpost Line at 2030 returning to camp.

At 2100 our Advanced Post reported be3ing in touch with a small party of the enemy towards our right flank.

At 2330 there seemed to be a general "feeling" movement of the enemy along our line from right flank towards Mount Meredith.


4 August

At 0100 enemy began to push in numbers on the right flank and kept increasing in strength along the line up to and including Mount Meredith, at which point they made an attack with the bayonet and attempted to climb that position. This point was then reinforced by one Squadron of the 1st Light Horse Regiment. Up to 0400 the whole of the attack was pushed home in the area Hod el Enna to and including Mount Meredith, attacking force estimated at about 2,000.

Owing to enemy activity on our right flank our troops were compelled to fall back in a northerly direction to a line running dure west through Mount Meredith. This line was reinforced on the right by the 2nd Light Horse Brigade, but a flanking movement by overwhelming numbers forced our troops back to Wellington Ridge - the enemy apparently operating in two bodies, one on our right flank and the other moving due north by Mount Royston towards the railway line.

This latter movement was operated against by Colonel Royston with the 2nd and 3rd Light Horse Regiments of this Brigade in addition to his own Brigade.

From 0730 to 1700 1st Light Horse Brigade less 2nd and 3rd Light Horse Regiments rested at Bir Et Maler.

At 1600, with the cooperation New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade, the enemy was forced of the position which he occupied on Mount Royston and driven south.

On night August 4/5th the line held by the enemy was Mount Royston to Wellington Ridge.

On the night 4/5th the Outpost Line held by the 1st and 2nd Light Horse Brigades was divided into two Sectors, Colonel Meredith commanding the right sector, with his right resting on a point about 1 mile north east of Mount Royston, the troops under his command being 1st, 3rd and 6th Light Horse Regiments and the 2nd Light Horse Regiment being with the 2nd Light Horse Brigade.

On the right of this sector the Outpost Line was held by the 5th Manchester Battalion.


5 August

At 0400 a forward driving movement was commenced with the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade on the right, 1st Light Horse Brigade in the centre and 2nd Light Horse Brigade on the left, the right of the 1st Light Horse Brigade working on a line Mount Royston to and including Hod el Enna.

The captures of this Brigade were 400 prisoners, which included a complete Field Ambulance with personnel, 65 laden camels, 5 machine guns, 300 boxes small arms ammunition, many rifles and other stores.

From Hod el Enna the forward movement was carried on with our right through Bir abu Raml (where we captured a Field Ambulance) to Bir abu Gulud. As many horses as the small well could supply were watered at Bir abu Gulud.

At 1515 the Brigade concentrated at a point half a mile northwards of Bir abu Gulud for the purposes of attacking Qatia, where the enemy appeared to be concentrated, in conjunction with the 2nd Light Horse Brigade on the right and the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade on the left. The three Brigades in perfect line galloped into action, not one horse of this Brigade being hit, although the Machine Gun and rifle fire was very heavy. The line occupied on this advance was maintained until dusk, when the Brigade was ordered to withdraw. The horses were in a bad state from want of water and quite unfit for action for the time being.

The Brigade returned to camp at Romani, arriving at 2230.

The casualties during the battle were:-

Unit		Killed		Wounded		Missing
	Officers	Other Ranks	Officers	Other Ranks	Officers	Other Ranks
1st Light Horse Regiment	1	8	4	28	0	5
2nd Light Horse Regiment	2	7	2	28	0	11
3rd Light Horse Regiment	0	8	4	33	0	13
1st Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron	0	1	0	4	0	0
1st Light Horse Field Ambulance	0	0	0	4	0	0
Total	3	24	10	97	0	29

Total Casualties - 163

Further Reading:

1st Australian Light Horse Brigade

Romani, Roll of Honour, 1st LH Bde

Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916 

Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Saturday, 17 October 2009 6:12 PM EADT

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Battle of Romani

Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916

1st LH Bde, AIF, War Diary Appendix Account

The transcription:

I beg to report that on the night 3rd/4th August I took up an outpost position from Infantry Post No. 1 exclusive to Hod el Enna inclusive.

The 3rd Light Horse Regiment occupied the sector from Infantry Post No. 1 exclusive to Mount Meredith inclusive, the 2nd Light Horse Regiment occupied the sector from Mount Meredith exclusive to Hod el Enna inclusive, the 1st Light Horse Regiment in reserve in camp Romani. Each Regiment had two Machine Guns. About 2330 the right sector reported enemy patrols who appeared to search our whole line. By 2400 there was no doubt of the enemy to attack. From that hour on they continued to press in threatening my right at Mount Meredith. At about 0100 I received requests from reinforcements both from my right flank and from Mount Meredith. At 0130 the 1st Light Horse Regiment, which was in reserve in camp, arrived. At 0200 I reinforced my centre on the southern slope of Mount Meredith with one Squadron, recognizing that it was better to hold that point in strength as my right flank could swing back. At 0230 I put in another Squadron, two Troops on the north and two Troops on the south of Mount Meredith.

As the enemy were forcing me of Mount Meredith pressure became very great and requests for reinforcements arrived from both Lieutenant Colonel Fulton and Major Bourne. I sent my last Squadron to support the troops holding Mount Meredith, thus enabling Major Bourne, by relieving pressure on his left, wot swing his right back.

The Brigade stubbornly contested every foot of ground to Wellington Ridge. About 0420 and 2nd Light Horse Brigade reinforced my right. At this hour the enemy artillery shelled our position, searching all the hods. I continued to hold the position on Wellington Ridge until ordered by you to withdraw.

Brigade Headquarters with 1st Light Horse Regiment, going into reserve at Et Maler at 0700 the 2nd and 3rd Light Horse Regiments operating on the right under Colonel Royston.

At 1700 I proceeded to a point to a point north of Bir abu Diyuk and was ordered to take up an outpost line with my right connecting with 5th Manchester Battalion, and my left with the Brigade commanded by Colonel Royston. nothing occurred during the night.

At 0400 August 5th, I moved out with my right on Mount Royston and drove in a south easterly direction to Hod el Enna, taking numerous prisoners, arms, ammunition and stores. From there to Bir Abu Raml, pushing on to Bir abu Gulud, where I rested and watered as many horses as the small well would supply. About 1200 touch was gained with 3rd Light Horse Brigade and New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade. At 1330, at a conference of Brigadier General Chaytor, Colonel Meldrum and myself, it was decided to launch an attack on Qatia at 1415. The attack was made with New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade on the right, 1st Light Horse Brigade on the centre, and 2nd Light Horse Brigade on the left. The three Brigades advanced mounted to the fringe of the palms, where heavy rifle and machine gun fire was encountered. The 1st and 2nd Light Horse Brigades had advanced by dusk to a line running about 600 yards across the swamp, the enemy in strength holding up the right of the attack. About 1830 I received your order to withdraw to Romani, where we arrived at 2230. I regret to report the loss of 3 Officers killed, 10 wounded, 32 Other Ranks killed, 99 wounded, and 24 missing, which considering the severity of the action was in my opinion very light. I wish to bring under your special notice the exceptionally good work done by Major Bourne, 2nd Light Horse Regiment under the most trying circumstances. No officer, in my opinion, could have carried out his duties more efficiently.

Major CH Granville, 1st Light Horse Regiment, in placing my reserves in the position ordered in the dark, under most trying circumstances. Lieutenant Colonel GP Dixon, 1st Light Horse Field Ambulance who carried out his duties in the two days operations, frequently under shell, machine gun, and rifle fire, Chaplain HK Gordon also rendered good services.

Of my Brigade Staff I cannot speak too highly of the assistance given me by my Brigade Major, Captain Chisholm, Staff Captain, Captain Hudson, and my Orderly Officer, Lieutenant ES Kater. I cannot close this report without bringing to your special notice the excellent work of the Signal Troop of this Brigade and bed to mention names of Second Lieutenant H Letch, who was acting Signal Officer on night August 3rd to 4th, also No. 4 Sergeant LW Sutherland, No. 15 Corporal C Cox, No. 27 Corporal J McG Wills, No. 1376 Sapper TAS Pickford and No. 44 Sapper C Williams all of whom under my personal observation carried out their duties regardless of shell, rifle and machine gun fire. No. 44 Sapper C Williams also rescued a wounded man under heavy machine gun and shell fire and brought him into safety. I append lists of recommendations by CO's of Units.

Lieutenant Colonel JB Meredith

General Officer Commanding 1st Light Horse Brigade.

Further Reading:

1st Australian Light Horse Brigade

Romani, Roll of Honour, 1st LH Bde 

Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916 

Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Saturday, 17 October 2009 6:13 PM EADT

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1st LHR, AIF

1st Australian Light Horse Brigade Headquarters

Roll of Honour

Poppies on the Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial, Canberra

The Roll of Honour contains the names of all the men known to have served at one time with the 1st Light Horse Brigade Headquarters and gave their lives in service of Australia, whether as part of the 1st Light Horse Brigade Headquarters or another unit.

Roll of Honour

 

Claude Neville BEAMISH, Died of Disease, 26 January 1917.

Clive Russell BRAY, Died of Wounds, 13 March 1917.

Walter BURROWES, Died of Disease, 9 September 1918.

 

Sydney DANIELLS, Died of Disease, 14 February 1919.

Cyril Lester Gordon DOWNE, Died of Accident, 3 March 1919.

 

John Stephen GARRETT, Died of Wounds, 6 July 1915.

 

Archibald Kirby MacDONALD, Killed in Action, 5 April 1918.

Edward MITCHELL, Died of Wounds, 2 July 1915 , and subsequently buried at sea.

 

Charles OLSEN, Died of Wounds, 6 August 1915 , and subsequently buried at sea.

 

George Francis PAUL, Died of Disease, 18 April 1916.

 

William Thomas ROBERTSON, Killed in Action, 7 August 1915.

 

Edward Thomas SHAW, Died of Wounds, 25 March 1918.

James Drummond SWASBRICK, Killed in Action, 11 April 1917.

 

Herbert Mapleton THORPE, Killed in Action, 17 April 1917.

 

Vernon WARE, Died of Disease, 3 April 1916.

 

Oliver William WOOLFREY, Died of Wounds, 20 August 1917.

Alexander YOUNG, Killed in Action, 16 July 1918..

 

Lest We Forget

Acknowledgement: Many thanks to Steve Becker who provided much of the raw material that appears in this item.
 

Further Reading:

1st Australian Light Horse Brigade, AIF

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Tuesday, 4 August 2009 11:51 AM EADT

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The Battle of Rafa

Sinai, 9 January 1917

1st Light Horse Brigade, AIF

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 Brigade, AIF, known to have given their lives during the Battle of Rafa, Palestine, 9 January 1917.

Roll of Honour 

 

Matthew ANGUS, 2nd Light Horse Regiment

Arthur Henry ANTHONY, 2nd Light Horse Regiment

 

Roy BAILEY, 2nd Light Horse Regiment

John Pacey BARNES, 2nd Light Horse Regiment

Charles Pryor BENNETT, 3rd Light Horse Regiment

Allen Christopher BOLT, 3rd Light Horse Regiment

Stanley Ernest BOWYER, 3rd Light Horse Regiment

Roy William BROWN, 3rd Light Horse Regiment

 

Clifford Armitage CAMERON, 2nd Light Horse Regiment

Errol Claude COWLEY, 2nd Light Horse Regiment

 

John William DAWSON, 3rd Light Horse Regiment

William DONNELLAN, 3rd Light Horse Regiment

 

Charles Henry FISHER, 2nd Light Horse Regiment

 

Jack LAW, 1st Light Horse Regiment

 

Edwin Alexander LEESE, 1st Light Horse Regiment

 

Alfred MATTHEW, 2nd Light Horse Regiment

 

Clive ROBERTS, 3rd Light Horse Regiment

Francis James Kearsey ROBERTSON, 1st Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron

Ernest Arthur ROGERS, 3rd Light Horse Regiment

 

Tom Braithwaite TAYLOR, 3rd Light Horse Regiment

 

Lest We Forget

Further Reading:

1st Light Horse Brigade

1st Light Horse Brigade, AIF, Roll of Honour 

The Battle of Rafa, Sinai, 9 January 1917

The Battle of Rafa, Sinai, 9 January 1917, Roll of Honour

The Palestine Campaign, 1917 - 1918

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Citation: The Battle of Rafa, Sinai, 9 January 1917, 1st Light Horse Brigade, AIF, Roll of Honour

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EAST

Updated: Tuesday, 1 February 2011 7:16 AM 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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