Australian Light Horse Studies Centre

6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour

Citation: 6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF, Contents

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Friday, 22 January 2010 12:42 PM EAST

6th Light Horse Regiment War Diaries.

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Monday, 12 October 2009

6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF, Outline
Topic: AIF - 2B - 6 LHR

6th LHR, AIF

6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF

Outline

A troop of the 6th Light Horse at Liverpool Training Camp

[From: The Sydney Mail, 25 November 1914, p. 12.]

Formation

"A" Squadron recruited mainly from:
7th Light Horse Regiment (5 men).
11th Light Horse Regiment (6 men).

"B" Squadron recruited mainly from:
9th Light Horse Regiment (6 men)
28th Light Horse Regiment (6 men)
"C" Squadron recruited mainly from:
5th Light Horse Regiment (7 men); and,
27th Light Horse Regiment (5 men).

Training

6th Light Horse Regiment Routine Order No 1, 30 October 1914

[Click on page for larger version.]

Training of the 6th Light Horse Regiment occurred at Liverpool Training Camp from September 1914.

Embarkation

Embarkation of the 6th Light Horse Regiment occurred by the HMAT A34 Suevic from Sydney, New South Wales, on 21 December 1914.

HMAT A29 Suevic, 1919

[See: His Majesty's Australian Transports [HMAT] Ships, A29.]

The 6th Light Horse Regiment sailed to Egypt and disembarked on 1 February 1915.

Colour Patch

Initially, the only colour separation of the various Australian mounted troops was by use of the pennant. The marker pennants were carried on poles to mark lines troop lines in camps in Egypt. They were not lance pennants as the Australian lancers had red over white pennants on their lances.

Pennant of the 6th Light Horse Regiment

While this pennant was useful in distinguishing horse and troop lines, it failed to identify the individual with a unit. The AIF 1st Australian Division Standing Orders issued in December 1914 ordered the Australian Light Horse Regiments to wear a 4 inch wide [10.2cm] blue armband with the regiment name marked on the band in black lettering.

The earlier systems proved to be ineffective so to assist with identification of the men in the various units within the AIF, Divisional Order No 81 (A) Administration was issued at Mena on 8 March 1915 detailing the Colour Patch for the 6th Light Horse Regiment as others received their colours. The colour patch was made of cloth 1¼ inches wide and 2¾ inches long and worn on the sleeve one inch below the shoulder seam. The colour patch for the 6th Light Horse Regiment was green over red.

6th Light Horse Regiment Colour Patch

The 6th Light Horse Regiment carried the red Brigade colour as the lower triangle part of the colour patch, while the green unit colour was on the top. This is illustrated with the above presentation.

Puggaree

The 6th Light Horse Regiment distinguished itself from all other Light Horse Regiments with the use of the wallaby fur puggaree on the felt hat. The puggaree is the band around the felt hat, usually made of pleated cloth.

[See: Emu Plumes]

Gallipoli

As mounted troops, the Light Horse was considered to be unsuitable for work in Gallipoli. The mounted troops volunteered to operate as infantry and thus were sent to Gallipoli with the 6th Light Horse Regiment landing on 20 May 1915. The Regiment was only deployed on defensive activities on the far right of the front line [the southern regions of Anzac] throughout the stay at Gallipoli. The 6th Light Horse Regiment left the peninsula on 20 December 1915.

Defence of Egypt

After the return to Egypt, the 6th Light Horse Regiment reformed and re-equipped. The reorganisation of the Light Horse led to the formation of the ANZAC Mounted Division to which the 6th Light Horse Regiment became a foundation member.

On 28 February 1916, the 6th Light Horse Regiment moved to join its parent brigade, the 2nd Light Horse Brigade, which was taking part in the defence of the Suez Canal. The work was hot and monotonous. They remained here until moved to the Romani region to bolster the defence of that area.

Sinai

The 2nd Light Horse Brigade played an important role in beating back the Turkish invasion of the Suez Canal zone at Romani. Now known as the Battle of Romani which lasted from 4-6 August which was quickly followed by the Battle of Katia and then Bir el Abd on 9 August. All the actions in which the 6th Light Horse Regiment finally led to the defeat of the Ottoman Canal Expeditionary force and its retreat to Bir el Mazar.

Over the next few months, the 6th Light Horse Regiment took part in the Allied advance over the Sinai leading to the fall of Bir el Mazar, then El Arish followed by Bir el Magdhaba and finally Rafa in January 1917. The Ottoman forces were expelled from the Sinai and were poised to be tackled in Palestine.

Palestine

On 27 March 1917, the 6th Light Horse Regiment took an adventurous role during the First Battle of Gaza. While involved in the encirclement of the city as a prelude to its capture, the 6th Light Horse Regiment received the order to withdraw and return to the starting line. Grudgingly they did so but realised the Turks had snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat.

The 6th Light Horse Regiment took part in the Second Battle of Gaza on 19 April 1917 and suffered the heaviest casualties since Gallipoli.

The 6th Light Horse Regiment took part in the Battle of Beersheba and then the follow up actions that lasted until early January 1918. After the fall of Jerusalem the 6th Light Horse Regiment moved to the Jordan Valley and took parts in operations in this region. This included the taking of Jericho, the attack on Amman during 27 March - 2 April 1918 and Es Salt Raid of 30 April – 4 May 1918.

Amman

At the opening of the final Allied offensive on 19 September 1918, the 6th Light Horse Regiment took part in the invasion of the Moab hills for the third time. This time Amman was captured with the participation of the 6th Light Horse Regiment. Finally, the Ottomans called for an Armistice on 30 October 1918.

Return to Australia

After the conclusion of hostilities, the 6th Light Horse Regiment was marked to return to Australia. Prior to that action, one of the saddest actions occurred for the Australian Lighthorsemen, they had to farewell their best friends, the horses. All the Light Horse unit horses' health was ascertained with the fit horses being transferred to the Indian Cavalry while those in poor condition were destroyed by the Veterinary units.

On 13 March 1919 the 6th Light Horse Regiment was deployed to assist in suppressing the Egyptian Uprising. When the revolt collapsed, the 6th Light Horse Regiment embarked on the 28 June 1919 for the long voyage to Australia where the unit was disbanded.

Commanding Officers

Lieutenant Colonel Charles Frederick Cox
Lieutenant Colonel Colin Dunmore Fuller
Lieutenant Colonel Harold Albert Duckett White
Lieutenant Colonel Donald Gordon Cross

Decorations earned by the 6th Light Horse Regiment

7 DSO - Distinguished Service Orders
6 MC - Military Crosses
7 DCM - Distinguished Conduct Medals
15 MM- Military Medals
1 MSM - Meritorious Service Medal
37 MID - Mentioned in Despatches
4 foreign awards

Campaigns

Gallipoli
Anzac
Defence at Anzac
Suvla
Sari Bair
Gallipoli 1915-1916
Egypt
Defence of Egypt
Sinai
Romani
Magdhaba
Rafa
Palestine
First Battle of Gaza
Third Battle of Gaza
Beersheba
El Mughar
Nebi Samwill
Jerusalem
Jericho
Amman
Es Salt
Megiddo
Nablus
Palestine 1917-1918

Casualties suffered by the 6th Light Horse Regiment

111 killed
461 wounded

War Diary

The Australian War Memorial has put these on line and may be accessed here:

Embarkations:

The following list details all the embarkations in support of the 6th Light Horse Regiment, AIF, during the Great War. Each entry details the individual soldier's: rank on embarkation; full name; Declared age; last occupation held; last address as a civilian; enlistment Date; and, ultimate fate. Each man is linked to a brief military biography where ever possible. One interesting point is that many of the men listed in the embarkation roll for the 5th Light Horse Regiment ended up in a different unit altogether. This list details the men's starting point in the AIF.

Regimental Headquarters Section	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A29 Suevic 21 December 1914
"A" Squadron	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A29 Suevic 21 December 1914
"B" Squadron	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A29 Suevic 21 December 1914
"C" Squadron	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A29 Suevic 21 December 1914
Machine Gun Section	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A29 Suevic 21 December 1914
1st Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A41 Bakara 22 December 1914
2nd Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A21 Marere 20 February 1915
3rd Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A6 Clan Mccorquodale 6 February 1915
4th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A9 Shropshire 17 March 1915
5th Reinforcement Bakara Group 5th Reinforcement Kabinga Group	Newcastle, New South Wales on board HMAT A41 Bakara 22 May 1915 Newcastle, New South Wales on board HMAT A58 Kabinga 21 May 1915
6th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A65 Clan Mcewen 28 June 1915
7th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A51 Chilka 7 June 1915
8th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A23 Suffolk 28 July 1915
9th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A8 Argyllshire 30 September 1915
10th Reinforcement Themistocles Group 10th Reinforcement Pera Group	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A32 Themistocles 5 October 1915 Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A4 Pera 12 October 1915
11th Reinforcement Euripides Group 11th Reinforcement Hawkes Bay Group	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A14 Euripides 2 November 1915 Sydney, New South Wales on board SS Hawkes Bay 23 October 1915
12th Reinforcement Hawkes Bay Group 12th Reinforcement Persic Group	Sydney, New South Wales on board SS Hawkes Bay 23 October 1915 Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A34 Persic 18 November 1915
13th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A60 Aeneas 20 December 1915
14th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A62 Wandilla 3 February 1916
15th Reinforcement Pera Group 15th Reinforcement Orsova Group	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A4 Pera 22 March 1916 Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A67 Orsova 11 March 1916
16th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A1 Hymettus 3 May 1916
17th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A39 Port Macquarie 26 April 1916
18th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A20 Hororata 2 May 1916
19th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board RMS Mongolia 8 July 1916
20th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A25 Anglo Egyptian 19 September 1916
21st Reinforcement Kabinga Group 21st Reinforcement Anglo Egytian Group	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A58 Kabinga 12 September 1916 Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A25 Anglo Egytian 19 September 1916
22nd Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A13 Katuna 23 November 1916
23rd Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board RMS Karmala 3 February 1917
24th Reinforcement	Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A42 Boorara 10 May 1917
25th Reinforcement	Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A42 Boorara 10 May 1917
26th Reinforcement	Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A42 Boorara 10 May 1917
27th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A15 Port Sydney 9 May 1917
28th Reinforcement Port Lincoln Group 28th Reinforcement Kyarra Group	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A15 Port Sydney 11 June 1917 Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A55 Kyarra 7 September 1917
29th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A55 Kyarra 3 September 1917
30th Reinforcement	Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A73 Commonwealth 2 November 1917
31st Reinforcement	Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A73 Commonwealth 2 November 1917
32nd Reinforcement	Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A73 Commonwealth 2 November 1917
33rd Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board SS Canberra 16 November 1917
34th Reinforcement	Sydney, New South Wales on board RMS Ormonde 2 March 1918

See: Troop transport ships for information and photographs about the various ships employed in transporting the troops to Egypt.

Further Reading:

6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour

Citation: 6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF, Outline

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Friday, 22 January 2010 1:09 PM EAST

6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF

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Sunday, 11 October 2009

6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour
Topic: AIF - 2B - 6 LHR

6th LHR, AIF

6th Australian Light Horse Regiment

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 6th Light Horse Regiment and gave their lives in service of Australia, whether as part of the 6th Light Horse Regiment or another unit.

Roll of Honour

James Daniel ADAMS, Killed in Action, 16 July 1916.
Francis AHERN, Killed in Action, 16 April 1918.
Herbert Haddon ANDERSON, Died of Disease, 4 February 1917.
John ANDERSON, Died of Wounds, 3 March 1917.
Victor Wadsworth ASHWORTH, Killed in Action, 7 November 1917.

Cyril Hastings BACON, Died of Disease, 24 October 1915.
Ernest John BAKER, Died of Wounds, 29 March 1918.
David William BALDIE, Died of Wounds, 9 June 1915, and subsequently buried at sea.
Harry Franklin BALDWIN, Died of Wounds, 2 February 1917.
Percival Gilbert BARROW, Killed in Action, 8 November 1917.
Brian Templer BARTON, Killed in Action, 3 December 1917.
Nelson Thomas BAXTER, Killed in Action, 8 August 1918.
Harold Augustine BECK, Killed in Action, 4 December 1916.
Burt BELLINGER, Died of Wounds, 18 June 1915.
James Norman BENNETT, Killed in Action, 4 October 1917.
Reginald BLACK, Died of Wounds, 17 August 1917.
Lewis Gordon BLACKMORE, Killed in Action, 23 July 1916.
Raymond John BLOODWORTH, Killed in Action, 29 November 1917.
William McGregor BONNAR, Died of Wounds, 13 June 1915, and subsequently buried at sea.
Henry William BOWD, Died of Accident, 25 October 1917.
Edward BOYLE, Killed in Action, 28 March 1918.
Alexander BRADSHAW, Killed in Action, 28 March 1918.
William Keating BRENNAN, Died of Wounds, 20 April 1917.
Herbert William BROUGH, Died of Wounds, 1 May 1917.
Henry Sangster BROWN, Killed in Action, 28 May 1915.
Arthur BULT, Died of Disease, 15 February 1918.
William Henry BURLACE, Killed in Action, 28 March 1918.
Frank Alexander BUSKIN, Killed in Action, 17 September 1915.

William Henry CALLAN, Killed in Action, 1 May 1918.
Norman Harold CAMPBELL, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918.
Stanley John CAMPBELL, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918.
John Oswald CARTER, Died of Wounds, 4 October 1915, and subsequently buried at sea.
Lyle Joscelin CHASE, Died of Disease, 11 November 1918 .
Henry Joseph CHRISTIE, Killed in Action, 29 November 1917.
Frederick James COLLINS, Killed in Action, 27 March 1918.
Percival Robert John COLLINS, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918.
Noel McLeod CONRAN, Killed in Action, 28 July 1916.
Wilmot COOKE, Killed in Action, 8 October 1918?.
Frederick James COTTERELL, Killed in Action, 2 September 1918.
Bertram Lindsay CRAWFORD, Died of Disease, 13 February 1917.
Errol Joseph Hart CREER, Died of Wounds, 12 July 1915, and subsequently buried at sea.
Richard Walter CROZIER, Killed in Action, 4 August 1916.
Roy Fergus CUNNINGHAM, Killed in Action, 26 October 1917.
Douglas CURRAN, Died of Wounds, 20 April 1918.

Douglas Pulteney DALZELL, Killed in Action, 7 August 1915.
Dennitt DAVIS, Killed in Action, 4 August 1916.
Arnold Lorimer DENNY, Died of Wounds, 26 July 1916.
Eric Fanc DeSALIS, Killed in Action, 5 November 1917.
Norman DIGBY, Died of Wounds, 6 August 1916.
Halven Roy DRADY, Killed in Action, 5 August 1916.
William Colburt DUDDLE, Died of Wounds, 28 December 1917.
John Irving DUDLEY, Died of Wounds, 9 November 1917.
John Alexander DUNLOP, Died of Wounds, 28 November 1917.
George DUNN, Died of Disease, 3 June 1915.

Arthur EARLE, Died of Disease, 2 September 1915.
Frederick George EATON, Killed in Action, 19 April 1917.
Edward Gomer EDDY, Died of Accident, 12 November 1917.
Frederick George ELLIS, Killed in Action, 12 July 1915.
Arthur EMERY, Killed in Action, 19 April 1917.

James Greer Gould FAIRBAIRN, Killed in Action, 4 December 1917.
Thomas Edward FARLEY, Killed in Action, 4 October 1917.
Arthur Wallace Kemmis FARQUHAR, Killed in Action, 26 June 1918.
Alan Francis FARRAR, Died of Wounds, 23 July 1915.
William Martin FENDER, Died of Wounds, 19 April 1917.
Joshua Paul FIELD, Died of Disease, 17 November 1916.
Charles Patrick FITZPATRICK, Died of Disease, 17 June 1916.
Gordon FLANAGAN, Killed in Action, 3 August 1915.
Robert James FOSTER, Died of Wounds, 6 November 1917 .
Stanley Edgar David FOX, Died of Disease, 25 September 1918.
Sydney Charles FRY, Died of Accident, 24 August 1918.

Frederick Russell GALBRAITH, Killed in Action, 28 March 1918.
Lawrence Martin GALLAGHER, Killed in Action, 28 March 1918.
George Lewis GATONBY, Died of Wounds, 8 August 1915.
George Campbell GEAR, Died of Wounds, 29 March 1918.
Arthur GEE, Died of Wounds, 13 September 1915.
Matthew Rae GIBSON, Died of Wounds, 19 July 1915.
Leslie Francis GILES, Died of Disease, 5 June 1915.
George Richard GILL, Died of Disease, 19 September 1918.
Jack GORRICK, Died of Wounds, 9 August 1918.
Reginald GRAHAM, Killed in Action, 5 August 1917.
Sidney Ernest GUNTER, Died of Disease, 15 October 1918.

Clifford Robert Lang HALLORAN, Died of Wounds, 7 September 1915.
James Jarrett HAMILTON, Killed in Action, 13 November 1917.
William John HARRIS, Died of Wounds, 14 August 1915.
Robert Walter HAWKES, Died of Disease, 3 November 1918.
Richard John HAWKEY, Killed in Action, 27 March 1918.
Thomas Arthur HAYNE, Killed in Action, 11 April 1917.
John HAYNES, Died of Wounds, 22 May 1918.
Henry HEATH, Killed in Action, 14 July 1918.
Townsend McGregor HILL, Killed in Action, 15 July 1918.
Clifton Henry James HOAD, Killed in Action, 5 November 1917.
Albert Frederick Osborne HOOD, Died of Wounds, 11 June 1917.
Richmond Gordon HOWELL-PRICE, Died of Wounds, 4 May 1917.

William Bradley INGRAM, Killed in Action, 17 September 1915.

Norman Stanley JEFFREY, Killed in Action, 26 May 1915.
Neville Murray JOHNSON, Died of Disease, 16 October 1918.
Leo Keith JOHNSTON, Killed in Action, 28 March 1918.
Major JOHNSTON, Died of Wounds, 18 August 1916.
Charles James JONES, Killed in Action, 11 June 1917.

John KELLIHER, Killed in Action, 4 August 1916.
John Andrew Bathurst KERR, Killed in Action, 19 April 1917.
William John Cyril KIDMAN, Killed in Action, 12 July 1915.
Edward KING, Died of Wounds, 15 October 1917.
Thomas Throsby Smyth KING, Killed in Action, 16 September 1918.
Frederick John KLEIN, Died of Wounds, 21 December 1916.
Norman KNEIPP, Died of Wounds, 19 December 1917.

George LAMBOURNE, Died of Wounds, 25 July 1915, and subsequently buried at sea.
William LANG, Died of Wounds, 13 August 1915, and subsequently buried at sea.
Jack Warren LAWRENCE, Died of Accident, 14 November 1915.
Wallace Douglas LEE, Died of Wounds, 29 October 1917.
Lionel William LOVEBAND, Killed in Action, 27 March 1918.

Henry Harold MacCARTHY, Killed in Action, 23 July 1916.
David Rankin MacKAY, Killed in Action, 2 September 1915 .
Lindsay John Robert MacPHERSON, Died of Wounds, 16 April 1917.
Walter Cleveland MAKEIG, Killed in Action, 27 March 1918.
Frederick MANION, Died of Wounds, 26 November 1915.
Thomas Taylor MARSDEN, Killed in Action, 4 October 1917.
Henry William MARSHALL, Died of Accident, 9 April 1917.
John Andrew MASLEN, Died of Disease, 8 October 1917.
Norman Edgar MATHEWS, Died of Accident, 4 February 1917.
Frank Walter MATTHEWS, Killed in Action, 17 September 1915.
Francis MATZONAS, Killed in Action, 6 November 1917.
Reginald Clarence MAYBURY, Killed in Action, 28 March 1918.
Rupert Clyde McCARTHY, Died of Disease, 23 February 1919.
John William McDONALD, Died of Wounds, 16 November 1915.
Alexander McLEOD, Died of Disease, 14 July 1915.
Walter George Lowing McMILLAN, Died of Disease, 21 October 1918.
John Laidley MERIVALE, Killed in Action, 6 August 1915.
Walter MEURANT, Died of Wounds, 3 August 1917.
Francis Cornwall MOAD, Died of Wounds, 8 November 1916.
John MOCATTA, Died of Disease, 3 March 1917.
Hayward Hugh MOFFATT, Died of Wounds, 21 September 1918.
George MORRIS, Died of Wounds, 30 July 1915, and subsequently buried at sea.
William Benedict MULRONEY, Died of Disease, 6 August 1918.
Thomas MURPHY, Killed in Action, 3 October 1915.
Frank MURRAY, Died of Disease, 7 November 1918.
Vernon William MURRAY, Killed in Action, 22 May 1915.

Lance Douglas NICOLL, Killed in Action, 24 October 1917.
George Rawdon Ffrench NOBBS, Killed in Action, 9 August 1916.

Assal John O'BRIEN, Died of Wounds, 29 March 1918.
Dougald O'BRIEN, Died of Disease, 7 November 1918.
William Harold O'BRIEN, Killed in Action, 12 July 1915.
Samuel O'DELL, Died of Wounds, 19 August 1915.
William Francis O'DONNELL, Killed in Action, 27 October 1917.
George Sinclair OLSEN, Killed in Action, 31 July 1916.
Harold Reath OLVER, Killed in Action, 4 August 1916.
Lyle Hugh Florence O'NEILL, Killed in Action, 17 September 1915.

Stanley Ernest PARKES, Killed in Action, 24 May 1915.
Erroll McLeod Nunn PATTRICK, Died of Wounds, 1 June 1915, and subsequently buried at sea.
Harry PAULIN, Killed in Action, 19 July 1916.
Norman Matthew PEARCE, Killed in Action, 29 July 1916.
Arthur Oswald PETERSEN, Died of Disease, 28 October 1918.
William PLATER, Killed in Action, 4 August 1915.
William Wickford POTTER, Died of Wounds, 3 December 1917.
James POTTS, Died of Wounds, 22 November 1917.
Albert James PRENDERGAST, Killed in Action, 3 November 1917.
Thomas PRESLAND, Killed in Action, 25 September 1918.
Leslie Alfred PRYOR, Killed in Action, 28 March 1918.

William Thomas RAYNER, Died of Wounds, 11 November 1915, and subsequently buried at sea.
Claude Thomas REDMAN, Died of Disease, 18 May 1918.
Rupert Noel RICHARDSON, Killed in Action, 17 September 1915.
Francis Leigh RIDGWAY, Killed in Action, 28 March 1918.
Kenneth Cory RILEY, Killed in Action, 27 March 1918.
John RITCHIE, Killed in Action, 4 August 1916.
William David ROBERTSON, Died of Disease, 29 July 1915.
Ernest Henry Walter ROBINSON, Died of Disease, 16 February 1919.
Henry ROBSON, Killed in Action, 24 July 1915.
Walter Edgar John ROBSON, Died of Wounds, 24 July 1916.
Kenneth McGeorge RONALD, Killed in Action, 12 July 1915.
John Edwin ROSS, Killed in Action, 21 August 1917.
John Wright RUSTEN, Died of Wounds, 10 July 1918.
James Daniel RYAN, Died of Accident, 10 June 1916.
Patrick Francis RYAN, Killed in Action, 18 September 1918.

Ernest Roderick SADLER, Died of Disease, 18 October 1918.
Alexander Britton SAMUELS, Killed in Action, 11 April 1917.
Gerald Douglas SCHOLEFIELD, Died of Disease, 23 December 1917.
Allen Wylie SCOTT, Killed in Action, 6 September 1917.
Richard Elwyn SHANNON, Killed in Action, 20 November 1916.
Wallace John SHARPE, Killed in Action, 28 March 1918.
Edgar Robert SHERMAN, Died of Wounds, 30 September 1917.
Norman Douglas SHERWIN, Died of Wounds, 29 March 1918.
Charles William SMITH, Died of Disease, 1 October 1918.
George Achilles SMITH, Killed in Action, 9 January 1917.
Sydney Gordon SMITH, Died of Wounds, 19 October 1918.
Eddy Blackwood STEVENS, Killed in Action, 28 September 1915.
Frank Alfred STEWART, Killed in Action, 7 August 1915.
Houston Thomas STEWART, Died of Wounds, 15 November 1917.
Everett Graham SUMMONS, Died of Wounds, 30 September 1918.

Harold Victor TEBBUTT, Died of Wounds, 20 September 1918.
Alfred Charles THOMPSON, Killed in Action, 2 November 1917.
Walter TIPPING, Died of Wounds, 21 August 1916.
Ferdinand Pearson TOMPSON, Died of Disease, 3 April 1919.
John Leslie TOOTH, Killed in Action, 8 June 1917.
Owen William TOOTH, Killed in Action, 3 December 1917.
Frederick Robertson TRESILIAN, Killed in Action, 21 July 1915.

Leo Augustus Francis USSHER, Killed in Action, 17 April 1917.

Thomas Herbert VANCE, Died of Wounds, 27 March 1918.
Arthur VERGE, Died of Disease, 8 September 1915.

Stephen Lawrence WAKELING, Died of Disease, 10 April 1917.
Geoffrey Hughes WARREN, Killed in Action, 3 November 1917.
Harold William WATTS, Died of Wounds, 17 September 1915, and subsequently buried at sea.
Arthur Edward WAYGOOD, Killed in Action, 28 March 1918.
Edwin James WHITE, Died of Wounds, 25 June 1917.
Frederick Arthur Victor WHITE, Killed in Action, 27 March 1918.
Alan Mcgregor WHYTE, Killed in Action, 8 October 1917.
Charles Henry WILKINS, Killed in Action, 28 March 1918.
Henry Charles WILLIAMS, Died of Wounds, 1 April 1918 .
Frank James WILLIS, Killed in Action, 4 September 1917.
Harry Noel WILSON, Killed in Action, 4 August 1916.
Raymond WILSON, Died of Wounds, 18 August 1915.
Charles Robert WINDEYER, Killed in Action, 12 October 1917.
Richard Henry WINSLETT, Killed in Action, 19 April 1917.
Edgar Alma Mark WRIGHT, Killed in Action, 4 August 1916.

Geoffrey Heron YEOMANS, Killed in Action, 22 July 1916.
John Henry YOUNG, Killed in Action, 17 September 1915.

Lest We Forget

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

Further Reading:

Citation: 6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 15 November 2009 2:53 PM EAST

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Thursday, 1 October 2009

6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF, Under Furred Hats
Topic: AIF - 2B - 6 LHR

6th LHR, AIF

6th Australian Light Horse Regiment

"Under Furred Hats"

The 6th Light Horse Regiment Loyd Lindsay Team displaying their wallaby fur puggarees, 1916.

[From: Berrie, Under Furred Hats, plate facing p. 60.]

One of the common legends is that all Australian light horsemen wore the emu plume during the Great War. The legend and the actual facts that lie behind this are told in the essay on the site called:

All Light Horsemen wore emu plumes

One Light Horse Regiment that clearly never wore the emu plume was the 6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF, which chose to wear the wallaby fur puggaree to distinguish this regiment from others.

Major Donald Gordon Cross wearing the wallaby fur puggaree

[From: Berrie, Under Furred Hats, plate facing p. 168.]

The photograph of Major Donald Gordon Cross demonstrates clearly the correct use of the wallaby fur puggaree upon the felt hat.

The "Mascot" held by a trooper wearing the wallaby fur puggaree

[From: Berrie, Under Furred Hats, plate facing p. 162.]

The 6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF, never wore the emu plume but remained attached to the wallaby fur puggaree from conception till the unit was disbanded in 1919.

A good book to read on the 6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF was written by Lieutenant George Lachlan Berrie called, Under Furred Hats (6th ALH Regt), and published in Sydney, 1919. Copies are rather limited and fetch a high price in the second hand market but there are those still available at the metropolitan public libraries.

Further Reading:

6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour

Citation: 6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF, Under Furred Hats

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Monday, 26 October 2009 6:37 PM EADT

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Sunday, 9 August 2009

Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, 6th LHR, AIF, Unit History Account
Topic: AIF - 2B - 6 LHR

Bir el Abd

Sinai, 9 August 1916

6th LHR, AIF, Unit History Account

Lieutenant George Lachlan Berrie produced a unit history published in 1919 called Under Furred Hats (6th ALH Regt) which included a section specifically related to the battle of Beersheba and is extracted below.

Berrie, GL, Under Furred Hats (6th ALH Regt), (Sydney 1919), pp. 82 - 89:

Every possy they passed was littered with green date peelings, and the prisoners they took looked like hunted devils. What on earth was the waiting for? They had been there an hour now, literally frying on the sand. He knew they were going to attack Katia. Plenty of water there, and probably a strong Turkish rear guard.

But this infernal waiting was taking the last remnants of vitality out of everyone. He thought of something long, drawn through ice, if he ever went on leave again. He could hear a couple of chaps rowing over their horses disturbing each others' shade. They were agreeing to settle the argument after they had settled the Jackos. They were mates, too.

Well, it was enough to make any man quarrel with his best friend, this infernal waiting on top of everything else. But no sign of a move. Some Jacko guns were thundering from behind Katia, and he could see shrapnel bursting away towards the left flank. There seemed to be no one over towards Hamisah. Perhaps they were waiting for another Brigade to come up.

Thank God the front of the column was mounting. Swinging out into artillery formation they moved quietly towards Katia. Crossing the first skyline was enough to draw shrapnel, but a steady gallop, screened by the hollows between dunes and a scanty hod or two, brought them safely to the series of little sandhills fronting the dry swamp behind which lay Katia.

A few minutes later the Bushman found himself part of an extended line doubling from one sand hill to another and wondering why more men didn't go down. Jacko had evidently plenty of machine guns planted in Katia, and from the burst of his shrapnel away to the rear it looked as though he had located the horses.

They were now on the edge of the dry swamp. It was a good half-mile to the first palm trees and the only cover worth talking about was a small outcrop of sand running parallel to the hod.

Two or three hundred yards away it was. The men who got there would be lucky. Ah, they were off again.

The ground was hard; better to run on.

They were going down now; the man on his right pitched forward on to his face; and, glancing along the extended line as he ran, he could see figures lying still and others trying to crawl or limp back to the shelter of the sandhills they had just left.

That was close. Flecks of dirt spattered up all round him. Another minute and he lay panting behind the friendly shelter of the last cover they `would get before the final assault. He turned his head to watch the second line coming up. Continuous bursts of machine gun fire were following them all the way. They had got the range properly now. A sergeant was making towards him; another twenty yards and he would be safe.

Ah, they had got him, and it looked like for keeps.

The Bushman joined in the rush of several others and dragged the sergeant in behind the nearest sandhill. "How in hell are we going to carry him out?" "On our rifles and crossed arms. Two on each side, one take his head and the other his legs. Now, lift him steadily and keep in step as much as possible. Make straight for the sandhill." They had padded the rifles as best they could.

But no matter how carefully they stepped they knew that every movement cost the silent figure untold agony. Yet not quite silent. The wounded man spoke as they started: "You fellows are Britons to stick to a man like this." Walking almost on each other's spurs and cramped by their necessarily crouching attitude, the huddled group of men moved at a snail's pace for the nearest shelter.

They crossed the dry swamp almost unmolested. The sun was setting and its flickering rays dancing on the background of red sandhills blurred them as a target. But as they struggled up the first ridge the sand spat about their feet and the quiet figure spoke again.

"Put me down behind the hill and send a sand cart after dark. Six of you make a big target, you know," and in a whisper as they struggled on, "It's good to have mates like you chaps." In the British Military Cemetery of Old Cairo stands a monument erected by his comrades to one of the bravest of the brave Sergeant Major Johnston.

For two days we rested, buried our dead and collected from the battlefield any gear abandoned by the enemy. On the afternoon of the 8th we moved out once more in pursuit of the enemy, now retreating everywhere, but concentrated in force at Bir el Abd.

Leaving Katia at 10 p.m. we moved forward to take part in a strong reconnaissance of Bir el Abd.

An attempt was made to encircle the position.

The 3rd L.H. Brigade operated from the south, the New Zealand Brigade from the west, the 2nd Brigade from the north, and the 1st Brigade, it possible, was to menace the position from the east.

Less than an hour after sunrise the following morning the action started. Accompanied by the Ayrshire Battery, the 2nd Brigade approached its position by daylight and was warmly welcomed by a series of 4.7 H.E.-'s bursting in close proximity to the column.

As reserve to the Brigade, the Regiment, now under Major Bruxner, was stationed several hundred yards south of the Ayr shire Battery's position.

All day long the Battery waged a vigorous duel with the enemy's 4.7 and shrapnel, and one unlucky direct hit put several teams of horses, a gun, and its crew out of action. Vainly the enemy tried to locate our led horses, but although several high explosives came very close, we suffered no material damage.

A general attack took place at 11 a.m. and the New Zealand Brigade was drawn into an awkward position during a heavy encounter. To assist in their withdrawal during the afternoon, the Regiment went into action, and finally covered the withdrawal of the badly knocked about Ayrshire Battery.

We withdrew to Oghratina where we drew rations and forage and bivouacked for the night.

Returning to Khirba next day we found the deserted Turkish camp to contain some very acceptable articles of loot. Barley for the horses was plentiful, and besides tea, dates, meal and olives, there were several hundredweights of dried apricots pressed into rolls like brown paper.

Under the comprehensive name of "mungaree" we learnt during the next few days to envy the Turks its possession as a ration issue. For two days we remained at Khirba, and here we said farewell to "Galloping Jack." In a brief address he bade us good-bye from the saddle, and his exit in a cloud of dust over a sandhill and followed by deafening cheers, was truly characteristic of our brief but unforgettable experience of his leader ship.

From Bir el Abd to Katia we saw evidence of the great difficulty the enemy had had in transporting his heavy artillery through the heavy sand.

Besides temporary roads of brambles, they had used some thousands of feet of 9 by 2 inch planking, placing it in front of the guns and moving them along with what must have been snail-like, if sure, progress.

But what can be said of the great feat of the Turkish Infantry. We, on horse back, knew what it was to campaign during the desert midsummer. Their secret march to Oghratina unobserved by aerial patrols was in itself remarkable enough, but their sufferings during the weeks culminating in the battles of Romani and Katia must have been intense. On foot, carrying full infantry gear, living partly on green dates, and during the last two days waterless, their effort to drive us from Romani was, in spite of failure, such as to rouse the utmost admiration amongst their conquerors.

The enemy were now in full retreat eastwards of Salmana, and for the time being our acquaintance with him was ended. Withdrawing via Katia we returned to Et Maler on the 13th of August, and for the rest of the month, both horses and men enjoyed a, badly-needed rest.

The casualty list of sickness and death made a number of vacancies amongst the officers, and the following were promoted to commissioned rank:-Sig. Sgt. J. Back, Sgts. Allman, Ronald, Lomax and Corp. H. Dickson.

Popular also were the captaincys of Lieuts. Thompson, Tooth S., and Close.

The worst of the summer heat had now passed, and horses were beginning to be inured to the hard ships of desert life. But a number had succumbed to the strain; sand colic and sore backs were the predominant ailments, and many had to be evacuated to Veterinary Hospitals and replaced by re mounts. We left Et Maler on the 11 th of September and, moving by Katia, reached our new camping area, Hod el Hassaniya, the same after noon.

Further Reading:

6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour

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

Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916

Citation: Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, 6th LHR, AIF, Unit History Account

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Friday, 18 September 2009 8:59 PM EADT