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Lancers' Despatch Bi Annual Journal of the Royal New South Wales Lancers Association ABN 50 361 228 724 and The New South Wales Lancers Memorial Museum Incorporated ABN 94 630 140 881 No 44 - February 2023 |
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President's Report
Coming Events
The Regiment
Your Association
The Museum
203 ACU
The Patrol
The Light Horse
2/2 MG Bn
Bert Soldiers On
Ex Silver City
Departed Comrades
Thank You
Help
RAACA NSW
Online Response Sheet
Download Printable Newsletter
Download 2/14 QMI Newsletter
Photos and text by the editor unless historical, submitted to the editor without attribution or otherwise noted. Thanks very much to all contributors.
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Len Koles
On behalf of the Association, I wish all our members a safe and healthy New Year.
Since out last Dispatch it has been a mixture of good and sad news. The good news was the great success of our Lancer Reunion in November. There were about 100 Lancers turn up for the reunion which has been our biggest in the last 8 years. A great chance for old friends to catch up.
It was decided by a large show of hands that the Association would again march in ANZAC Day March in the city this year.
On a sad note we lost some well-known members since the last Dispatch. Ian Hawthorn served in A Sqn and was Vice President of the Museum Committee for many years. I will sadly miss his contribution to the Museum and advice. [Editor's Note: Ian Hawthorn's passing was noted in the August 2022 Lancers' Despatch.]
Wally Hausman served in the LAD for many years and was a well-liked and hardworking senior NCO. Always smiling no matter what the troops did to "his" vehicles.
John Arnott was CO of the Regiment and patron of the Museum. Despite his advanced age, he was very interested in the operation of the Museum and the vehicles. After every monthly Committee meeting he would phone me and asked to be briefed on what was happening. He would often offer me sound and considered advice in the John Arnott fashion. He was a good friend and a good mentor to me, and I will miss his weekly phone call which always started with "Hello young Len, what's going on".
May they all Rest in Peace.
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Expect the following:
• Wednesday 29 March 2023 - Annual General Meetings; New South Wales Lancers' Memorial Museum Inc and Royal New South Wales Lancers' Association, 1930, Lancer Barracks, Parramatta.
• Tuesday 25 April 2023 - Anzac Day March in Sydney assemble at the northern end of Chifley Square (near Bent Street) with the Royal Australian Armoured Corps Association. March-off commences from 0900hrs. Watch out for our banner.
POST MARCH: All Armour (current and ex-serving) are also invited to the RAAC Assoc (NSW) post march function at The Civic Hotel, Cnr Goulburn & Pitt Streets on the Lower Ground Floor. Drinks & food available at pub prices. Partners, family and friends are welcome.
DOWNLOAD FLYER for further information.
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Captain Jerome Abdelmessih Adjutant 1/15 RNSWL
After the Regiment completed its support the NSW Floods in July, the main effort for the unit transitioned to conducting EX Waratah Walk; which was a 5 Brigade field training exercise focussed on foundation war fighting and integrating combined arms teams.
1/15 RNSWL provided a Troop of PMV to support the activity as well as Cavalry scouts who provided the OPFOR for the Brigade activities during August. This was also a good opportunity for some integration and familiarisation with our Infantry units who will soon take on the PMV-M Bushmaster.
Whilst training continued in the background, September presented the opportunity to conduct a Regimental Church Parade and Family Day. Traditionally the parade is conducted on the unit birthday however due to COVID restrictions has been cancelled for a number of years. The parade saw members from RHQ and all three Squadrons conduct a march from the Regiment to Saint John’s Anglican Cathedral, supported of course by the Lancer Band.
Top Left: (L-R). The BDE COMD, BRIG Rob Lording, CSM, HONCOL, BRIG Phillip Bridie AM, and Commanding Officer, LTCOL Colin Shadbolt at the Parade. Top Right: The guidons being marched out of the Cathedral.
The Regiment competed in the Brigade Commanders Cup in October, which saw a team lead by LCPL Max Wolthers take out the third place spot. The competition was tough and the section was one member short compared to the other units.
The competition tested individual and collective soldier skills across navigation, combat first aid, marksmanship, military history and a range of other section based tasks.
Above: The Commanders Cup team placed third in the competition.
The remaining few months were incredibly busy for all three Squadrons with the culmination of the years training across collective activities in both Majura Training Area and Holsworthy Training area. EX Sattleberg Run provided the Sydney based Squadrons an opportunity to test their Troop level skills and integrate with elements from the 5th Combat Engineer Regiment and the 5th Combat Service Support Battalion. Having the supporting elements attend that activity gave the Squadrons a chance to exercise some mobility support and logistical support based scenarios which greatly enhanced the exercise.
Above: Above: A and C Squadron alongside elements of 5ER and 5CSSB on EX Sattleberg Run at Holsworthy.
EX Waler Strike and EX Waler Run were then conducted in quick succession to complete B Squadrons training for the year culminating in live fire manoeuvre practices. There were some restrictions on vehicle use due to the wet weather on the range however no time was wasted in adapting the practices to be dismount focussed.
Both activities were highly successful and saw the culmination of a years’ worth of training come to fruition.
Finally A and C Squadron followed suit and completed their final live fire activity at Holsworthy which saw a combination of mounted a dismounted live fire conducted in a tactical scenario. The training was highly beneficial to the commanders and soldiers alike and was an excellent note to finish the year on.
At the completion of 2023, the Regiment has once again committed a significant amount of time and effort to supporting Domestic Operations as well as maintaining our normal readiness and training standards. The Squadrons and the Band have been tireless in their commitment to the Regiment and supporting the community and Defence as a whole.
As we move towards the stand down period, the Commanding Officer has reminded our people to take a break, to rest and recover from a long and busy year. However as is routine we remain ready to react at short notice to support whatever unforeseen circumstances that may present themselves.
As always, we remain Tenax in Fide - Steadfast in Faith.
At the RUSI of NSW seminar on 22 November 2022, Major General David Thomae AM GOC 2 Div gave a wide perspective on the Reserve. If you have a spare ¼ hour it is worth the viewing. |
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On 6 November 2022, we held a Regimental Reunion. It had been put-off since COVID struck, and all who attended certainly made up for the gap. The RSM WO1 Bill Doodie opened the bar for us, and we were graced with the presence of the Honorary Colonel Brigadier Phillip Bridie AM. It was the last time our patron Colonel John Arnott visited Lancer Barracks. Dianne Barnes and her team handled the catering well even did a pretty good loaves and fishes trick only 30 had RSVPed 80 turned-up. The photos below were taken by Allen Hitchell and Rick Vincenti. If you were there, go through the slide show, your face should have been recorded.
Do make certain that you check-out the slides toward the end, they show how much the site where we served is dwarfed by the surroundings of an expanding Parramatta. An expansion that is as ever seeking to take the Regiment out of its home and desecrate the parade ground where many of our comrade's ashes are scattered with a high rise monstrosity.
At the Reunion 2022
Just select the green arrow below to view as a slide show or use the other controls to view the show at your own pace.
October 2022 saw the RAAC Corp AGM return to face to face. Held at the convivial surroundings of the Canberra Rex Hotel, it was great to again meet face to face with colleagues. John Howells represented the Lancers' Association..
Brigadier Gardiner, the head of corps was an apology. His report to the RAACC was paraphrased and presented by General Orme. The main points raised were a note of thanks to Brigadier Duncan Hayward, the work done by RAAC members during the COVID period, the future of the position of RAAC Colonel-in-Chief, now that Prince Charles is the King (King Charles III RAAC Colonel-in-Chief) is now and a concern over recruiting and retention, overall, for the Army, as well as for the RAAC.
Julian Heath provided a brief on the progress with establishing the Haynes Trust. The trustees have been appointed and are going through the process of establishing a deed and rules governing the trust. Scott Warr will be on the board of trustees and indicated that the expected $1millon plus funds will be invested through Morgan Stanley. There is a current issue concerning the estate of John’s wife who passed not long after him. The trustees will meet in November where it is expected that the funds will be released to the trust.
With the retirement of Col Lee Long from the Advisory Board, Julian Heath was asked to provide a brief on the CV of Brigadier Philip Bridie to join the Advisory Board. Brigadier Bridie’s considerable experience was outlined and his suitability to join the Advisory Board was put forward. Other comments in support were made by Scott Warr, Wayne Clarke and John Howells. A vote of thanks was passed for the ten-year contribution of Col Lee Long and his passion to keep the welfare of the reserve on the minds of HOC and the RAACC.
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What with the ravages of COVID, the weather and the work at Lancer Barracks to install a new pass activated vehicle gate and hard standing, your Museum had its challenges in 2022. Challenges the team has readily surmounted. COVID meant we lost work time, volunteers and faced challenges when it came to meeting visitor needs. Prolonged periods of rain reduced vehicle movement, unsurfaced areas turned into quagmire should you attempt to move a light B vehicle. The electric welding to stabilise our Covenanter Bridgelayer posed a danger that required suspension as did any work needing electricity and not able to be done under cover. The barracks work meant we lost the vehicle wash, our only outside under cover work area and severely restricted where we were able to move our vehicles.
COVID accelerated our adoption of cashless payments. We already had online payments via our website, COVID required us to have cashless payments at the gate, thanks to a grant, we now have the capacity to receive payments for entry, memorabilia and donations. To cover the lack of Museum guides on Sundays, we were able to introduce an online audio guide. Appeals to Lancer Association members, mainly by the Track Drivers' Union promotion devised by Steve Lesley (by the way there are still some packs left, click HERE for details) partly re-filled our volunteer ranks, at least with respect to vehicle restoration and maintenance. This fundraising promotion has also made us enough to continue the restoration of out M113.
When it came to the weather, guess what; the rain eventually stopped. The potential quagmire of the parade ground solidified. We were again able to do vehicle movement demonstrations that were not restricted to the small amount of tar based hard stand available.
Then in November 2022, the pass gate project was concluded. We got expanded hard stand, we got a covered outside work area, the first of the much dreamed of permanent cover for our vehicles. Two vehicles, three or four if you include those we can work on and lock away in the hanger we are able to use by the grace and favour of the Regiment, have overhead cover. Two vehicles can now be on permanent display without the shrouding of expensive, forever tearing tarpaulins. We still have a long way to go to have the rest of the overhead protection for our vehicles constructed. Any potential patron with a solution will be warmly welcomed.
The new hard standing and work areas.
Throughout, we have therefore been able to continue our work. Removing the Centurion's gearbox to enable clutch repair.
The Centurion clutch is removed for repair
Obtaining and installing a traverse gearbox for the Matilda.
Traverse gearbox installed in the Matilda.
Re-wire the Dingo scout car.
Work on the Daimler Dingo.
Support Parramatta's Foundation Day.
Parramatta Foundation Day Commemoration in the rain
Support the Regiment's Church Parade.
At the Church Parade
The Museum hosted many visitors, mostly on a Sunday, best attended at the end of the month when the "Tank Days" involving vehicle movement inaugurated by the late Ian Hawthorn. One special visit was by Kellyville High School students.
Kellyville HS Students at the Museum (Photos courtesy "The Marella Muse" - November 2022)
And the Museum purchased a Unimog to round out our vehicle collection.
The Unimog
The Museum looks forward to 2023 when we will go from strength to strength.
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Captain (AAC) David Field, Officer Commanding
2022 marked a return to full operation for the Cadets at Lancer Barracks. We were able to conduct a number of weekend field activities and adventure training throughout the year with very minimal disruption due to COVID.
For the first time since 2019, most of our cadets were able to participate in the week-long Annual Field Exercise at Singleton, many for the first time ever. It was an opportunity to get back to basics with many skills lost over the course of the pandemic.
Demand for places in the unit remains very strong with two Recruit Inductions carried out last year, bringing our strength to 75. Leadership remains an ongoing challenge, as we continue to operate with half our authorised establishment for NCOs and many filling positions they have not yet qualified for. The addition of 10 new Lance Corporals at the end of 2022, and a number of NCOs completing promotions course in January will help relieve the pressure.
Among the highlights of 2022, were our November Adventure Training weekend. Cadets embraced the opportunity to get out of the comfort zone. In June our unit had one representative participate in the Royal Guard for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Parade at Government House. In July, we were finally able to move into our new building after two years of dislocation.
For the coming year, we are looking forward to hosting cadets from New Zealand and London for a week as part of our ongoing trilateral relationship. Four cadets from Lancer Barracks will visit New Zealand as well. We’ll commence issuing the new Multicam Uniform to cadets in February as the final tranche of the Army’s AMCU rollout.
Cadet Training and the Royal Guard.
Editor's Note:
On Saturday 10 December 2022I was tasked to release the 203 ACU's chromed .303 to the custody of Lachlan Lau (Lieutenant AAC) for the end of year parade. I also stayed to open the Museum for the cadets and their families. Over 100 visitors, did great for the statistics we submit to Parramatta Council. In the process I witnessed the cadet parade, and was most impressed, the drill was excellent. The youngsters are now denied rifles; a couple of old infantry swords sufficing for the guidon party.
Former Lancer Rick Vincenti is now the commander of the James Ruse High Cadet unit, and attests to the high standards achieved by our cadets. The NSW Brigade is also well commanded, Andrew White CSC, the Regiment's immediate past CO was promoted Colonel as of 1 January 2023 and assumed command of the brigade.
203 ACU on parade.
Photos courtesy 203 ACU.
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By mid-January 1900 Lancers had been in combat in South Africa for nearly two months. The Fighting 29 had first engaged the Boer enemy at Belmont about 40 km south of Kimberley on the railway that stretched from Cape Town to De Aar, Mafikeng and beyond, the metre (1.07m, 3' 6") gage railway that it was the British ambition to extend to Cairo. In the interim the first reinforcement draft had arrived under Major (later Major General) George Lee with waler horses, larger that the cape ponies of the Fighting 29, but not as accustomed to the local conditions, in particular the fodder or lack thereof. The first contingent of the Australian Horse under Lieutenant Willoughby Dowling was also in the field.
Our Lancers had a 15 year unit history by 1900, they were regarded as "Light" Cavalry, the lance as a weapon was seen as a weapon best suited to engage infantry. In Napoleonic times they were spectacularly successful in breaking-up the defensive infantry square formation. By 1900, however, infantry no longer formed squares. The square was formed on flat ground, artillery pieces or gun wheels (with a gun wheel removed, enemy cavalry could not readily drag off an artillery piece). The front rank knelt musket buts planted firmly in the ground and bayonets extended. A horseman armed with a sword or sabre could not reach forward and deal with the infantrymen, the bayonets striking deep into the bellies of the unfortunate horses, the cavaliers cut down with volleys of musket fire. Lances could reach beyond bayonets and reduce the squares. Weapons by 1900 had a combat range of 200 rather than the 30 metres of the musket, there was little blinding smoke; and soldiers dug in for defence. The lance was still of use if the enemy was dismounted and in the open; few Boers were found like that. Our Lancers were also armed with swords and the Martini-Enfield carbine (no bayonets).
The Australian Horse only had a two year history when deployed to South Africa. Armed with Swords they were classed as "Heavy" Cavalry. Their role was to engage with enemy cavalry and fight on horseback. The Boers did not have conventional Cavalry for the Heavy Cavalry to engage.
Most of the Lancers had trained for three months with British cavalry in the UK prior to the South African deployment. Making them nominally the best trained colonial sub-unit at least in the eyes of their British masters. The training, I would contend was not the best. Based on the lessons learned from Napoleon and more recent conflicts where the British often fought those without modern arms did not apply on the veldt. The Australian Horse had only local training based on outdated theory.
Soon after Major Lee arrived, the remaining Lancers at De Aar were placed under command of Colonel Porter of the 6th Dragoon Guards with whom they had trained in England. Sent by train across to Naupoort where they were part of a force required to move north and re-take the rail junction at Colesberg. Near Arundle around 30 km from the objective, where Tom Roberts was nominated for the VC, Corporal Fred Kilpatrick describes his first encounter with the enemy:
Arundel Countryside (left) Coleskop (right)
"It was a great bit of excitement the first day we were fired on. We were riding across a plain when all at once dirt began to fly. There was no shelter. We broke and galloped as fast as we could out of range. Bullets followed us for about 200 metres. They also fired four pom-pom shells. One horses shot down and three others came down as the ground was rough. I took a man up behind me and we had a great ride."
Colesberg was well defended, observers on Coleskop could report on movements in the entire district. Here the terrain is a sedimented landscape created below the ocean, now pushed well above sea level. The kopjes or hills protrude form a flat plane.
The British formed a camp nestled behind hills at Sliggersfontein near Rensberg Farm.
Slingersfontein in 1900 and 2018
At 0300 hrs on Tuesday 16 January 1900 a patrol of 21 Lancers and Australian Horse left camp. There task was to ride into enemy territory using the scrubby ground directly to the north with the aim of establish enemy strength and dispositions between the camp and the settlement at Colesberg, four kilometres hence. Riding out, the patrol stuck to the high ground making use of the available foliage for cover. Lieutenant Willoughby Dowding of the Australian Horse was in command. Major Lee rode with them for the first half hour, he left the troop when he was certain they were headed in the right direction and were certain of their task.
At 1300 Warrant Officer Duncan and two troopers were detached to check-out a farm owned by a Boer named Foster. On completion of their task and finding nothing suspicious, they attempted to re-join the patrol. The patrol had moved on, the rocky and hard ground made it difficult to track. The trio returned to Slingersfontein.
In the vicinity of 14:30, two Boer parties numbering about 40 ambushed the patrol in the close country near the south - north ridgeline. The fighting was intense. Troop Sergeant Major George Griffin of the Australian Horse was killed when the first shots were fired. A farmer from Gundagai, he was the first New South Welshman to die in battle. Many Lancers had their horses shot from under them. Lieutenant Dowling pulled one of the dismounted soldiers, Trooper Bert Artlett, onto his saddle and galloped for cover only to have his horse shot too. Shouldering his carbine and with an eye gone, he fired until wounded in the face and legs with his thumb severed, he had to revert to his pistol. He was still attempting to fire when subdued by the enemy.
The remaining patrolmen retreated to the ridgeline taking cover where they could and firing until their ammunition was gone. Corporal Kilpatrick was shot through the jaw and lungs, Trooper Tom Roberts was wounded in the hand, others were wounded. Those remaining took whatever cover was available, and fought till all ammunition was expended.
The Boers treated their enemy well. Dressing wounds and taking most as prisoners. CPL Kilpatrick was considered far too gone to move. His wounds were dressed, and he was left in the hope of recovery by his own countrymen. The night was cold, Fred's last communication was to write the word COLD in the dirt. Fred Kilpatrick ' s story can be found HERE.
At 16:30 Major Lee received a message from Colonel Porter to see him at once in reference to the patrol, and rode around immediately with Warrant Officer Duncan and Trooper Buchholtz, and was informed that a New South Wales Lancer patrol had been cut up. Colonel Porter (CO 6 Dragoon Guards under whose command the NSWL and AH squadrons were placed) proceeded to the top of the adjacent hill, where Warrant Office Duncan and Trooper Buchholtz explained all particulars. It was decided that they would wait developments and see if any came in after dark.
At 23:30 Trooper Bert Artlett, Parramatta Half-squadron, returned to camp in an exhausted condition and with an account of the action. Bert had been stunned when Will Dowling’s horse was shot and he landed on the ground. Left for dead by the enemy, when he woke, he removed his boots and crept past the enemy to return to camp.
Next Morning, 17January 1900, the position of the occurrence was located by Lancer scouts, some distance away from the camp to north west. Upon examination it was found the TSM Griffin had been killed from bullet wounds, one being through the head. Corporal Kilpatrick was found severely wounded. Owing to the Boers appearing on our left flank in strength Major Lee withdrew all combatants from the front, and sent on the ambulance. On return the medical officer reported that he had buried TSM Griffin on the spot where he had fallen, and that Corporal Kilpatrick was in the ambulance expiring. Corporal Kilpatrick died, at 17:10 on 17 January 1900. He was buried next to two New Zealanders on the slope above Slingersfontein Farm.
Post war both bodies were re-interred in the Colesberg Boer War cemetery. Their grave markers were of cast iron these having been removed and sold as scrap years ago, their names are at least etched on the monument that stands central in the town plot.
Colesberg Boer War Cemetery
Lancers taken prisoner were: Warrant Officer Fisher, Sergeant McDonald, Corporal Hopf, Troopers Taylor, Daly, Doudney, Johnston, Tom Roberts, Milveron Ford and George Whittington.
Of those who were taken prisoner, Lieutenant Dowling was brought down by a bout of Typhoid at Bloemfontein and left in the hospital when the Boers retreated. Found by his compatriots he was to serve until the Australian Horse returned home. Troopers Milverton Ford and George Whittington were to escape from the Boer Prison Camp at Watervall near Pretoria on 22 April 1900, making an adventurous journey to the British Consulate in Lourenco Marques in Portuguese East Africa (now Maputo in Mozambique). Trooper Ford’s own account of the journey can be found HERE. The other prisoners, all fearfully thin and weak were liberated on 10 June 1900 when in a hazardous operation a force including two troops of New South Wales Lancers stormed the camp. Troopers Ford and Whittington served until Lancer Squadron returned to Australia.
References:
Paper by Lawrie Daly, 1999 and the Regimental History.
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At the Museum, we are often approached with the question what were the "Light Horse Brigades". In September 2023, Kaliopi Diamantis asked the Royal United Service Institute of New South Wales for an article on the topic to be published in Family History News. As an alternative to writing a piece on how I survived visiting places in Israel where it would be expected with my beliefs or lack thereof, I should have been struck down by lightning and wasn't, I submitted the following, it was published (October 2022 edition Family History News), and I'm advised well received, probably needs a more sceptical audience.
Australia's Light Horse had its genesis in the Second Anglo-Boer War. In 1899, the NSW Army sent Light Cavalry (New South Wales Lancers), Heavy Cavalry (Australian Horse), Mounted Infantry (New South Wales Mounted Rifles) and dismounted infantry to combat the Boer Kommandos. Neither force worked. The Boers, mounted on their Cape Ponies dismounted to fight, their horses happy to graze in the vicinity of their masters. The Boers, using their 7mm Mausers, firing from cover could readily bring down a soldier high on a horse. As that war progressed our units changed to meet the challenge of the enemy. In early 1902 when the first Australian as opposed to colonial soldiers were despatched to the front, the Australian Commonwealth Horse, they were flexibly organised like cavalry, not the ponderous mounted infantry, equipped to fight on foot, armed with a 7.7mm Lee Enfield rifle and bayonet, neither lance nor sword. The horses were used to quickly move soldiers to the point of battle, then handed to a horseholder for 3 out of 4 soldiers to fight on foot. The horseholder safely securing the horses when possible so they too could join the battle.
The ACH at the National Boer War Memorial and Light Horse training
When the various former colonial units were gathered to form the Australian Army in 1903 all mounted units were organised as Light Horse using the Australian Commonwealth Horse model. In some cases lancers and swords were retained for ceremonial purposes, and are still used today in this way.
On 4 August 1914 Britain declared War on Germany and its allies, Australia too was at war. Our government proceeded to raise forces to send to Europe. A special force was formed gathering volunteers from existing units (most in the existing non light horse units were conscripts - you joined the Light Horse with your horse, so were less likely to be a conscript). Things moved quickly, by late August the 1st Light Horse Regiment AIF was in training at Rosebery. In Brisbane the 2nd Light Horse Regiment had been raised, in Adelaide the 3rd. (with soldiers from South Australia and Tasmania); 1LH, 2LH, 3LH. They formed the 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade under Colonel Harry Chauvel. At the same time an un-brigaded Regiment, the 4th was formed in Victoria; 4 LH.
The enthusiasm of horsemen to volunteer drove the expansion of the Light Horse, throughout the war, unlike their infantry comrades, the Light Horse was never short of volunteers. By mid-September, a second brigade, 5 LH Qld, 6 LH NSW and 7 LH NSW/WA had been formed. In October a third brigade, consisting of 8 LH Vic, 9 LH SA and 10 LH WA was formed.
The Light Horsemen along with the 1st Australian infantry division and the 4th independent infantry brigade were shipped off to Egypt for training prior to deployment to the western front in Europe. The 1 LH Bde arrived in Egypt December 1914, the 2 LH Bde in February 1915, the 3 LH Bde in March 1915.
In February 1915 a further two regiments, 11 LH Qld and SA and 12 LH NSW were formed with a view to them being joined with 4 LH to make a 4th Light Horse Brigade. In March 1915 the 13 LH Vic, was raised, a further un-brigaded unit.
Early in 1915, the "Dardanelles project" received considerable impetus from the eager Winston Churchill. Two attempts by the Navy to force the Dardanelles narrows failed.
By 1 May 1915, a week after the landing, disaster upon disaster had been visited upon the hapless 1st Australian Division and the ANZAC Division (incl 4 AU Bde). Reinforcements were required immediately. The only available forces in the numbers necessary were the Light Horse regiments still waiting in Egypt. Despite the value of the Light Horse in the defence of Egypt, the enthusiasm of the brigades to fight, even if without their beloved horses, finally influenced Sir lan Hamilton to employ the Light Horse in a dismounted role. All the regiments of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Light Horse Brigades served intact, as did the un-brigaded regiments 4 LH and 13 LH. The 11 LH and 12 LH were broken up in Egypt and became Light Horse reinforcements.
At Gallipoli the Light Horsemen fought valiantly. Their major losses were on 7 August 1915 during the ill feted offensive that saw 8 LH cease to exist, and 10 LH lose a squadron at "the Nek" On that same day 1 LH and 2 LH all-but lost squadrons at "the Chessboard". As winter approached, many suffered from sickness.
"the Chessboard", Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey
By December 1915, the Light Horse had returned to Egypt and were re-united with their horses, some not too happy with how locals engaged to look after them had done their job. There were now tasks for Australia's mobile force, defend the Suez Canal from encroaching Turkish forces, and support the infantry that was sent to France. 13 LH and two squadrons of 4 LH under New Zealand command departed for France. The 13 LH Monash's cavalry having key roles on the battles of Villers Bretonneux and Amiens to Montbrehain, the brilliant actions that were to end the war.
Villers Bretonneux and the Hindenburg Line Riqueval, France
The rest, including a reconstituted 4 LH that was to join with the 11 and 12 LH forming the 4 LH Bde, were deployed for the Defence of the Suez Canal seen as the British Empire forces lifeline.
In order to deal with the sandy desert in Egypt beyond Suez "volunteers" from the AIF (many hard fighters but insubordinate etc soldiers were "volunteered" by their commanders) and light horse reinforcements were formed into two battalions of the "Imperial Camel Corps" Brigade, the third battalion being of UK soldiers.
The first major battle was at Romani. British forces including the Australian Light Horse blocked the southward movement of the Turks by a mobile defence in sand dunes adjacent the Mediterranean. Over extended and suffering defeat, the Turks withdrew. The British advance was steady, the Turks fighting valiantly in engagement after engagement until the city of Gaza was reached in March 1917. Here the British advance stalled. The Gaza garrison was not large, late in the afternoon of 26 March 1917, on the verge of capturing Gaza, the Desert Column was withdrawn due to concerns about the approaching darkness and reports of Ottoman reinforcements in the area. The decision to withdraw was not made by commanders on the ground; it was made at some distance on the basis of telegraphed reports. A decision later described as having snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Within a month a second attempt to take Gaza directly also failed. The Turks had heavily reinforced the coastal position and the British Tanks used in an attempt to overwhelm them were MK IVs with engines that did not like sand, and crews that wilted in the heat.
It was not until October that another attack was made. By this time the Turks had fortified a line from Gaza on the coast 41 km to Be'er Sheva. To the east of Be'er Sheva there is no water, only the dry rocky Judean Hills and the Dead Sea. If the strong coastal position was to be outflanked, Be'er Sheva with its water wells was key. General Allenby fresh from Europe where his competence had put many to shame (requiring his removal to a "side show") laid plans. There would be a strong feint at Gaza, whilst most of his force including all mobile resources would take the Be'er Sheva prize outflanking the Turks' strong Gaza position and opening the roads to Jerusalem and beyond. The Light horse suffered moving into position, 3 days without water, the limit of a horses' endurance. 20 British Corps (including the Camel Brigade) attacked the town from the west as the Light Horse deployed to the east and moved to block the Turkish retreat toward Jerusalem.
The eastern approach was dominated by Tel el Saba (now called Tel Be'er Sheva) site of Abraham's well. Occupied by determined Turks, this key terrain took from 1000 to 1500 to take on 31 October 1917. The action involved the 1st Light Horse Brigade and the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade, the Aucklanders finally securing the position.
By this time with the 20 Corps attack faltering Chauvel and Allenby decided a coup de grace was needed. The 4th Light Horse Brigade attacked from the southeast, passing Tel el Saba in an approach at the gallop and dismount on objective that drove into the town and secured the 17 wells.
Be'er Sheva, Israel
The defences at Gaza were outflanked the horses watered and the road to Jerusalem secured. This was not the end of the fighting in Palestine. The Turks fought valiantly for another year, engagements at Aman and Es Salt in Jordan being referred to as "raids", those minor battles the Turks won. The war they did not.
Our cameleers were converted to Light Horsemen after Be'er Sheva, the sand turning to the hard ground of the Judean Hills, unsuited to camels.
Sadly, in all but one case, Australia's quarantine laws required that the beloved horses could not come home.
The traditions of the Light Horse are held today by regiments of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. At Lancer Barracks, Parramatta you will find the regimental museum of the 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers, now equipped with the PMV (Bushmaster) and PMV-L (Hawkeye) that Regiment holds the traditions of the 1st Light Horse that fought from Gallipoli to Jerusalem, and the 15th that was formed from the Camel Corps. Well worth a visit, it is open to the public Sundays and for booked group tours at any other time https://lancers.our.au.
Selected Bibliography
"The Australian Light Horse" by RJ Hall, 1968.
"The Royal New South Wales Lancers 1885-1985" edited by PV Vernon 1985.
"Monash" by Grantlee Kieza 2015.
The REVEILLE (RSL NSW Journal) 8 August 1927.
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In 1936 The Regiment was "mechanised". As you had previously joined the Regiment with your horse and were paid more for your horse than you were for yourself, in the new mechanised Regiment car or truck you joined the Regiment with your car or truck and were paid more for your car or truck than you were for yourself. The Army would paint your vehicle green if you accepted the offer. The Regiment developed drills where mobility of the vehicles afforded a capacity for reconnaissance and deployment of light horsemen to fight on foot. The Regiment was designated 1 MG Regt (Royal New South Wales Lancers).
On 15 September 1939, the Prime Minister Robert Menzies announced the formation of a Second AIF, an expeditionary force of 20,000, to consist of one infantry division and any auxiliary units that the Australian Army could fit into it. Members of the Regiment volunteered to join the AIF as their Regimental forefathers had done in 1914.
The 2nd /2nd Machine Gun Battalion (2/2 MG Bn) was one of four machine gun battalions that were raised as part of Second Australian Imperial Force. Its recruiting area covered Sydney, and where 1st Machine Gun Regiment (Royal New South Wales Lancers) was based. Lieutenant Colonel David Whitehead, CO of the Lancers took command of the new AIF unit, and many Lancers joined the AIF in the 2/2 MG Bn. Those under 21 and of questionable family background were excluded.
The new unit was issued with government trucks, and Vickers Machine Guns. The role was to swiftly relocate the heavy machine guns with a focus of supporting infantry with direct and indirect fire. The Museum has a display of 2/2 Bn artefacts at the head of the stairs; it focusses on their work in Egypt and Libya 1940-1942.
Lancers' Mueseum's 2/2 MG Bn Exhibit
Members of the Regiment who formed the backbone of the battalion undertook training at Cowra inducting those from non-mechanised warfare backgrounds. The battalion came together in Pyrmont in New South Wales at the end of the 1940, prior to embarking for overseas service.
Upon formation, the 2/2 MG Bn was assigned to the 7th Division, the 2(sup>nd AIF's second division. The colours chosen for the battalion's unit colour patch were gold and black, in a triangular shape with a border of grey; this was later changed, though, following the unit's involvement in the fighting at Tobruk, when it adopted a 'T'-shaped patch.
2/2 MG Bn Pre and Post Tobruk Colour Patches
The battalion sailed from Sydney to the Middle East in February 1941. It underwent further training at Khassa, near El Majdal in Palestine and towards the end of April moved to Mersa Matruh in Egypt. The battalion spent the next 12 months carrying out garrison duties in Egypt and from January 1942 in Syria, where it became attached to the 9th Division.
In the third week of June the 9th Division received urgent orders to return to Egypt to reinforce the British Eight Army that had retreated to the Alamein "box". The 2/2nd played an important part during the subsequent battles, fighting alongside the infantry defending the Alamein line in July and during the counter-attack in October to November. By 6 November 1942 Axis forces were retreating. The battalion suffered heavily: one officer and 15 other ranks were killed in action; one officer and 14 other ranks were mortally wounded; four officers and 124 other ranks were wounded; and two officers and 26 other ranks were captured.
Alamein was a great, although bloody, success for the Allies. The 9th Division was now needed back in Australia to fight a new enemy - the Japanese. The 2/2nd left Alamein on 4 December and headed back to Gaza, where it participated in the 9th's divisional parade on 22 December. The battalion sailed from Palestine in the third week of January 1943 and reached Sydney at the end of February.
After a period of well-earned leave the battalion reformed at Kairi on the Atherton Tableland in April. It was reinforced by machine-gunners from South Australia and Western Australia and undertook jungle training.
In August the 2/2nd was sent to Milne Bay in Papua to temporarily help guard the base and provide labour. The following month it landed at Lae to support the 9th Division's invasion. Upon landing the battalion was hit by Japanese aircraft: one man was killed and another 28 wounded.
Following Lae's capture the battalion's C Company supported the 20th Brigade landing on Scarlet Beach, north of Finschhafen. Finshhafen was officially captured on 2 October, thereafter the rest of the battalion was brought forward to help defend the area. It fought in New Guinea for the rest of the year supporting with the 1st Tank Battalion (RNSWL) infantry during the capture of Sattelberg and advance to Sio.
The 9th Division returned to Australia at the start of 1944 and the 2/2nd spent the rest of the year training at Ravenshoe on the Atherton Tableland. It did not return to action until almost the end of the war.
On 13 March 1945 the battalion received the warning order to depart to a new operational stagging area on Morotai Island. D Company was the first to move, leaving Ravenshoe at the end of the month. The rest of the battalion followed in April.
From Morotai, the 9th Division was set to participate in a series of landings on Borneo as part of the OBOE operations. The first landing took place on 1 May when the 20th Brigade and the 2/2nd's D Company came ashore Tarakan Island. The machine-gunners worked closely with the infantry who were using flamethrowers to destroy Japanese positions. It was "a nasty one to finish the war on", one veteran later remarked. Meanwhile the rest of division and battalion landed on Brunei Bay and Labuan Island in June.
Following Japan's surrender the battalion was concentrated on Labuan but its ranks gradually thinned, as men were either discharged or transferred. On 20 January 1946 the remaining battalion returned to Australia and was disbanded in Brisbane on 26 February.
References:
Wikipaedia
Australian War Memorial
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Bert Castellari was born on 27 December 1923, he will be 100 this year. Bert served in the Regiment in World War 2 from Greta in 1942 'till war's end. His record shows he reached the rank of lance corporal. After the war Bert was a journalist, reporting from Parliament House, Canberra. Over time he has submitted many articles to Lancers' Despatch and Newsletters. He recently sent us his latest update below.
Sun 11/12/2022 14:21, Curtin ACT
Hello John,
I have just been catching up on Lancers' Despatch No 43. Sorry to have been on involuntary leave and with no leave pass. I join with Len Koles in his remarks on the excellence of No 43. A pleasure to read.
Where have I been? Stuck in hospital for about a month (August/September) and still recovering slowly. I cannot name the problem because the medicos can't put a name to it which, however, may come under "diverticular disease". It slows me down at times including when I have already been using the old two finger style on the computer.
I wish you and all acquaintances at the Lancers a happy Christmas and a peaceful and rewarding New Year.
Bert Castellari
It is always great to hear from Bert, he is the last Lancer who served with the Regiment in World War 2 that we at the Lancers' Association know about. It is an even greater pleasure to pass his words on to you. I am certain the Colonel in Chief of the RAAC (who gets a copy of Lancers' Despatch) will send him a very special message of congratulations next December.
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Steve Lesley
Exercise Silver City Broken Hill 1982 from my point of view as a junior NCO at the time. Like most of us in the Reserves and ARA in the decades after the Vietnam War we served in a peace time Army with restrictions on training, funding and old worn-out equipment that was in some cases obsolete. The role for those who served during this period was to maintain the ability of Army to defend Australia and to ensure we don’t lose our warfighting knowledge. We were after all still in the grips of the Cold War and the proverbial could have hit the fan at any time.
The Regiment combined A and B SQN to provide 2CAV with a C SQN so the journey begins late Friday night the extended troop train rolled into Parramatta station with flat beds loaded with our A vehicles in tow. The Regiment less the advance party who had left a week earlier by road marched across the road with kit and personal weapon and onto the platform. There were a number of stunned and curious faces on the civilians as we piled into the train. The train trip was an adventure in its self as the train headed west every carriage was alive with ongoing nonstop card games. You had to find any piece of flat area to sleep and a few of us smaller blokes found the baggage racks strong enough to support our weight.
We arrived safely and quickly set about prepping our vehicles and we were ready to move by Sunday. I was to crew 32D and my driver was Brian Dudley and we worked well together as a team. Of course, we were burdened with a car full of Vegies and I mean full 10 Assault Troopers and some great mates among them including my brother Peter Leslie.
Steve Lesley (left), Vegetables (right)
The push west commences and within an hour I could smell engine oil and we pulled up and a worn oil line had cracked. We were recovered back to the start line and the LAD worked over night and done a power pack change so we were back on the road the next morning. The SQN had moved so far, we needed to cross two maps to catch up with SHQ and then we were passed onto the Troop a very long day. Navigating over vast areas of featureless flat terrain was a challenge with some of the features on the maps were only bumps on the horizon. Speedo reading, nav data sheets and making use of the sun and stars.
Power plant exchanged (left, Catching up (right
Don't remember the big picture or the scenarios apart from the EN were an advancing mechanised formation following on with the Cold War scenarios. The EX highlighted the realities of a mobile fast-moving battlefield. Armoured formations moving at speed across large areas with plumes of dust rising into the sky enabling you to identify entire SQNs on the move (one would hope for complete Air Superiority).
During the final stages of the EX CSQN was in a fighting withdrawal with our resupply missing in action and our cars running on empty, fuel was at a critical point. Our withdrawal was a series of bounds and hit and run followed by decanting fuel from the LRVs to the MRVs. The troop finally ran out of fuel and we went down fighting taking up positions in dry washed-out creek lines. The vegies took out a BMP with the 84 followed by Delta and Bravo engaging a number of the EN AFVs before being overrun and declared out of the game by the DS.
Fighting 'till the end
So, it was all over and declared KIA by the umpire and the realities of training for war against a superior force such as the Warsaw Pact in the 80s really hit home.
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JOHN ARNOTT Aged 94 of Thornleigh.
Colonel John Arnott RFD ED passed away on 15 December 2022 at the San Hospital where he had been admitted on the previous weekend.
Until a year ago, Colonel John visited the Museum every Sunday, providing well appreciated input on the maintenance of the Museum's fleet of vintage A vehicles. His last visit was for the Regimental reunion in November, see photo.
Len Koles visited Colonel John at the hospital on the evening before he passed, he was in a bit of pain and quite chirpy at that time.
Colonel Arnott Joined the Regiment as a trooper, 24/10/1952; lieutenant, 20/4/1955; captain, 23/4/1958; major 3/11/1961; lieutenant colonel, 1/1/1966.
While a sergeant he was selected one year to represent his squadron in the shot put event in the regimental sports; starting with an outsider's chance, he defeated the favourite. He continued to win this event for a few years and eventually retired undefeated.
In 1963 he won the Blamey Award. From 29/5/1958 to 1/8/1965 he was Honorary (Military) ADC. to the Governor of New South Wales. He commanded the Regiment from 1/1/1966 to 30/6/1969. He was attached to Armour on active service during a Full-time Duty Visit to Vietnam from 29/9/1967 to 10/10/1967.
Following his command of the Regiment he served on the Staff, being promoted to colonel, 30/6/1973, on which date appointed Commander, Command and Staff Training Unit, and on 1/5/1976 Commander, Command and Staff Training Unit, and on 1/5/1976 Commander, Officers Training Wing. On 1/6/1976 he joined 2nd Division Field Force Group as Chief of Staff and, from 1/9/1976, as Colonel (Armour) until 31/8/1979 when he was transferred to the Unallotted List. Placed on Reserve, CMF., 31/10/1982.
In civil life he was a company executive. Following his retirement, Colonel Arnott was a great supporter of the Regimental association and Museum.
I, your editor, first met him in the late 1970s when he was Colonel Armour, he had well placed and as I recall barbed advice for a wild youngster. Later he has been a great mentor to us all with the Museum's A Vehicle Fleet.
John's funeral was held at Magnolia Chapel, Macquarie Park Crematorium on Friday 23 December 2022 Click HERE to download the order of service and HERE to download the eulogy delivered by Brigadier Bridie, the Honorary Colonel. A video of the proceedings can be viewed below. Many Lancers, including the current and four former commanding officers of the Regiment were in attendance.
WALLY HAUSMAN Warrant Officer Class 1 Walter Hausman passed away Monday 17 October 2022. Wally had been suffering from leukaemia and not been well for some time. Wally joined the Army in 1969, serving for 36 years.
He was a backbone member of the Regiment's LAD/TSS for many years and a valued Museum volunteer
Wally's funeral was held at Pinegrove Cemetery, Great Western Highway, Minchinbury, on Thursday, 20 October, 2022. Many of his Lancer and RAEME colleagues were present.
Wally Hausman
JOHN MOORE (Lieutenant Colonel (Arthur) John Moore OAM, RFD, ED) of St Ives Chase passed away 16 September 2022 aged 80.
John Moore grew up in Yackandandah, Victoria, he joined Westpac as a trainee teller and the Royal Victorian Regiment at about the same time in his late teens. He rose to be a branch manager with Westpac, a career that took him to many locations through Victoria and New South Wales. His Army Reserve career following where he served in the Bank. At one time he was a sergeant in the 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles, Albury. Posted to Sydney by the Bank, he was commissioned into Transport Corps.
By the time of his mandatory retirement in 1992, aged 50, John had risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and had attended Joint Services Staff College.
It was after he retired from the Army that his most important work for the Regiment began. Noting the reluctance of the RSL to include reservists in Anzac Day parades in Sydney, where at best they were renegaded to the end of the parade (in 2022, the Regimental Association had it taken part in the parade would have been required to march as the last Australian Army contingent, our band about 1 km away at the head of the Army). John set-up the annual Reserve Forces Day Parade. Held on a date close to 1 July, anniversary of the day the Army was re-raised in 1948, the parade was held from 1998 'till 2018. Lancers took part in every parade, as the parades became more formal. Lancer Association members had a variety of command and organisational positions.
It was John Moore's great drive that ensured the success of the parades nationwide.
A Celebration of John's Life was held in the Palm Chapel, Macquarie Park Crematorium on Friday, 23 September 2022. Many Lancer Association members were present.
John Moore may be gone - his deeds will not be forgotten
John was aslo deeply involved with the New Medal Group around 2003 to 2005 that resulted in the Australian Defence Medal that many of us wear. The Reserve Forces Day Council also played a significant role in helping the fund the National Boer War Memorial pre 2017.
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Thank you all very much for your assistance in supporting the Museum and Association financially to date in the 2022/23 Financial Year. Our records (and they may not be perfect, human data entry has been involved) show the following supported by donation, the Association:
Douglas Black; Paul Degiorgio; Tony Fryer; Alan Hitchell; Graham Hodge; Margaret Sheppard; Bob Stenhouse.
AND the Museum:
Bill Amor; Terry Barnes; Dianne Barnes; Tony Beechey; Douglas Black; Ray Bowen; Joe Bozonie; Phillip Bridie; Paul Brock; Christopher Brown; Matthew Caple; Aaron Cheney; Wayne Clarke; David Crisp; Jeffrey Darke; Jeff Darke; Paul Degiorgio; Chris Devrell; Gordon Dimmick; Rod Dixon; Eric Drew; John Duncan; Warwick Edwards; Ian Frost; Tony Fryer; George Glass; Brian Hackland Brian Hanlon; Alan Hitchell; Graham Hodge; David Hooper; Blair James; Fiona Jarvis; Timothy Jones; Warren Kay-Spratley; Ray Keating; Bruce Kilgour; Mark Knight; John Lee; David Lewis; Amgad Lotfi; Peter Major; Michael Martin; Colin McDonald; Brian McEvilly; John McLean; Brian Meston; Craig Muller; National BWM Association NSW Sub-Committee; John Palmer; Shane Parker; Davy Patrick; Ian Pitman; Bill Prosser; Robert Sepping; Margaret Sheppard; Bradley Simmonds; Peter Smith; Steven Solomon; Bob Stenhouse; Michael Sultana; Mark Swadling; Joe Tabone; Brian Turner; Colin Upjohn; Rick Vincenti; David Walker; Logan Walker; Gregory Wallace; Stephen Walmsley; Sakiusa (Zac) Waqatairewa; Michael Webb; Christopher White.
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Yes we really do need your financial assistance. No amount too large, no amount too small.
Donations to the Museum (the Museum is registered with the charity tick) and Association are possible securely using PayPal from your credit card (Visa, Mastercard, AMEX) or from your PayPal account:
Click Here to go to the donation page.
Donations to the Museum are tax deductible.
Don't forget your memorabilia.
We have secure payment
facilities available using your credit card (now including AMEX) or your PayPal account.
Click Here for the Museum Shop. Do note that if you visit the Museum you will find the goods cheaper (no delivery charges) and still able to be purchased using your credit etc card.
We also need Museum volunteers. All that is required is an interest in the Regiment and its history, we find everyone has a skill to contribute. If you have any questions about our volunteer programme, simply call the editor, John Howells on 0405 482 814.
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Membership of the RAACA NSW is free to all applicants over 75. The RAACA NSW newsletter complements Lancers' Despatch, providing news of events in the wider corps community. If you wish to join the RAACA and receive the newsletter, drop a line to the Association at Bld 41, Victoria Barracks (Sydney), Locked Bag 7005, Liverpool NSW 1871, or visit the website: www.raacansw.org.au.
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"A regiment is not solely the men who presently comprise its strength. It is an entity stretching back in time to its beginnings. It is all the men who have served in its ranks, with their traditions and achievements. The serving unit, like the tip of an iceberg, may be the only part you see, but underneath, supporting it, there is a great deal more." (These words, often quoted, were introduced by our Patron, Major General Warren Glenny, AO RFD ED, during his term as 2IC of 1st/15th Royal NSW Lancers in the 1960s)
Lancers' Despatch is Published in February and August each year by the New South Wales Lancers Memorial Museum Incorporated ABN 94 630 140 881 and the Royal New South Wales Lancers Association ABN 50 361 228 724. All material is copyright.
John Howells - Editor, New South Wales Lancers Memorial Museum Incorporated, Linden House, Lancer Barracks, 2 Smith Street, PARRAMATTA NSW, AUSTRALIA, (Postal Address: PO Box 7287, PENRITH SOUTH NSW 2750, AUSTRALIA)
Tel: +61 (0)405 482 814.
Lancers' Despatch is prepared and published on the ancestral lands of the Dharug people whose stewardship for millennia is appreciated and acknowledged.
