by Kevin Murrell
The background to this story
This story from Kevin Murrell follows a journey of discovery that he undertook while researching his ancestry. To read more about how this remarkable story of Arthur Quarmby was assembled, visit this page.
Arthur Quarmby was born in Batlow in 1888, the eldest of seven children born to Edwin and Jane Quarmby (nee Lindbeck). Arthur grew up on the family farm “Sunnyside” which was located around three miles from town on the Batlow to Tumut Road, attending the Batlow Public School Arthur reportedly made the journey into town each day on foot. Sadly, when Arthur was around eleven years of age his father passed away whilst ferrying farm produce to the railhead at Tumbalong, the family remained on the farm after Edwin’s death, something which they did for many years to come.
With war being declared on the 4th August 1914, Arthur along with his brother Norman and another Batlow man Albert Cabban immediately joined the 11th Light Horse Militia Unit in Adelong, within the space of two weeks (19 August 1914) a contingent of seventeen men from the unit had volunteered for service in the Australian Imperial Force. Arthur, Norm and Albert were among them, they would be the first men from Batlow to enlist for service during World War One.
24 August 1914 – Arthur marched into camp at Rosebery Park in Sydney and was officially taken on strength with the Australian Imperial Force. Upon enlistment Arthur was placed in B Squadron of the 1st Light Horse Regiment and designated as a Shoesmith, he was given the Service Number 277.
1 September 1914 – Arthur’s rank was reported as being changed to Private. (The term or rank of “Trooper” was instigated into the Light Horse from December 1914 onwards to differentiate the men of the Light Horse from the Infantry.)
20 October 1914 – After two months of training Arthur embarked on the HMAT A16 STAR OF VICTORIA in Sydney for overseas service. Joining the First ANZAC Convoy at Albany Western Australia, the STAR OF VICTORIA left Australian shores on the 1st November 1914, arriving in Egypt on the 8th December 1914 Arthur disembarked at Alexandria.
Marching into camp at Maadi on the outskirts of Cairo, Arthur and the men of the 1st Light Horse Regiment spent the next five months undertaking training, looking after the health of their horses and eventually undertaking patrols out into the desert to guard against possible Turkish attacks on the Suez Canal.
During his down time Arthur would have played the tourist, visiting Cairo and experiencing everything that the vibrant city had to offer, one can only wonder what his thoughts were upon visiting the pyramids, he was a long way from home.
Classified as Mounted Infantry, the Light Horse were deemed unsuitable for action at the beginning of the Gallipoli campaign, with the ever-increasing casualty rates and the need for reinforcements that soon changed, leaving their horses behind the men of the Light Horse prepared to leave for Gallipoli.
9 May 1915 – Arthur, along with 25 Officers and 446 Other Ranks of the 1st Light Horse Regiment boarded the A3 DEVANHA at Alexandria Egypt and sailed for Gallipoli, after a stop at Lemnos Island the DEVANHA continued on to the Gallipoli Peninsula.
12 May 1915 – Arthur landed at Gallipoli, the 1st Light Horse Regiment’s Unit Diary notes –
“West coast of Gallipoli Peninsula, landed the Regiment from Tramp A3 DEVANHA from 6am, about 2 000yds south of Fisherman’s Hut. About 4pm bivouacked 500yds south of Pope’s Hill”.
By noon the following day Arthur had moved “into the trenches – Pope’s Hill”.
Over the next five days Arthur and the 1st Light Horse settled in and consolidated their position, they would suffer only light casualties with two men being killed and eight wounded.
Things would soon change.
18 – 19 May 1915 – Turkish forces launched a massive attack against the ANZAC positions, their objective being – “Regardless of losses, attack before daybreak, drive the enemy from their trenches and follow them down into the sea”.
Arthur and the 1st Light Horse Regiment were in position at what they were now calling Pope’s Post. The Unit Diary records the following action – “Midnight, enemy began heavy firing, lasted 1 hour.
I turned out the whole Regiment.
3.50am – Heavy firing again and almost immediately cries of “Allah” and several hundred Turks left their trenches on our left, from 50 to 100 rushed us, our trench control was good but men on extreme left had to get on parapet there and were killed by an enemy machine gun. The attack was repulsed without difficulty. Those enemy not killed were not seen to regain their trenches.
The valley picquet fought for some hour, 1 man being killed. The firing slackened at about 9.30 to 10am but the Regiment did not relax. The Regiment remained at arms, but the enemy did not charge again, at 2.30 the 3rd Light Horse Regiment arrived to relieve us and by 3pm two Squadron posts had been changed and the Regiment less 1 Squadron moved away. Almost immediately though the enemy and ourselves began a heavy fire which lasted some time. The Regiment moved back into the trenches of the inner line of defence as another attack was expected, at 6pm the Regiment withdrew from the trenches to bivouac in Monash Valley”.
20 May 1915 – 7.45pm – Arthur and the 1st Light Horse Regiment were ordered back into the trenches of the inner line of defence as another attack was expected –“Heavy firing on hills but none in our trenches”.
Arthur continued to rotate in and out of the trenches for the next few days, with so many dead Turks lying in No Man’s Land after their attack (officially listed as around 3 000) it soon became clear that something had to be done, it wasn’t long before rumours began to circulate of an armistice, the smell at the front was reported as being “awful”, especially at night.
24 May 1915 – Monash Valley – “Armistice granted to the Turks from 7.30am to 4.30pm to bury their dead. From 50 to 100 dead in front of Pope’s Post”. Many of the soldiers wandered between the lines and the Turks were reportedly – “friendly to our fellows with no treachery of any kind”.
The casualty list for the 1st Light Horse Regiment for the five days of action consisted of 14 men killed and 34 wounded.
That would be the end of any large-scale attacks by either side for some time, even though there were many skirmishes the campaign fell into a state of stalemate. For Arthur and the men of the 1st Light Horse life was now all about improving their defensive capabilities and trying to keep the trenches clean, as noted on the 3rd June 1915 – “Quiet night, Pope’s Post has had many improvements and extensions. We improved loopholes inserting steel. Whole hill and trenches remarkably filthy. The hill has been restrained considerably by the various trenches, saps, dugouts etc. No further digging on hill side permitted, earth fell temporarily affecting 1 man during night of 2nd and 3rd”.
The remainder of June was remarkably noted as being “quiet”, that was until the 29th when at 10.30pm – “The Turks attacked Walkers Ridge and the top of our left, and later about 150 to 250 invaded the gully and fired on and behind the local reserve (2nd L.H Regt.). We were able to fire down on them bringing up and laying on a machine gun and using all available rifle fire space created many casualties, very few being seen to return to their trenches”.
30 June 1915 – “We were relieved and retired to bivouac at the inner line of defence, Monash Valley. B Squadron (Arthur’s Squadron) remained in position at Pope’s Post”.
4 July 1915 – “B Squadron moved out to right of Pope’s Post”.
14 July 1915 – The 1st Light Horse were reinforced with 115 men. The Regiment moved back into the line and took over Pope’s Post (less B Squadron). The strength of the Regiment now consisted of 20 Officers and 417 Other Ranks.
Remaining in position until the 21st July the entire Regiment then moved back to a bivouac position in the local reserve valley.
August would bring an attempt to end the stalemate, British High Command had devised an elaborate plan to break out of Gallipoli, the plan which consisted of several different objectives was doomed to fail, two of the most well-known attacks of the offensive were at Lone Pine (6 August) and The Nek (7 August), while they were taking place Arthur was involved in another.
3 August 1915 – Arthur and the 1st Light Horse Regiment began to relieve the 2nd Light Horse Regiment, by 5pm on the 5th the Regiment had taken over the whole of Pope’s Post.
6 – 7 August 1915 – Arthur and the 1st Light Horse Regiment attacked what was known as “The Chessboard”.
Lieutenant Geoffrey Harris of B Squadron 1st Light Horse Regiment led his Troop into the attack via Waterfall Gully, he later wrote – “At 3.50am, I fell in my little party of twelve bomb throwers and twelve riflemen with fixed bayonets in support, the latter had orders not to fire a shot, but to use cold steel. We marched silently down our communication trenches to the gully, then up to the waterfall (which we scaled) to be met by a shower of Turkish bombs before we had time to get into any sort of order. I immediately gave the order to charge and we took the two lines of trenches. Meanwhile A Squadron, seeing that we had been forced to show our hand went over. In the first ten minutes A Squadron was practically put out of action, over 50 per cent were killed in the first rush. It was just breaking daylight when we went over the hill to be met by the crescent trench, full of Turks, half out of their trench, waiting for us, machine guns were barking on three sides of us. I gave the order “down” and went to earth just as a bullet hit my shoulder. Sergeant Ellis went down on my right – killed instantly, riddled with bullets at close range. I found a lot of Turkish bombs and secured two prisoners. Five men came up to my support and we had a bomb fight with the Turks for over an hour. Major Glasgow, Lt Nettleton and Lt Weir with 16 men came up to help us. At 8am, after we had consolidated our position and used up 1 100 bombs sent up to us from Brigade, we were ordered to retire as our position was untenable. When we reached our Regimental lines, I received orders to fall in all men left of A and B Squadrons and got them into line with C Squadron. All I could muster was 32 men of which 24 were wounded. Others came in, but very few.
In the morning we had gone out 199 strong.”
Arthur survived the attack on the Chessboard, records show he and his brother Norm participated with C Troop of B Squadron.
The casualty list for the 1st Light Horse Regiment after the attack consisted of 15 men killed, 98 wounded and 34 missing.
Arthur remained in the front line trenches until the morning of the 9th August when he and the Regiment moved back to a bivouac position in Pope’s Reserve Valley having been relieved by the 2nd Light Horse.
9 September 1915 – Arthur was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal and posted to Headquarters.
It was now the future of the Gallipoli campaign was being questioned, it seemed evacuation was the only possibility, the ANZAC’s would persevere for the next four months dealing with the enemy’s lethal sniper fire and ever-increasing artillery fire. Illness, disease and the onset of wintery conditions didn’t help.
22 November 1915 – The decision to evacuate Gallipoli was made, in what was the best planned operation of the campaign, by day the troops carried on as normal, by night not a sound was to be made, somehow 36 000 men had to be evacuated.
27 November 1915 – “Period of silence maintained, snow started falling at 23.00hrs and continued all day of the 28th.”
16 December 1915 – The Regiment received information that –“Australia and New Zealand Army Corps had been ordered to re-embark and proceed to Lemnos Island. The embarkation to be completed in two nights to be called 1st and 2nd nights”.
The following is the 1st Light Horse Regiment’s account of their evacuation from Gallipoli.
19 December 1915 – “First party left bivouac for embarkation at 21.45. Enemy in our front very quiet during night. This Regiment took over the line holding from Happy Valley to Destroyer’s Hill inclusive”.
20 December 1915 – “A Party of 3 Officers and 130 Other Ranks left bivouac for embarkation at 7.30pm. B Party of 3 Officers and 103 Other Ranks moved out from trenches at 21.45. The line was held by Capt. White, 10 men and 2 Signallers. At 2.35am C Party were called in and left bivouac at 03.05 under C.O to embark. The rear party under Major Granville consisting of 7 Officers, 67 Other Ranks and 2 machine guns held the line. At 03.08 Major Granville received the order to withdraw which was carried out without interference by the enemy”.
The evacuation was a complete success, not a man was lost in the five nights it took to get the ANZAC’s off Gallipoli, as for Arthur, there is no mention in his record on which night he left Gallipoli, by the 27th December 1915 he had arrived back in Egypt and disembarked at Alexandria.
On their return to Egypt, Arthur and the 1st Light Horse Regiment went into camp at Heliopolis again on the outskirts of Cairo, here they were reinforced and re-equipped. With the reorganisation of the entire ANZAC Corps, the Infantry Units of the AIF would be deployed to the Western Front in France and Belgium while the Mounted Units would become the ANZAC Mounted Division, they would remain in the Middle East, their war would be in the deserts of Egypt and the Holy Land of what was then Palestine.
14 January 1916 – Arthur and the 1st Light Horse Regiment rode out of camp at Heliopolis and proceeded to join the Western Frontier Force, Egypt. They had been deployed to protect the Nile Valley from disruption by bands of Pro–Turkish Senussi Arabs. The majority of Arthur’s work was done at outposts and patrolling. He remained there for the next five months.
14 May 1916 – Arthur and the Regiment re-joined their parent Brigade the 1st Light Horse Brigade, who at the time were defending the Suez Canal at Kantara.
16 May 1916 – Orders were received –“to move out to Romani on the morning of the 18th instance”.
18 May 1916 – Arthur and the Regiment moved out for Romani, upon arrival they were attached to the 2nd Light Horse Brigade. Almost immediately Arthur and the men began patrolling and conducting outpost duties to places such as Katia and Bir-el-Hamisah, at this stage of the campaign upon their return all reports were noted as – “all clear, no enemy to be found”.
27 May 1916 – The remainder of the 1st Light Horse Brigade arrived at Romani and relieved the 2nd Light Horse Brigade.
28 May 1916 – Arthur’s Squadron, (B Squadron) and C Squadron of the 1st Light Horse Regiment along with the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade were ordered to undertake a reconnaissance to Bir-el-Salmana and Hod Salmana (a Bir is an oasis and a Hod is a thick clump of palms) after information had been received that –“a small force of the enemy was supposed to be in the area”. Each man was ordered to carry along with their regular kit – “150 rounds of SAA (Small Arms Ammunition) along with an extra 50 rounds in shoe cases, spare shoes were not to be carried, one day’s full rations and one iron ration was carried by each man and two feeds per horse in nosebags and a third in the sandbag in front of the saddle was to be carried”. After three days the men returned to camp with – “No enemy to be found”.
Continuing on with the never-ending desert patrols, the 1st Light Horse had their first encounter with the enemy on the 11th June 1916 – “08.00 Bir-el-Bayud, enemy patrols opened fire on our advance screen, about 30 could be seen northeast of the wells. We replied and endeavoured to outflank them, but the enemy split up over a front of 1 ½ miles and in an extended order moved from hill to hill in an easterly direction. C Squadron was in the firing line, assisted by 2 Troops of A Squadron. B Squadron was in support, action lasted till 12.00”.
19 July 1916 – A large force of approximately 16 000 Turks were reportedly on the move from El Arish and heading in a westerly direction toward Romani. The battle for the control of the Suez Canal was about to begin.
3 – 5 August 1916 – The Battle of Romani, Arthur and the 1st Light Horse were heavily involved. –
“On the night of 3rd/4th the Brigade took up a line of outpost from Hod-el-Enna to No.1 Post, the Regiment remained in camp in reserve. About midnight the Regiment was ordered out, at about 1.30 A Squadron reinforced the line held by the 3rd Light Horse on the southern slopes of Mt Meredith (a large sand dune). A quarter of an hour later B Squadron went up and took up a line on either side of Mt Meredith. The Regiment came under very heavy rifle and machine gun fire, also shrapnel from a mountain battery. The Regiment fell back gradually on to Bir-el-Maler about 10.00 and remained in Divisional Reserve until 17.00 when we moved forward and took up a line on the southeast end of the Hods at Bir-abu-Diyuk”.
Remarkably, by the end of the first day of the battle, even though they were heavily outnumbered, the Allied force had not only held the Turkish attack, they then attempted to push them back.
“5 August, at 04.00 the Regiment started to drive towards Hod-el-Enna with the 6th Light Horse on our left and the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade on our right. During the drive we moved on to Bir-abu-Gulud. At 14.30 we commenced an attack on Katia in conjunction with the 2nd and 3rd Light Horse Brigades and the NZMR Brigade with the 5th Mounted Brigade on the extreme left. We dismounted at the western edge of Katia swamp and advanced the line 300 to 600yds into the swamp, the left being in advance owing to the right flank being held up. At 18.30 the line commenced to withdraw owing to the high ground east of Katia being strongly held by enemy rifle and machine gun fire. The Regiment withdrew to Romani”.
The dismounted strength of the Regiment was 150 all ranks. The Battle of Romani would prove to be a decisive victory in the desert campaign, from that moment on the Allies went on the offensive and would attempt to push the Turks back to their homeland, and effectively end the Ottoman Empire.
Initially, Arthur and the 1st Light Horse were involved in the advance across the Sinai Desert (9 August), but soon after they were withdrawn to rest.
10 August 1916 – Whilst the Regiment were in a reserve position at Hod-el-Negiliat Arthur was promoted to the rank of Temporary Corporal, by the 13th August the Regiment had returned to Romani.
9 September 1916 – Arthur’s rank was reverted back to Lance Corporal on reversion of Temporary Sergeant Kingsford.
15 September 1916 – By now the 1st Light Horse Regiment had been reinforced, their strength now stood at 12 officers and 305 Other Ranks. Arthur undertook what would be his last patrol for some time when the Regiment moved out towards Bir-el-Abd and Salmana, returning three days later – “No action was noted”. Arthur remained at Romani until the 28th September when the Regiment moved back to Kantara on the Suez Canal for an extended spell – “men were granted leave”.
2 November 1916 – Arthur and the Regiment prepared to re-join the Allied advance across the Sinai Desert – “Reveille was at 05.00, tents were struck and rolled by 05.30, blankets were rolled and ready for the transport camels by 06.00, men were at stables by 05.45. The Regiment left camp at 08.55”. After a three-day ride passing through Romani and Negiliat the 1st Light Horse Regiment reached Hod-el-Ge’eila and made camp, they remained there till the 17th November, during this time (8 November) Arthur was again appointed as a Temporary Corporal.
24 November 1916 – The 1st Light Horse Regiment re-joined the 1st Light Horse Brigade at Bir-el- Mosiefig, the following day the Brigade moved off by Regiments for Bir-Arnussi, Arthur remained there for the remainder of the month.
3 December 1916 – Arthur was promoted – “To be Corporal”.
As the advance continued eastward towards the Palestinian border Arthur and the 1st Light Horse began to encounter the enemy.
14 December 1916 – Whilst in camp near Gererat a patrol returned from Wadi-el-Arish with information that – “4 wells with a fair supply of water was found, 2 Turks and 5 Bedouins were taken prisoner and a large number of Bedouins were reported in and around Wadi-el-Arish”.
20 December 1916 – Arthur and the 1st Light Horse prepared to move on El-Arish, leaving Gererat at 18.30 the Regiment arrived at 06.30 the following morning to find El-Arish had been evacuated by the enemy –“picquets were posted in town and the two neighbouring villages”. Patrols and lines of outpost were soon sent out, it wasn’t long before the Turkish defences were found.
22 December 1916 – Arthur and the 1st Light Horse left El-Arish at 18.30 and rode for Magdhaba, located some 25 miles inland from the Mediterranean Coast, they would attack the next morning.
23 December 1916 – The Battle of Magdhaba
06.30- Australian, New Zealand and British troops attacked a well defended Ottoman position. Arthur and the 1st Light Horse were involved – “A Squadron escorted the British Ayrshire Battery; B Squadron was in reserve and C Squadron reinforced the right flank. During the day’s fierce fighting the Mounted Division’s tactics of riding as close as possible to the front line before dismounting and attacking with the bayonet proved decisive, being assisted by artillery and machine guns, the Turks surrendered around 15.00”.
At the conclusion of the battle Arthur returned to El-Arish and remained there until the 30th when the Regiment conducted a reconnaissance to “Shiekh Zowaid” – “upon entering the village a camel patrol of enemy about 6 strong was seen to be leaving, no opposition was encountered”. From there the Regiment moved to El-Risa, they remained there for the next week.
8 January 1917 – Arthur and the Regiment broke camp at El-Risa and paraded at 15.30, returning to Shiekh Zowaid the Regiment bivouacked till 01.30 before then moving on Rafa. Located on the frontier to Palestine, Rafa was the Ottomans last defence of the Sinai Desert.
9 January 1917 – The Battle of Rafa – “The 1st Light Horse attacked Rafa at dawn, being in touch with the 2nd Light Horse Regiment and the NZMR Brigade on the right, we were covered by the Ayrshire Battery and machine guns. Enemy were strongly entrenched and reserved their fire until we advanced along the sunken road. Enemy rifle fire commenced at 11.00, our line was held up. At 13.00 we pushed on to a ridge and took 24 prisoners out of enemy trenches. At 14.00 our advance troops were shelled by guns on our right thought to be our own. Casualties at this stage were 2 men killed and 20 wounded. By mid-afternoon with slow progress being made and reserves, ammunition and water getting short it was being considered to call the operation off, but at 15.00 with telegraph communications interrupted and by using the Helio fresh ammunition was brought up in bags and bandoliers. At about 16.00 rapid fire was ordered and about 16.30 the NZMR Brigade was seen coming over hill after succeeding in overrunning the redoubt to their front. The 1st Regiment then charged and the Turks surrendered”.
Casualties were 2 Officers wounded, 3 Other Ranks killed and 29 Other Ranks wounded. After the battle Arthur and the 1st Light Horse returned to Shiekh Zowaid and bivouacked for the night, from there they then returned to camp at El-Risa where it was noted that – “Horses and men were showing signs of fatigue”.
Arthur remained at El-Risa until the 10th February, in what was generally a quiet time the Regiment spent the majority of their time training, cleaning their equipment and undertaking reconnaissance work, the only danger being noted as coming from the German aircraft which flew over the camp most days. Leaving El-Risa, Arthur arrived back at Bir-el-Abd on the 13th February, the following morning he and the 1st Light Horse rode into camp at Bayud.
For Arthur, he was about to have a spell.
22 February 1917 – Arthur was appointed to the 1st Light Horse Training Regiment.
23 February 1917 – Arthur was taken on strength, 1st Light Horse Training Regiment, Moascar, Egypt. The Unit Diary notes – “Captain O.B Ryrie, Lieutenant F.A Guthrie and 8 Other Ranks seconded to 1st Training Regiment, Moascar”. Arthur remained there for the next three months.
13 May 1917 – Arthur was posted – “To School of Instruction, Zeitoun”.
16 June 1917 – Arthur returned from the School of Instruction at Zeitoun, after a three day break he was once again posted to the 1st Light Horse Regiment.
20 June 1917 – Arthur re-joined the 1st Light Horse Regiment, at the time they were out of the line undertaking ten days rest “on beach” at Marakeb. It’s noted that – “3 NCO’s and 7 Other Ranks marched in from the 1st Light Horse Training Regiment”.
Arthur’s return to the Regiment came at an interesting time, while he had been away Allied forces had attempted – on two separate occasions (26 March and 2 April 1917) to take Gaza which was the heart of the main Turkish defences in southern Palestine, both attempts had failed, a third attempt would be made, but instead of a frontal assault on Gaza, Allied forces would attempt an outflanking manoeuvre on the eastern extremity of the Turkish line at Beersheba.
3 July 1917 – Arthur and the 1st Light Horse Regiment moved to El-Gamli where they were involved in preliminary patrols towards Beersheba, remaining in the area until the 18th August, the 1st Light Horse Regiment were once again rested. Taken out of the line, Arthur and the Regiment returned to the rest camp at Marakeb where they remained until the 18th September, they then moved to a camp at “Kilo 9” before finally moving to a rest area on the beach at El Shellal on the 3rd October, the Regiment remained there until the 23rd October 1917. The next day the 1st Light Horse moved on Beersheba.
30 October 1917 – After a six day journey through the desert, moving mainly at night in an attempt to avoid detection, Arthur and the 1st Light Horse Regiment arrived at Asluj, by 17.30 that afternoon the Regiment had joined the 1st Light Horse Brigade near the Asluj Railway Station which was the rendezvous point for the ANZAC Mounted Division’s advance against Beersheba.
Moving into position on the morning of 31st October 1917, the ANZAC Mounted Division found Beersheba strongly defended by a garrison of around 4 000 Turks, knowing the town had to be taken that day due to the fact it held the only water wells in the area (the men and horses of the Light Horse were all but out), the assault was launched at dawn. By mid-afternoon slow progress had been made by the British Infantry and Light Horse Regiments who had been attacking the outlying defences of Beersheba. Something had to be done. With the sun beginning to set and time running out, Lieutenant General Harry Chauvel ordered Brigadier General William Grant, Commanding Officer of the 4th Light Horse Brigade to make a mounted attack directly toward town.
The rest as they say is history.
Arthur and the 1st Light Horse Regiment weren’t involved in the charge, but they played their part in the taking of Beersheba, the Unit Diary notes – “We arrived at a point half a mile South of Khasom Zonna at 10.30am and were detailed to take up a position on the left flank of the Inverness Battery who came into position at 11.00, together we supported the left flank of the 2nd and 3rd Light Horse Regiments who were attacking Tel-el-Saba. During this period our advanced troops were heavily shelled. At 16.10 orders were received to attack on a line between Hill 970 inclusive to the Mosque at Beersheba, which was made good.
The Australian Mounted Division attacked on our left with the 3rd Light Horse Brigade attacking on our right. Orders were then received to hold the line for the night and strengthen the position as much as possible. A and B Squadrons held the line. A few enemy cavalry approached our line during the night but retired on being fired on, one enemy cavalryman being killed. We captured 90 prisoners including 11 Officers”.
By nightfall Beersheba had been taken and the water wells were saved from demolition, the Light Horse had their water.
The fall of Beersheba would once again prove decisive, it would open the way for Gaza to be outflanked. On the 6th November 1917, after fierce fighting Gaza fell when Turkish Forces withdrew and moved further back into Palestine.
Arthur remained at Beersheba for the week following the battle, initially the men were involved in patrolling the front of the line, digging graves and guarding prisoners, they then were involved in several engagements with Turkish outpost positions. The Regiment then began to follow the Turkish retreat north into Palestine.
8 November 1917 – The 1st Light Horse Regiment received orders – “to move toward Tel-el-Nejila at 08.30, always keeping in touch with the 2nd Light Horse Brigade on the left and the 2nd L.H Regiment on the right. Tel-el-Nejila was reached without opposition at 10.00”. This wouldn’t always be the case, as the Light Horse continued to advance they met numerous Turkish rear-guard actions. The advance wouldn’t be easy.
Heading east towards Jerusalem, the 1st Light Horse were in action on the 15th November 1917 – “Received orders at 08.10 to move in conjunction with the 2nd L.H Regiment and British Yeomanry Division and occupy tactical points west of Ramleh. Orders were received at 10.00 to advance on to Ramleh which we occupied without opposition at 11.45. Orders were received at 12.00 to push on to Ludd which was occupied. At 13.30, enemy were observed retreating in a northeast direction from the outskirts of Ludd. B Squadron were ordered forward to attack rear of enemy column, at 13.45 A Squadron was ordered forward to cover the left flank of B Squadron, at 14.00 and in spite of heavy enemy artillery and machine gun fire, 283 Turkish prisoners were taken. Our casualties consisted of 2 Officers and 5 Other Ranks wounded.
Of the 5 Other Ranks wounded, Arthur was one of them, receiving a Gun Shot Wound to the left thigh he was taken back to Ludd where the Regiment bivouacked for the night. The following day (16 August 1917) he was admitted to the 1st Light Horse Field Ambulance. Arthur was then transferred back through the Light Horse’s medical chain.
17 November 1917 – Transferred to Australian Divisional Receiving Station, admitted 18 November. 19 November 1917 -Transferred to the 74th Casualty Clearing Station, admitted 20 November.
21 November 1917 – Transferred and admitted to the 45th Stationary Hospital.
23 November 1917 – Transferred and admitted to the 44th Stationary Hospital at Kantara (On the Suez Canal).
24 November 1917 – Transferred to and admitted to the 14th Australian General Hospital, Port Said. 2 January 1918 – Transferred to and taken on strength, Desert Mounted Corps Rest Camp, Port Said. 20 January 1918 – Having recovered, Arthur was discharged from the Rest Camp and posted to the 1st Light Horse Training Regiment at Moascar.
22 January 1918 – Arthur to re-join 1st Light Horse Regiment.
24 January 1918 – Arthur returned to the 1st Light Horse Regiment, the Unit Diary noting – “Lt W Ross and 15 Other Ranks from 1st Light Horse Training Regiment re-joined”. On his return Arthur found the Regiment out of the line and resting at Ayun Kara, 60kms west of Jerusalem. It would be the middle of February before the Regiment were on the move again. With Jerusalem being taken (9 December 1917), Allied forces then planned to occupy the Jordan Valley, Arthur was involved in several early actions of the campaign, the first being the capture of Jericho which was the gateway to the valley.
16 February 1918 – Arthur and the Regiment left camp and marched with the Brigade to Junction Station – “reached new bivouac area at 15.15”.
17 February 1918 – “Left Junction Station at 09.00 with Brigade and marched to Zakaryia, move completed at 13.00”.
18 February 1918 – “Left Zakaryia and marched to bivouac area just south of Bethlehem near
Solomon’s Pools, move completed at 14.00”.
19 February 1918 – Arthur and the Regiment left their bivouac near Solomon’s Pools to take part in the operations against Jericho, they would play a supporting role – “Proceeded via Bethlehem to Kh Deir Ibn Obeid, the Regiment watered at Ibn Obeid and then descended into the Wadi-en-Nor by a precipitous mountain track, after drawing rations we proceeded to El Muntar and arrived at 21.10. The road was practically unpassable and the column had to proceed dismounted in single file throughout most of the journey”.
20 February 1918 – “The Regiment moved at 04.00 and proceeded to support the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade who were attacking a strongly held enemy position one mile south of Jebel el Kahmun. At 13.30 the NZMR Brigade pushed in, so the enemy fell back to rugged and inaccessible country to the north and east”. At 17.00 Arthur and the Regiment moved down in single file through the narrow gorges of the Wadi Kumron and bivouacked for the night.
21 February 1918 – “The Regiment moved at 04.45 in support of the 3rd Light Horse Regiment who were attacking Neby Musa at 05.30. Neby Musa was reported to be evacuated, so the Regiment moved in the direction of Jericho, orders were then received to support the 2nd Light Horse Regiment who were holding an outpost line from Kabur aial Harb to Wadi-en-Nejimeh”.
22 February 1918 – “Rain fell last night. Received orders to be ready to move with the Brigade at 17.15 to Bethlehem. Moved at 17.30 and marched via the Jericho-Jerusalem Road, drew rations at Tel-el-Dumm at 21.00 and after feeding proceeded to bivouac area which was reached at 04.30. Very cold and wet”. It would take another five days before Arthur and the Regiment returned to their previous bivouac position near Ayun Kara.
A week later (8 March 1918), Arthur and the 1st Light Horse were involved in a successful raid on Tell’Asur, the result of this meant that the front line had been extended further north from Jericho which opened the way for future operations into the Jordan Valley.
It was at this point that General Edmund Allenby (Commander in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force) ordered a raid across the Jordan River, the aim being to attack the tunnels and viaducts of the Hejaz Railway at Amman in the hope of disrupting Turkish communications as well as their access to Damascus. The plan included establishing pontoon bridges across the river at Ghoraniye and Makkadaet Hajla just north of the Dead Sea, this was successfully completed between the 21st and 23rd March, from there the Turkish strongpoint at Es Salt had to be captured and occupied (24-25 March) before then moving on Amman on the 27th March. The raid was a failure, although several kilometres of railway were destroyed the tunnels and viaducts remained in place. Turkish and German resistance proved to be too strong and the Allied force had no choice but to retreat.
It wouldn’t be the last time.
Arthur and the 1st Light Horse were involved in the raid, on the return to their line they took up a defensive position on the Jordan River at Ghoraniye, it wouldn’t be long before Arthur was involved in another raid. This time on Es Salt.
29 April 1918 – 23.30 Arthur and the Regiment left their bivouac area and joined the Brigade who were ready to cross the Ghoraniyeh Bridge to form up under arrangements of the Australian Mounted Division for the attack on Es Salt.
30 April 1918 – 01.20 – Arthur and the Regiment – “Crossed bridge and one Troop of B Squadron was sent out as an advance guard to the Brigade.
03.00 – The Regiment left the Brigade and proceeded to Umm Esh Shert.
03.30 – B Squadron advanced to attack Umm Esh Shert from the south.
06.20 – Occupied Umm Esh Shert and pushed on to Red Hill.
08.30 – Occupied Red Hill and C Squadron were ordered to proceed north of Red Hill. Held this position, but enemy were holding the right bank of the Jordan in considerable force which included a battery of 77mm guns, also a number of machine guns.
14.15 – Message received from Brigade – “that the Regiment would be in readiness to proceed to Es Salt leaving one Squadron and a section of machine guns to hold Red Hill”. B Squadron were detailed.
14.30 – The Regiment less B Squadron moved to Jebel umm Aawe.
16.30 – B Squadron reported that enemy were advancing on Red Hill”.
Arthur and B Squadron along with a machine gun section were now defending Red Hill on their own, there would be no more information until the next morning.
1 May 1918 – 06.00 – A message was received from the 4th Light Horse Brigade that one Squadron of the 11th Light Horse Regiment was to be sent immediately to reinforce a Squadron of ANZACS holding Red Hill. Upon arrival, it was recognised – “that it was essential that Red Hill should be held by us if the Brigade was to remain in position at Jisr ed Damieh, I personally asked the Corps Commander if an additional Regiment could be sent to hold Red Hill, to which I was informed that no troops could be spared for that purpose”.
10.00 – “An enemy attack on Red Hill developed and swept over the position, the Squadrons of the 1st Light Horse Regiment and 11th Light Horse Regiment withdrew to broken ground south of Red Hill”. There would be no more news on B Squadron until they returned to their Regiment on the 5th May, by then the operation on Es Salt had ended due to the strong resistance by Turkish Forces, the 1st Light Horse had by then returned to their position on the Jordan River.
As B Squadron were detached from the 1st Light Horse Regiment at the time, there is no account in the Unit Diary into the action on Red Hill on the 1st May 1918, there is also no mention of any casualties on that day, records now show that they lost one man, sadly after everything that he had been through and only months before the end of the war Corporal Arthur Quarmby was Killed in Action during the fighting at Red Hill on the 1st May 1918, with his body not being able to be recovered, Arthur is now remembered on the Jerusalem Memorial to the Missing which is located at the Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel.
At the time of his death Arthur was 29 years of age.
The Jerusalem War Cemetery and Memorial to the Missing, Israel, and Arthur’s inscription on that memorial.