Picture of a Diorama depicting the battle of Romani in 1916. (The Australian counter - attack at Romani in August 1916 was the turning point of the war in Palestine) Photographed by Uwe Steinward. Produced by the Australian War Memorial.postcard, photograph, worl war 1, battle of romani, palestine, uwe steinward

(Then) Major Royston on ‘Bill.’ John Robinson Royston was born in South Africa in 1860, served in the Zulu and Boer Wars and in 1916 was sent to Egypt where he became Colonel of the 12th Australian Light Horse. His bold personality won him the admiration of his men and his courage at the battle of Romani in August 1916 gained him the nickname “Galloping Jack.” A massively built man, he was promoted to Brigadier-General but abruptly left the Light Horse in October 1917.john robinson royston, light horse, galloping jack, aif, a.i.f, ww1, world war 1

The 2nd Light Horse Regiment was raised at Enoggera in Queensland on 18 August 1914. Its recruits came mainly from Queensland but some hailed from the northern rivers district of New South Wales. The 2nd was one of three regiments of the 1st Light Horse Brigade – the first Australian mounted formation raised by Australia during the First World War. The regiment sailed from Brisbane on 25 September and disembarked in Egypt on 9 December. The 2nd Light Horse Regiment deployed to Gallipoli without its horses and landed there on 12 May 1915, joining the New Zealand and Australian Division. It played a defensive role for most of the campaign but did attack the Turkish trenches opposite Quinn’s Post, one of the most contested positions along the ANZAC Line. The first assault wave was mown down and fortunately the officer commanding the attack had the wisdom and courage to call it off. The 2nd was withdrawn from the front line in September and left the peninsula on 18 December. Back in Egypt, the 2nd Light Horse joined the ANZAC Mounted Division. Between January and May 1916, the regiment was deployed to protect the Nile valley from bands of pro-Turkish Senussi Arabs. On 18 May, as part of its parent brigade, it joined the forces defending the Suez Canal. The 1st Light Horse Brigade played a significant role in turning back the Turkish advance on the canal at the battle of Romani on 4 August. In ensuing days the regiments of the brigade participated in the immediate follow-up of the defeated Turks, but were soon withdrawn to rest. The 2nd Light Horse Regiment rejoined the Allied advance across the Sinai in November and was subsequently involved in the fighting to secure the Turkish outposts on the Palestine frontier – Maghdaba on 23 December 1916 and Rafa on 9 January 1917. A stint of protective duty along the line of communications through the Sinai followed. The 2nd’s next major engagement was the abortive second battle of Gaza on 19 April. Gaza finally fell on 7 November, after a wide outflanking move via Beersheba, in which the 1st Light Horse Brigade played a part. With the capture of Gaza, the Turkish position in southern Palestine collapsed. The 2nd Light Horse Regiment participated in the advance to Jaffa that followed, and was then committed to operations to clear and occupy the west bank of the Jordan River. It was involved in the Amman (24–27 February) and Es Salt (30 April–4 May) raids and the repulse of a major German and Turkish attack on 14 July 1918. The final British offensive of the campaign was launched along the Mediterranean coast on 19 September 1918, with the ANZAC Mounted Division taking part in a subsidiary effort east of the Jordan aimed at Amman. Turkey surrendered on 30 October 1918. The 2nd Light Horse Regiment sailed for Australia on 13 March 1919 without their horses, which were either shot or transferred to Indian cavalry units. Events in the daily routine of the soldier were signalled by bugle and trumpet calls. This trumpet is signicant because historically, it was issued to the 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment in 1912. This Regiment served with distinction in Gallipoli and Palestine in World War 1. It is probable, but not confirmed, that tthe trumpet was used by the Regiment during these operations. Each light horse regiment was divided into four squadrons. Each squadron had a trumpeter sergeant, equipped with a cavalry trumpet, who was employed at the Squadron Headquarters Technically called a cavalry trumpet, this brass instrument can be described as a "simple trumpet" ie. the direct forerunner of the modern valve trumpet. It is in E flat not B flat as is the bugle. Both were carried slung over the player's body by means of green tasselled cords.Crest with inscription: "Exposition Universelle De Paris" with circular logo with inscribed "1900". "Hors Concours Membre De Jury". Logo formed of initials (not deciphered). "Couesnon Cie 94 Rue Dangouleme Paris". Bomb burst type logo with "01" in centre. "W H Paling & Co Ltd Sydney NSW Brisbane" On bell: "Mounted Rifles (2nd ALH)" trumpet, cavalry, musical instrument, 2nd light horse, mounted rifles

A soldier's book produced almost entirely by soldiers in the field under active service conditions to send to their friends in Australia and abroad. Australian Lighthorse men is a type peculiar his own and has no counterpart in h is NZ brother. His fearlessness, initiative and endurance, and his adaptability to almost any task, are due to the adventurous life he leads in his own country where he has been accustomed to long hours in the saddle, day and night, and to facing danger of all sorts from his earliest youth.Brown front and back hardcover with dark brown text 'Australia in Palestine' with a light horseman framed in centre of front cover. The spine is green with text Australia in Palestine, Angus and Robertson bottom of spine. Evidence of water on front cover. Silverfish have eaten top right hand corner of first two pages. Farm scene in four boxes with AR in the lower corner of each square. Inside front and back covers are illustrations of a camel train and came corps in the desert with the rising sun in the background with a mountain. There is a grave and white cross in their foreground right lower corner Illustrations, photographs, poems, short stories, Centre foldout of the Battle for Richon Le Zion and Battle of Beersheba and after the Battle of Bir El Abed To the memory of fallen comrades. Pen mark inside W. Mathews Larabattle of beersheba, battle of richon ze zion, battle of bir er abd, camel corps, lighthorse, slush light, sir h.g. chauvel, mounted division at kantara, medical services, signal engineers, katia oasis, new zealand mounted troops, sir edmund h allenby, walers story, 5th lighthorse, romani, ww1, world war 1, australian army