Australia, Western Australia, Fremantle, HMT Oxfordshire, 10 Light Horse,1919
1919Arrival of Troopship Oxfordshire at Fremantle (formerly 30390) carrying 10 Light Horse
At the outbreak of WW1 the Oxfordshire was requisitioned for war service. Initially converted into a Hospital Ship, and following tasks nearer to the UK, she was sent to Mudros Harbour in Apr 1915 as a Base Hospital Ship, remaining in the region until after the evacuation of Gallipoli. She carried 6 Medical Officers, 13 Nurses and 41 other medical staff to serve accommodation for 22 wounded Officers, 216 other ranks in cots, and 324 in berths. During WW1 she carried in excess of 50,000 wounded to their destinations.
On repatriation duties in 1919, she carried 10 Light Horse as a formed unit from Egypt arriving in Fremantle on 4 August 1919.
She was also requisitioned as a Hospital Ship during WW2 serving in the Mediterranean, Africa and the Pacific including Okinawa. At the conclusion of the war she was used to repatriate the wounded to the UK from Hong Kong.
In 1949 she carried the first refugees from Europe to Australia before finally being sold for charter work and then broken up at Karachi in 1958.
Details
Details
10 Light Horse was raised as a squadron, then a regiment in October 1914.and formed part of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade in Egypt. The Regiment served dismounted in Gallipoli and fought at the charge at the Nek on 7 August 1915, and at Hill 60 on 29-30 August. The only Victoria Cross awarded to a Light Horseman recognised the valour of Lieutenant Hugo Throssell at Hill 60.
After Gallipoli the Regiment was bought up to strength to defended Egypt from the Ottoman Army advancing on the Suez Canal. Through 1916 they drove the Turks across the deserts of Sinai, participating in the battles of Romani and Magdhaba.
In 1917 as part of the Desert Column they advanced into Palestine and participated in the bloody battles to break the Gaza-Beersheba line and helped capture Jerusalem. They participated in the Es Salt Raid in May 1918. In August they were equipped with swords and retrained as cavalry. In this role they took part in the rout of the Ottoman army in the Jordan Valley, a campaign the light horse referred to as "The Great Ride". In September the 10th was the first formed regiment to enter Damascus.
Turkey surrendered on 30 October 1918. After the end of the war, the regiment saw action in putting down the Egyptian uprising of 1919. The Regiment was one of the few to return home as a formed unit arriving in Fremantle on 4 August 1919 on board HMT Oxfordshire.
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Nearest geotagged records:
- World War 2, Australia, Western Australia, Fremantle, HMT Nevassa, 2/11 Battalion, 1940 (0.16km away)
- World War 2, Western Australia, Fortress Fremantle, Arthurs Head Battery, Dismounting Guns, 1943 (0.34km away)
- World War 2, Western Australia, Fortress Fremantle, Arthurs Head Battery, Dismounting Guns, 1943 (0.34km away)
- Inter War, Australia, Western Australia, 35 Fortress Company, Royal Australian Engineers, DAVEY,1930 (0.34km away)
- World War 2, Western Australia, Fortress Fremantle, Arthurs Head Battery, Dismounting Guns, 1943 (0.34km away)
- Pre 1914 - Original Plan for Two 6 inch Guns at Arthur's Head, Fremantle Port, 1903 (1 of 2) (0.34km away)
- Pre 1914 - Original Plan for Two 6 inch Guns at Arthur's Head, Fremantle Port, 1903 (2 of 2) (0.34km away)
- Pre 1914, Magazine Lantern, Fremantle, Fort Arthur Head, 1910 (0.34km away)
- World War 2, Western Australia, Fortress Fremantle, Arthurs Head Battery, Dismounting Guns, 1943 (0.35km away)
- World War 2, Western Australia, Fortress Fremantle, Arthurs Head Battery, Dismounting Guns, 1943 (0.35km away)
View all geotagged records »
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
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