Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 150 KLOPPER, 10 Light Horse

« Prev Item Next Item »

Subcollections

10 Australian Light Horse - Troopers 1914-1920

Overview

Photograph of 150 Trooper Louis Alfred Klopper from Bridgetown, A Squadron, enlisted 6 December 1914, killed in action at The Nek, 7 August 1915

Historical information

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.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-99-811

Inscriptions and markings

The Nek attack on August 7th at 4:30 am during the Gallipoli Campaign was a tragic military endeavor. The assault began with the 8th Light Horse Regiment forming the first line. However, a misjudgment in the artillery fire cessation, stopping seven minutes early, alerted the well-prepared Turkish forces. Despite a seemingly substantial bombardment, it had minimal impact on the Turkish trenches. When the first line attacked, the Turks were ready and swiftly eliminated them within 30 seconds, leaving only three men from the right of the line reaching the Turkish parapet.
The second line, comprised of the 8th Light Horse Regiment as well, faced a similar fate, being mowed down by Turkish gunfire. The third line, consisting of Western Australians from the 10th Light Horse Regiment, persisted despite attempts by Lieutenant Commander Noel Brazier to cancel the attack. At 4:45 am, the third line went over and faced the same devastating outcome.

Contextual Information

This photograph is part of the extensive Phil Sullivan 10th Light Horse Collection donated to the Army Museum in November 2023.

Public Location