Sources of information used in the compilation of the list of soldiers
who passed through the 5th Light Horse Regiment 1914 - 1919:
First and foremost source of names and basic details is the nominal roll found in the 5th Light Horse Regiment's history:
Wilson, L.C. and Wetherell, H. History Of The Fifth Light Horse Regiment ,1914 - 1919 Motor Press, Sydney, 1926.
The second major source is AWM 8, the embarkation roll for the 5th Light Horse Regiment. This roll lists all those who embarked with the unit and includes details such as occupation, next of kin and so on. For this reason, if a soldier transferred into the 5th from another unit, these details are in most cases not yet included, as I have not gone through each of these 'contibutory' units' embarkation rolls. This is most particularly noticeable in soldiers who joined from the 11th Light Horse in 1915. The 11th was broken up at Gallipoli and its members sent to reinforce other units. It was reformed in 1916. As I have not yet transferred details from AWM 8 for the 11th LHR, many details will appear as 'unknown' on these records.
The roll lists all those who served with the regiment, as well as those who, though initially intended as reinforcements, were 'not taken on strength' (NTOS) of the regiment. This means that, though they reported to the unit, they were never officially taken on the roll books. In most cases they were transferred to another unit.
Other sources of information include various histories, particularly Bean's
and Cutlack's, and Idriess's 'The Desert Column', but also smaller and more
obscure ones. In some cases I met, or otherwise contacted, the families of men
mentioned and received more information from them.
Transfers into and out of the regiment:
It will be noted that, when a soldier transferred out of the regiment, I usually do not know his date of discharge from the army. This information may now be readily found in the AWM's online database of the complete nominal roll of the AIF.
Please note also that, though I list the unit from which a soldier was transferred to join the 5th LHR, I do not know whether this was his original unit, or whether he had already been transferred between units prior to joining the 5th. The same holds for the listing of a unit to which he was transferred. Possibly he was again transferred at a later date from the unit mentioned, but in most cases I have no way of knowing this.
Date Joined:
The date of joining the regiment given in these records is NOT necessarily their enlistment date into the AIF. The two can be completely separate dates. The day the soldier actually physically reported to the unit and was 'Taken on Strength' is the date I have listed. Of course in some cases enlistment date and date of joining are the same.
Important Disclaimer: Please read.