A VERY SCARCE 5TH AUSTRALIAN LIGHT HORSE, PALESTINE 1917, THIRD BATTLE OF GAZA M.M. AWARDED TO AN N.C.O. WHO WAS LATER WOUNDED IN ACTION ON 19 APRIL 1918 WHEN HIS REGIMENT WAS OPERATING AROUND JERICHO NEAR THE RIVER JORDAN. HIS WOUNDS WERE SO SEVERE HE WOULD BE RETURNED TO AUSTRALIA TO BE DISCHARGED

MILITARY MEDAL, G.V.R. ‘876 L.CPL H. A. JOHNSON: 5/AUSTR:L.H.R.’

M.M. London Gazette 2 April 1918

Harold Ambrose Johnson was born at Sandford, Essex in 1891 and moved to Australia before the Great War. He enlisted into the Australian Imperial Forces on 15 March 1915, joining the 5th Australian Light Horse as part of the 4th Reinforcements at Gallipoli at 25 May 1915. The Regiment was raised in Brisbane in September 1914, entirely from men who enlisted in Queensland and became part of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade. The Brigade had itself had landed in mid May 1915 and was attached to the 1st Australian Division. The 5th Light Horse played a defensive role for most of the campaign but saw particular hard service around ‘Wilson's Lookout’ during October and November, during which time it was severely depleted by illness. Johnson was one of the latter and was invalided to Hospital on 24 November with Cellulitis and transported to Tigne Hospital on Malta.

Johnson transferred to All Saints Camp, Malta on 14 December and was discharged by 20 December, the day the 2nd Light Horse Brigade left the Gallipoli Peninsular. Travelling to Egypt he disembarked at Alexandria on 26 December 1915 and marched with his regiment to Maadi in February 1916, when the 2nd Light Horse Brigade became part of the ANZAC Mounted Division. Here they joined the forces defending the Suez Canal from a Turkish advance across the Sinai Desert. The 5th Light Horse's main activity in the Sinai over the next few months would be long-range patrolling. Falling ill again, Johnson was admitted to Hospital, this time with Appendicitis and taken to 31 General Hospital at Port Said on 10 June 1916. Rejoining his unit at Dueidar on 12 October 1916, he was promoted Lance Corporal, 14 May 1917.

During 1917, the 5th's work predominantly continued to be patrols and raids until the advance stalled before the Turkish bastion of Gaza. The regiment participated in all three battles aimed at capturing the town, most notably the first abortive attempt on 27 March 1917. On this occasion the 5th attacked Gaza from the rear and was fighting its way through streets and gardens when ordered to withdraw. At the battle of Beersheba in late October, it helped to secure the Jerusalem road, and captured Tel el Sakaty. In November, the Regiment took part in the pursuit of the retreating Ottoman forces after the Third Battle of Gaza and it was for his actions during the latter period that Johnson would be awarded the M.M. His service papers noting he was awarded the Military Medal for ‘Gallantry and devotion to duty in the Field’ on 30 November 1917. Though this is likely the confirmation date of award as opposed the date of the deed.

With the fall of Gaza on 7 November 1917, the Turkish position in southern Palestine collapsed. The 5th was involved in the pursuit that followed, and then spent much of the first half of 1918 holding the west bank of the Jordan River. During this time it was involved in the Amman; 24-27 February. Johnson was wounded on 19 April 1918, suffering a gunshot wound to the foot and a shrapnel wound to the buttock. At this time the 5th Light Horse were operating patrols in the vicinity of Jericho, having just crossed the River Jordan that day. Johnson was admitted to 14th Army General Hospital on 25 May 1918. His wounds were of a severe enough nature that in on 12 July 1918 he was returned to Australia for discharge from the Army.

5TH LIGHT HORSE MILITARY MEDALS

The 5th Light Horse War Diary for list the award of nine M.M’s and one M.C. (Lieutenant Ogg) for honours gained during the month of November 1917 – Johnson noted here incorrectly as 976 Richards (who was not an M.M. recipient). Like Johnson, seven of the other men from the 5th Light Horse on official recommendation pages have no citations. They are simply marked as “Deed Not Available”. Just one of the nine; Corporal Mouritz, has a citation but this recommendation is for September 1917. Another of the nine; Sergeant Cox, is mentioned in the Regimental history as having performed a lone deed of gallantry in November 1917 but has no citation. This leaves seven men (including Johnson) with no specific reason for their award. As such presumably the citations for the 5th Light Horse have been filed somewhere else and yet to be located. Lieutenant Ogg awarded MC for taking two guns with his troop and it is probable some of these will be for this action also.

Lance Corporal Johnson’s award is one of just eighteen M.M.’s awarded to the 5th Light Horse during the Great War.

A transcription of the 5th Light Horse Regimental history can be found here:
https://www.anzacs.org/5lhr/pages/5lhr_history_full_a.html

Details on the 2nd Light Horse Brigade here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Light_Horse_Brigade

Condition VF. Sold together with a file of research including service records, Gazettes, Pages from War Diary November 1917 and April 1918 and other research. A very scarce award to the 5th Light Horse.