Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Albert Edward PLAYER was born in Angaston South Australia on 11.09.1885 to Edward PLAYER (1856 – 1932) and Elizabeth PEPPERELL (1856 – 1912). They married 27.04.1882 at Penrice Angaston South Australia.

When World War 1 commenced Albert Edward PLAYER was working on his father’s farm at Square Top near Dalby, Queensland.

Albert voluntarily enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) at Enoggera near Brisbane, Queensland on the 7th of November 1914, was assigned Regimental Number 532.

He was appointed to the 5th Light Horse Regiment, C Squadron. The 5th Light Horse Regiment was raised in Brisbane in September 1914 and consisted entirely of men who enlisted in Queensland. As more than the necessary number of men had volunteered, testing in riding and shooting was carried out and a selection of suitable men was made. After equipment and horses were issued, musketry and other training was carried out.

On the morning of the 20th the 5ALHR embarked on the HMAT A34 Persic and in the afternoon of that day moved into the harbour. On the morning of the 21st of December 1914, the troopship left Port Jackson, bound for Egypt. After stopping at Albany, Western Australia for three days to join the first AIF convoy, the convoy left Albany on the 31st of December 1914 and arrived at Aden on the 20th of January 1915. After passing through the Suez Canal they arrived at Alexandria, Egypt on the 1st of February 1915, immediately disembarked and en-trained for Cairo where they arrived the same evening. The horses were then led from Cairo Railway Station to Maadi, 16 km away as it was not considered advisable to ride the horses after six weeks on board ship. Once in camp, training for mounted operations was commenced.

The Light Horse were considered unsuitable for the initial operations at Gallipoli however were later deployed without their horses to reinforce the infantry. On the 15th of May as a dismounted unit, the 5ALHR railed from Cairo to Alexandria at daybreak the next day, they embarked on to the HMAT A25 Lutzow for Gallipoli.

Private PLAYER was admitted with measles to the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance at Maadi on the 15th of March and was discharged to duty ten days later.

On the morning of the 20th of May the troops landed at Anzac Cove under shell fire from the Turkish batteries and that night bivouacked in Monash Gully.

The following day the men of the 5ALHR were digging in and digging communication trenches. On the 24th of May an armistice was agreed upon between the Australian and Turkish Forces to bury the vast number of Turkish dead who were lying between the two sets of trenches. By the end of the month, the Regiment was occupying the front line in the southern sector of the ANZAC positions with ‘C’ Squadron occupying an area at Sapper's Post in the southern sector of the Anzac positions.

The 5ALHR played a defensive role for most of its time at Gallipoli. On the 29th of June 1915, the men took over the line from the Beach to Harris Ridge, and this line formed the base of the Regiment's position up to the end of November. During July active patrolling took place along Harris Ridge and along the beach towards Gaba Tepe and into Poppy Valley and on the night of the 31st of July an attack was made on the Turkish trenches in front of Tasmania Post.

Private PLAYER was admitted with influenza to hospital at Gallipoli on the 4th of August 1915 and later transferred offshore to the HT Ionian. On the 9th of August 1915 he was admitted with influenza to the No 1 Australian General Hospital at Heliopolis from where, three days later, he was transferred to the Australian & New Zealand Convalescent Camp at Helouan, about 32 km from Cairo. He was discharged to duty on the 19th of August.

Private PLAYER travelled back to Anzac and, on the 28th of August 1915, re-joined the 5ALHR in the vicinity of Chatham's Post.

Towards the end of October it was observed that the Turks were building new works near Chatham's Post and, on the 3rd of November 1915, instructions were received to form a post 110m in front of Chatham's Post with the object of preventing the enemy from occupying the ground. By the following evening the post was ready to withstand any assault and that night the Turks attacked but were repulsed.

On the 5th of November 1915 Private PLAYER was slightly wounded with a Gun Shot Wound to his back but remained with his unit.

Life in the trenches was very strenuous as the "front" faced an arc of more than 180 degrees. The enemy guns were less than 1.8 km from the lines, machine guns and artillery from Gaba Tepe fired into the area, and enemy artillery opposite Lone Pine also shelled the trenches. Apart from "Broomstick" bombs (grenades) falling day and night, the enemy trenches either over-looked them or were in proximity. Casualties through battle and sickness were very heavy and the men were on duty three out of every four nights.

On the 26th of November 1915 the 5ALHR took over Ryrie's Post and during the next three weeks casualties amounted to 17 killed, 64 wounded and 89 evacuated because of sickness. On the 27th of November 1915 it snowed, freezing the ground. The cold distressed the men as at this time there was no cover except for each man's oil-sheet and very limited means of artificial warmth due to lack of firewood.

Due to the freezing weather the water ration was reduced to two pints per man per day owing to the freezing of the water pipes. This reduced amount of water meant that the vegetables, rice, and dried fruit issued could not be used and the troops had to live on bully beef and biscuit. Also, there was no fresh bread as there was no water with which to bake it.

Instructions were confirmed on the 17th of December 1915 for the evacuation of Gallipoli with Private PLAYER to be in the group that left on the night of December 19th/20th.

After transfer to Mudros, the men embarked on to the HT Beltana from which they disembarked at Alexandria on the 25th of December 1915. The troops en-trained the same night for Cairo, de-training at Helmieh the next day. On the morning of the 27th of December 1915, the Regiment went to Maadi and occupied the old camp. At Maadi, the 5ALHR was reorganised and trained as a mounted unit as part of the ANZAC Mounted Division.

On the 23rd of February 1916 the Regiment moved from Maadi to Serapeum on the Suez Canal, en-training at Abu-El-Ela Station. On arriving at Serapeum, part of the Regiment was engaged in occupying the Suez Canal Defences - 'B' Squadron (dismounted) occupied the inner line at Serapeum on the East Bank Defences, while 'C' Squadron (mounted) occupied the post at Devorsoir on the Canal, some few miles to the South.

On the 4th of April the 5ALHR moved from Serapeum to Moascar en route to Salhia, where it arrived the next. The Regiment remained at Salhia from the 5th to the 22nd of April, the time being occupied in training. On the 22nd of April the 5ALHR marched from Salhia to Kantara and the next day moved to Dueidar and when “C” Squadron arrived at Dueidar it found the Turkish rear-guard firing into that post. Action was taken to improve the defences of the post and a communication trench was dug and other posts were established around the oasis.

During April through to early August 1916 not only did the men undertake numerous long-range patrols to the east and southeast of Dueidar, they also undertook additional training, including silently moving camp at night. Then in early August it participated in several small engagements as the Turks retreated after their defeat at Romani. On the 5th of August the 5ALHR and the 3ALHRB moved from Dueidar to Nuss. From here over sand upon which was scattered small brush and with bayonets fixed on the rifles, the 5ALHR was one of the five mounted units that undertook a mounted charge on Turkish position at Qatia Oasis and, as they approached the objective, machine guns, rifles and artillery opened fire.

Here Trooper PLAYER was severely wounded on the 5th of August 1916 when he sustained a gun shot wound to the face and shoulder.

He was admitted to the British-run No 26 Casualty Clearing Station at El Arish from where he was transported by Ambulance Train to Egypt and admitted to the No 1 Australian Stationary Hospital at Ismailia. From here he undertook another Ambulance Train trip and was admitted to the No 3 Australian General Hospital at Abbassia on the 11th of August. After recovery he was transferred to the British Red Cross operated Mustapha Convalescent Camp at Alexandria on the 28th of August. From here, on the 1st of September, he was discharged with Class A fitness to the 2nd Australian Light Horse Training Regiment at Moascar.

Private PLAYER re-joined the 5ALHR on the 8th of September 1916 when it was headquartered at Hod el Fatar on outpost duty at Hod el Homossia.

On the 16th of September 1916 the 5ALHR, attached to the 3ALHB, moved to be 11 km east of Mazar in readiness to attack. The next day the operation against Mazar was unsuccessful as, finding they were outnumbered by the enemy, they retreated to Salmana after a long and tiring day for both the men and the horses.

For the rest of September 1916, the 5ALHR was on outpost duty at Hod-el-Bada, Bir el Abd and Hod-el-Hisha before moving back to Dueidar, where it arrived on the 2nd of October. During October and November, the Regiment was engaged in patrols as well as re-organising and recuperating.

While at Dueidar Trooper PLAYER, remaining with the 5ALHR, was assigned the rank of Driver on the 26th of November 1916.

The 5ALHR left Dueidar on the 28th of November and, travelling via Romani and Khirba reached Hod el Batar three days later. December 1916 saw the Regiment stationed at Hod el Batar. On the 2nd of January 1917 the Regiment moved to Hod el Ge'eila where the men were involved in patrols as well as looked for water supplies. On the 2nd of February the Regiment moved to Mazar where it remained for five days before marching to Mas'aid, a tented camp in a large oasis near the beach. On the 22nd of February the men marched through El Arish towards Khan Yunus and then with the rest of the Brigade to a camp on the beach northwest of Sheikh Zowaiid. On the 27th the men marched about 15 miles (24 km) east to El Badari where they acted as cover to various parties undertaking reconnaissance. Early March saw the 5ALHR involved in reconnaissance near Khan Yunus, El Fukhari and in the Rafa to Tel el Makereb area.

Driver PLAYER was detached to the Divisional Train at Wadi Sheikh Nuran on the 18th of March 1917. The Train provided logistic support and supply units and, using horse-drawn transport, moved baggage, food, water, and equipment as well as provided maintenance to the Regiment.

On the 14th of May 1917 he was Extra Regimentally Employed (ie posted away from the 5ALHR) with the Anzac Division Transport at El Gamli.

On the 20th of September 1917 Driver PLAYER reported from the 2nd Light Horse Brigade Train to the 5ALHR which was at Kazar where the men were undertaking training (physical exercise, musketry). The next day saw the men start a 6-hour ride that took them to Esani and three days later they had moved to Asluj where over-night reconnaissance and day patrols were carried out. On the night of the 30th of October, the 5ALHR started from Asluj and at dawn next morning the 2nd Light Horse Brigade attacked the entrenched hill of Tel-el-Sakaty. This was captured about one o'clock and about half an hour later the men were on the Hebron-Be'er Sheva (Beersheba) Road. The general battle lasted all day and the charge of the 4th Light Horse Brigade at dusk over successive lines of trenches finally captured the Be'er Sheva position.

The Third Battle of Gaza was fought on the 1st of November and together with attacks on Hareira and Sheria on 6th of November and the continuing Battle of Tel el Khuweilfe, it eventually broke the Gaza to Be'er Sheva line and with the fall of Gaza on the 7th of November 1917, the Turkish position in southern Palestine collapsed.

The pursuit of the enemy continued until the 18th of November 1917 when an entrenched outpost line was taken up 3 km west of Ludd on the Jaffa – Ludd defensive line. On the 12th of December the men moved to near Esdud and there was now a lull in operations and the men strained, weather permitting. Christmas Day 1917 was spent at Esdud in wet and cold weather. On the 28th of December the 5ALHR was ordered to Richon Le Zion, a 5½ hour ride on a road heavy and in places boggy on the black soil flats. Upon arrival at Richon they were ordered to return, another 5½ hours trekking back to Esdud. On the 31st of December a disinfecting parade was held at the Esdud railway siding.

The lull in military operations continued through January and February 1918 and although the weather was often very wet, there was no rest from training. On the 13th of January the 5ALHR moved from Esdud to Wadi Hanein and formed a permanent camp. Here the men trained (physical exercise, dismounted drill including bayonet fighting, rifle exercises and assault practices) however it was not all training as there were camp and horse duties and on the 24th of January the Brigade Sports were held. On the 8th of March 1918 voting in the Queensland State election was carried out. Owing to the presence of several canteens and the YMCA, there was very little sickness in camp.

On the 14th of March the 5ALHR started a move in cold and windy weather via Ramleh to Latron where they waited for three days before moving on via Enab to Jerusalem where the men bivouacked near the Old City. Leaving Jerusalem on the 21st the 5ALHR camped at Wadi Ektief for two days then in the early hours of the 24th of March they crossed the River Jordan at Hadjula ford over a pontoon bridge. Here they found that the country was so boggy after the heavy rain it was impossible to move anywhere except along the formed roads.

The First Battle of Amman commenced on the 27th of March 1918 when the 5ALHR, as part of the Anzac Mounted Division (and along with the 60th London Division), attacked the Ottoman garrison at Amman deep in enemy occupied territory, 48 km from their front line.

Owing to the rain and cold there was great hardship for both the men and the horses. The men, who were exhausted due to lack of sleep, marching and fighting day and night, were also wet through for days at a time and, as all were travelling light with no transport available, there was no chance of a change of clothes or getting dry until the fine weather came. Also the open countryside was rough and muddy with many of the “roads” being no more than goat tracks meaning that the horses were often led had to be led.

On the night of the 2nd of April 1918, the 5ALHR crossed the Jordan River and camped about 1.5 km south of Jericho then two days later took up position in an outpost line covering the Ghoraniye Crossing bridgehead about 8 km east of Jericho. As it was extremely hot in the Jordan valley in summer, patrols were carried out around dawn each day.

The 5ALHR crossed the Ghoraniye pontoon bridge one at a time on the 15th of April as it moved to Tel es Sultan, 5 km north of Jericho where the weather was very hot and the flies bad. Three days later the 5ALHR moved to be 2 km west of the Ghoraniye pontoon bridge where they went into bivouac. In the early hours of the 19th the 5ALHR, as part of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade, moved back across the Jordan at Ghoraniye and undertook reconnaissance work in the vicinity of Kabr Mujahid. The next day they bivouacked at Wadi Nueiame, about 5 km northwest of Jericho, where it was very hot, and the flies were still bad. After six days here they moved to camp at Wadi Kelt, about a 1.5 km south of Jericho.

Then on the night of the 27th of April the men crossed the Jordan River over the Ghoraniye pontoon bridge and marched another 8 km to Wadi Hajla ford where they acted as guard for the Brigade. On the 29th three days emergency rations for each man and two days forage for each horse were drawn and the 5ALHR moved to the Brigade assembly point in the Butmut Halul area and took cover in gullies near the Jordan River. On the 30th of April the 5ALHR moved with the Brigade which was, again, unsuccessful in the raid at Es Salt. They withdrew and overnight the men of the 5ALHR dismounted and lead their horses along a very precipitous and rough road to the Brigade Headquarters about 3 km from Es Salt.

Over the next days the men undertook a minor operation along the Umm es Shirt to – Es Salt Road where, apart from repelling the Turkish attacks, lack of sleep was the greatest hardship. On the 5th of May the 5ALHR bivouacked about a 1.5 km south of Jericho where camp and horse duties occupied the men then on the 12th, they moved camp to the north of Jericho where the weather was extremely hot and the wind blew dense clouds of dust. Whilst here the men furnished working parties for roadmaking and trench digging. On the 22nd of May the 2ALHB took over a section of outpost line in the Wadi Auja (about 10 km north of Jericho) and daily patrols were made.

On the night of the 5th of June, the 5ALHR moved to Talaat-ed-Dumm (about 8 km west-southwest of Jericho) where they had a day’s stay in the excessive heat and the dust storms. They then moved at night and, although initially the night was hot, a cold change came through. They bivouacked about 5 km south of Solomon’s Pools area and, after travelling all night, the men and horses were very tired. Here camp and horse duties as well as training (bayonet fighting, signalling, range practice with the Hotchkiss rifle) were undertaken and day leave was granted to go sightseeing in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The 5ALHR left here on the 21st of June and going via Jerusalem and Talaat ed Dumm they arrived at their bivouac area about a mile north of Jericho the next day. Here in the Jordan Valley the Regiment took over a series of detached posts in the Wadi Mellahah as part of the defence of the west bank of the Jordan River. Activity was quiet with early morning patrols and work on improving and strengthening the defences carried out in the evenings.

On the 17th of July the 5ALHR went into reserve in the Wadi Auja then on the night of the 29th they moved to Talaat-ed-Dumm where they bivouacked for ten days.

They moved back to Solomon’s Pools on the 10th of August and here the weather here was, in marked contrast to the heat of the Jordan Valley, refreshingly cool. The 5ALHR left Solomon’s Pools on the 25th of August and moved to the Auja bridgehead where night Observation Posts were established, and daily patrols conducted to watch for any enemy movement.

During the beginning of September, the weather in the Jordan valley was unusually hot however daily patrols and reconnaissance work round Ghoraniyeh were conducted. It was common to see small parties of Turkish deserters coming into camp or surrendering to the patrols.

In late September 1918 the 5ALHR took part in an offensive east of the Jordan River where it attacked at Amman on the 25th and again on the 29th of September culminating in the surrender of some 4,500 Turks to just two squadrons from the Regiment at Ziza (about 19 km south of Amman), Turkey.

The 1st of October was spent resting after the Ziza operations then the next day the 5ALHR moved to Wadi Amman and the following day to Kasr Hajla Monastery (also known as the Monastery of St. John, Hajla). After a stay at Taalat ed Dumm on the 8th the 5ALHR moved to camp at the Mount of Olives where the men were able to sightsee in the Old City of Jerusalem.

By the 14th of October the men were at Wadi Hanein where camp routine, training and (rare) sports activities were undertaken and, due to the changes in climate, many men were attending sick parades with malaria.

Driver PLAYER was admitted to the No 76 Casualty Clearing Station at Ludd on the 17th of October 1918. From here he was admitted with malaria to the 14th Australian General Hospital at Port Said on the 23rd of October where he recovered without relapses.

The Ottoman Empire signed the Armistice of Mudros on the 30th of October 1918 and hostilities ceased. This turned out to be the beginning of the end as eleven days later the Armistice was signed and hostilities ceased on the Western Front.

A Regimental Diary note on the 31st of October 1918 noted that of those original members of the Regiment who sailed from Australia in 1914, of which Driver PLAYER was one, there now remained 15 officers and 79 other ranks, of which 48 are NCO.'s.

Driver PLAYER was discharged to the Desert Mounted Corps Rest Camp at Port Said on the 23rd of November 1918.

Driver Albert PLAYER embarked on the HT Argyllshire at Suez on the 23rd of December 1918, disembarking at Melbourne on the 12th of February 1919. He made his way overland to Brisbane where, having completed his period of enlistment, he was discharged from the AIF on the 15th of April 1919.

Driver PLAYER spent four years five months and nine days (1621 days) in the AIF, of which he spent four years one month and 23 days (1515 days) abroad.

He is a brother of Humphrey William Player who returned to Australia in 1918.

At Kaimkillenbun on the 17th of December 1918, Wambo Shire certificates were distributed to returned soldiers from the district, one recipient being Albert Player.

He is remembered on the Congregational Church Honour Roll at Angaston, South Australia, on the Honour Roll in St Giles Presbyterian Church in Bell, Queensland, on the Honour Board in St Mary’s Church of England, Kaimkillenbun and on the War Memorial at Kaimkillenbun, Queensland.