Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private L. H. B. Hudd, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Australian Imperial Forces

1914-15 Star 1556 Pte. L. H. B. Hudd, 9 .... g....[A]I.F.) service number part overstruck, unit details faint; British War and Victory Medals (1556 Pte L. H. B. Hudd, 9 L.H.R. A.I.F.) nearly very fine and better (3) £260-300

Leslie Hilland Bruce Hudd was born in McLaren Vale, South Australia. A Lithographer by occupation and a member of the Public Service Rifle Club, he enlisted into the 9th Light Horse Regiment A.I.F. on 3 September 1915. He embarked for overseas service at Adelaide, aboard the Geelong, 18 November 1915, as part of the 12th Reinforcements to the 9th Light Horse and landed at Egypt. With the unit Hudd served in the raid on the Turkish outpost of Jifjafa in the Sinai, April 1916. On 5 August 1916 he served in the mounted attack on the Turks occupying the high ridge at Hamisah and on 9 August took part in the heavy fighting at Bir el Abd, where the light horsemen were attacked by near overwhelming numbers of Turks. The stubborn steadiness of the Light Horsemen, fighting throughout, in the heat of the day, saved the retreat from becoming a route. Casualties were heavy with eight officers and sixty-five other ranks killed and thirty-three officers and two hundred and ten other ranks wounded. In October 1916 Trooper Hudd was transferred to the H.Q. of the 3rd Light Horse. This unit later took part in the actions at Mazar, El Arish, Magdhaba and Rafa. His papers record that Hudd had several run-ins with authority - noting ‘neglect of duty’ in failing to clean his rifle, in May 1917 and ‘failing to salute an officer’, in August 1918. Hudd returned to Australia aboard the Delta on 2 August 1919.

With copied service papers and a summary of his service.