Regimental standard of a Turkish infantry regiment captured near Damascus, 1918

Crimson silk regimental standard with a fine single twisted gold fringe on the upper and lower edges, and on the fly. One side of the standard is embroidered in gold bullion thread with the toghra (personal cypher) of the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet V (1909-1918) within a circle. The circle is surrounded by embroidered representations of four regimental flags and various military symbols, including pikes, double-headed axes and trumpets. Beneath is a scroll of leaves from which are suspended, from green embroidered cords, gold embroidered representations of five medals. The other side of the standard is also embroidered in gold and shows two texts from the Koran written in arabic script. They translate as 'There is no god but God' and 'Mohammed, the Messenger of God'. A piece of leather has been sewn inside each end of the hoist to prevent the standard from rubbing against its pole.The standard would originally have been attached to a pole surmounted by a nickel plated crescent moon and brass star. Two gold bullion and crimson silk cords and tassels would also have been attached to the pole.

This standard, carried by a Turkish infantry regiment, was captured near Duma, about nine miles north east of Damascus on 1 October 1918 by Lieutenant H V Emmett of 8 Light Horse Regiment, AIF. His regiment was part of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade which captured 750 Turkish soldiers and eighty machine guns as the Turkish regiment attempted a retreat from Damascus. The number of the Turkish regiment from which it was captured is not known. A second standard was captured the following day by 9 Light Horse Regiment (see RELAWM04772). The standard is one of three captured in Palestine by members of the light horse. All are in the collection of the Australian War Memorial.

Herbert Vaughan Emmett enlisted for service in the First World War on 18 August 1914. He had previous service in the militia with the Army Medical Corps and was assigned to B Section, 1 Light Horse Field Ambulance, with the number 59. Emmett landed on Gallipoli with his unit on 9 May 1915. At the beginning of October he was evacuated to Mudros suffering from typhoid. He then contracted enteric and was moved to Alexandria. After a partial recovery he was sent home to Australia for three months rest, before being allocated to 14 Australian General Hospital.

Emmett returned to the Middle East at the beginning of 1917 and was transferred as a staff sergeant to 4 Light Horse Field Ambulance. He was mentioned in despatches for 'Constant devotion to duty during the period 1st March September 15th and in the action at Atawineh April 19th [1917]'. This last date refers to the Second Battle of Gaza. Emmett undertook officer training in 1918 and joined 8 Light Horse Regiment as a lieutenant on 20 September 1918. He returned to Australia on 2 April 1919. After service in the militia Emmett was placed on the reserve list of officers in 1925. He was recalled to full time duty in November 1940, serving as a major commanding 2/10 Army Troops Company, Royal Australian Engineers. He was discharged in January 1944.