II ANZAC Corps Mounted Regiment
II ANZAC Corps Mounted Regiment XXII Corps Mounted Regiment | |
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Active | 1916–1918 |
Country | Australia New Zealand |
Branch | First World War
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Insignia | |
Unit colour patch |
The II ANZAC Corps Mounted Regiment was a combined mounted unit made up of Australian and New Zealand troops during the
History
The regiment was formed in July 1916 when two Australian
The tactical situation and terrain on the Western Front limited the role of the regiment. In the early part of its involvement on the Western Front it was mainly used in the rear areas, while being held in readiness to respond if there was a breakthrough to exploit, or a rapid penetration of the line by enemy forces to counter.[6] However, it was used in a mobile, mounted role during operations to follow up the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line in early 1917 and was heavily involved at the start of the Battle of Messines later in the year; when the ground became muddy and unsuited to mounted operations, the regiment undertook dismounted duties in the trenches in the Ypres sector of the front.[1] In November 1917 the five Australian infantry divisions were combined to form the Australian Corps and II ANZAC Corps and its remaining New Zealand units were reorganised, becoming part of the British XXII Corps. The regiment was accordingly renamed as the XXII Corps Mounted Regiment at this time. However, unlike the other combined units, the Australian personnel serving in the regiment remained with the corps, being the only Australians to do so.[1]
During April and May 1918, amidst the German spring offensive, the regiment was heavily involved due to the more mobile nature of operations during this phase. Its main engagement during this period came around Mont Kemmel. Once the offensive had been held, the regiment supported French offensive efforts during the Second Battle of the Marne in July. In August, the Allies launched their Hundred Days Offensive, during which the regiment undertook reconnaissance and acted as a screening force as the infantrymen advanced as part of efforts to breach the Hindenburg Line. While most of the Australian Corps was withdrawn for rest and reorganisation in October, the regiment continued fighting until the armistice in November.[7] In this phase of the war, the regiment supported III Corps until September, before returning to the command of XXII Corps, being detached upon request of their corps commander, Lieutenant General Alexander Godley. Its final operations came around Cambrai and Valenciennes.[1]
Following the armistice the XXII Corps Mounted Regiment was disbanded in early December 1918, at which time its Australian personnel were transferred to the
Battle honours
The II ANZAC (XXII Corps) Mounted Regiment received the following battle honours:[1]
- , France and Flanders 1916–18
In 1927, the regiment's battle honours were entrusted to the 4th Light Horse Regiment.[8][9]
Commanding officers
The following officers commanded the II ANZAC (XXII Corps) Mounted Regiment:[1]
- Lieutenant Colonel Leonard Long (1916–1917); and
- Lieutenant Colonel Stanley George Hindhaugh (1917–1918).
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h "II ANZAC (XXII Corps) Mounted Regiment". First World War, 1914–1918 units. Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 96.
- ^ Bou 2010, pp. 146.
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 100.
- ^ Bou 2010, p. 151.
- ^ Hall 1968, p. 42.
- ^ Bou 2010, pp. 151–152.
- ^ Hall 1968, p. 84.
- ^ Festberg 1972, p. 41.
References
- Bou, Jean (2010). Light Horse: A History of Australia's Mounted Arm. Port Melbourne, Victoria: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521197083.
- Festberg, Alfred (1972). The Lineage of the Australian Army. Melbourne, Victoria: Allara Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85887-024-6.
- ISBN 978-0-521-69791-0.
- Hall, Richard John (1968). The Australian Light Horse. Blackburn, Victoria: W.D. Joynt & Co. OCLC 59504.
Further reading
- Holloway, David (1990). Hooves, Wheels and Tracks: A History of the 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment and its Predecessors. Fitzroy, Victoria: Regimental Trustees. ISBN 0-7316-9042-7.
- Smith, Neil (1993). Men of Beersheba: A History of the 4th Light Horse Regiment 1914–1919. Melbourne, Victoria: Mostly Unsung Military History Research and Publications. OCLC 35037932.