12th Light Horse Regiment (Australia)
12th Light Horse Regiment | |
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First World War
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Unit colour patch |
The 12th Light Horse Regiment was a mounted unit of the
In 1921, as part of a re-organisation of Australia's military following the disbandment of the AIF, the regiment was re-raised as a part-time unit of the
History
Formation and training
The 12th Light Horse Regiment was established on 1 March 1915
Following this, the regiment undertook basic training including weapons handling, ceremonial drill, mounted and dismounted tactics and regimental manoeuvres. In late April, they marched through the centre of Sydney as part of a farewell before deploying overseas. On 11 June, after the brigade had concentrated, the regiment embarked upon the troopship
On 11 July, the 4th Light Horse Brigade received orders to interrupt its journey to Egypt and instead disembark at
Gallipoli
Elsewhere, the
For the remainder of the campaign, about 600 men from the regiment – including a batch of reinforcements that arrived in early October – carried out mainly defensive duties before leaving with the last Australian troops to be evacuated from the peninsula on 20 December.[15] They did not take part in any large-scale battles, but were involved in fighting off a number of sharp attacks. The exact number of casualties suffered is not known, but 18 men from the regiment are known to have been killed in this time.[16]
Sinai
Following their evacuation from Gallipoli, the regiment was reconstituted on 22 February 1916 when all three squadrons assembled at Heliopolis.[17] Under a new commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel John Royston – a veteran of the Boer War who had replaced Abbott after the latter had been sent to England – the regiment began to re-form.[18] At the time of re-forming, it had been intended that the 12th would be assigned to the 5th Division as its divisional light horse regiment; however, it was decided to reduce the size of divisional light horse components to a squadron, and the 12th were removed from the 5th Division's order of battle.[19] Although other units, such as part of the 4th and all of the 13th Light Horse Regiment, were sent to Europe to fight on the Western Front,[11] the 12th, along with the bulk of the Australian light horse units, were to remain in the Middle East, where they would take part in the Sinai and Palestine campaign. Initially, the regiment was not brigaded and served as a detached unit.[17][11]
After conducting infantry training around
Later that month, the 12th were relieved at Dueidar and moved back to Heliopolis. While there, Lieutenant Colonel Harold McIntosh took command of the regiment following Royston's elevation to temporary commander of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade.[20] On 27 July the regiment, without its machine-gun section which had been detached to the 2nd Light Horse Brigade, was sent to Gebel Habeita to relieve the 9th Light Horse Regiment. After undertaking the first part of the journey to Seraphum by train, they marched the rest of the way.[20] In early August, Ottoman forces launched an attack in the Battle of Romani. During this fighting, the 12th Light Horse Regiment provided flank protection, carrying out patrols, and was not directly engaged except for its machine-gun section.[21]
In early September, the regiment moved to Bayoud where they were attached to a British column along with the 11th Light Horse Regiment, a regiment from the
In early October, while at Mageibra, the regiment received orders that they were to be remounted on camels and be re-designated as the "2nd Australian Camel Regiment", but largely the regiment continued to refer to itself by its old designation.[26] This was due to a plan to convert both the 11th and 12th Light Horse Regiments to cameleers; however, it did not occur.[27] In late October, the 12th were sent to the rear to rest, arriving at the railhead at El Ferdan on the Suez. 'A' Squadron established itself there, while 'B' and 'C' Squadrons and the Machine-Gun Section were sent to Ferry Post. During this time they undertook frequent patrols, with 'A' Squadron permanently detaching a troop to Badar Mahadat.[28]
Palestine
In early 1917, the 4th Light Horse Brigade was reconstituted at Ferry Post on 13 February under the command of Brigadier General
The day after the attack, the 12th Light Horse Regiment dug-in and sent out patrols in preparation for a possible Ottoman counterattack. Although they were harassed throughout the day with sniper fire, the attack never came.[33] After three days they were withdrawn back to Shaquth, where they worked to improve defences and conducted patrols for the next fortnight before dispatching two squadrons in early May to attack an Ottoman foraging party at Esani. The attack proved unsuccessful, as the Australians' approach was spotted, allowing the Ottomans and their Bedouin workers to withdraw before they could be engaged.[36]
A period of stalemate followed, during which time the regiment, along with the rest of the brigade, rotated between the forward position at Fara and other positions in support and reserve at Kukhari and Marakeb as preparations were made for a future offensive.[38] The regiment's next major action came in October 1917. Conceived as part of an attack towards the Jerusalem to Jaffa line,[39] the regiment took part in the Battle of Beersheba.[17] During this battle, along with the 4th Light Horse Regiment, the 12th Light Horse carried out a successful mounted charge, advancing over open ground late in the afternoon to get under the Ottoman guns and capture the town and its vital water supplies.[40][41] Late in the afternoon, the 12th Light Horse Regiment advanced, according to historian Henry Gullett, on a "squadron frontage in three lines" 300–500 yd (270–460 m) apart, with the 4th Light Horse Regiment to launch a "pure cavalry" charge, the troopers advancing with bayonets in their hands.[42] Advancing over 6,600 yd (6,000 m),[43] the light horsemen were subjected to rifle and machine-gun fire and artillery bombardment from the flanks and trenches to their front. Supporting artillery helped suppress the machine-gun fire from the flanks,[44] and the speed of the charge made it difficult for the Ottoman gunners to adjust their range. The Ottoman trenches were not protected with wire and after jumping over the trenches, the light horsemen dismounted and hand-to-hand fighting followed.[45][46] While most of the 4th Light Horse and some of the 12th Light Horse dismounted, the remainder stayed mounted, continuing their charge into the town.[47] The British official historian claims "more than half the dismounted troops in the town were captured or killed," while 15 of the 28 guns in the town were captured by the Desert Mounted Corps and XX Corps.[48] Over 700 Ottoman soldiers were captured and, more significantly for the Australians, over 400,000 litres of water secured. In achieving this, the 12th lost 24 men killed and 15 wounded;[49][50] 44 horses were also killed, while another 60 were wounded or became sick.[51]
The success at Beersheba significantly reduced Ottoman resistance,
Early on 14 November, in the aftermath of the Battle of Mughar Ridge, a reconnaissance patrol to Et Tine found it had been evacuated and the 12th occupied the town. In doing so, they secured a water source and a quantity of supplies, although a large amount of equipment was lost to a fire that had been set by the withdrawing garrison.[56] The 12th then took up an observation position at El Dhenebbe to support the British flank before moving to Wadi Menakh on 18 November to water their horses. They were then ordered to launch an attack around Latron during the Battle of Nebi Samwil, but after moving to Abu Shushen where they dismounted, the regiment was recalled to Junction Station. From there, the following day amidst heavy rain they moved to Deiran. Three days later, the 12th encamped at Mejdel for a week of rest along with the majority of the Australian Mounted Division.[57] After a brief respite, as the 4th Light Horse Brigade was sent to El Burj to relieve British forces there, the 12th went into reserve; the horses were sent back to Deiran, and dismounted patrols and reconnaissance parties were sent out.[58]
In early December, the 12th relieved the Scots Fusiliers in the
In early in January 1918, the regiment received orders to move to Belah, on the coast near Gaza. For the next three months they undertook training there.
Jordan and Syria
In late April 1918, the regiment joined an
Throughout May the regiment constructed defences around Musallabeh in temperatures as high as 50 °C (122 °F), and flies, scorpions, spiders and snakes also infested the regiment's camp.[73] Many men from the 12th became sick with malaria and other conditions, before they were moved to Solomon's Pools, where the climate was more bearable.[74] In late June, the regiment manned defences in the Jordan Valley before being sent to a camp among the olive groves at Ludd in early August.[75] While there, the regiment received cavalry training and was issued swords,[76] along with the rest of the Australian Mounted Division.[77]
The regiment departed Ludd on 18 September, taking up camp near Jaffa. Before dawn the next morning, the regiment led the Australian Mounted Division's advance towards Semakh and
On 22 September, following the 4th Light Horse Brigade's relief by the
The regiment then moved towards the high ground on the western side of the Jordan River. Mid-morning on 25 September they reached El Menarah. In the afternoon, after the garrison was seen to withdraw, they advanced in concert with a number of armoured cars and at 3:00 pm the regiment
Disbandment
Following the end of the war, the 12th Light Horse Regiment remained in the Middle East for a number of months, during which time, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Phillip Chambers,
Mid-morning on 22 July the 12th Light Horse Regiment's personnel embarked upon the transport Morvada at Kantara. Cruising via
During the war, the regiment lost 67 men killed and 401 men wounded.
Inter-war years and subsequent service
In 1921, the
During this time, the regiment was assigned to the
Amidst the austerity of the inter-war years, the regiment remained in existence until 1 October 1936 when it was merged with the 24th (Gwydir) Light Horse to form the 12th/24th Light Horse.
When Australia's part-time military force was reformed in 1948 as the Citizens Military Force,[114] the regiment was not re-raised in its own right, although an amalgamated unit known as the 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers was established. Through this unit the 12th Light Horse Regiment's honours and traditions are perpetuated.[115][109]
Alliances
The 12th Light Horse Regiment held the following alliances:[102]
- United Kingdom – The King's Colonials (Yeomanry);
- United Kingdom – Royal Scots Greys.
Battle honours
The 12th Light Horse received the following battle honours:
- South Africa 1899–1900;[Note 3][102]
- First World War:
Commanding officers
The following is a list of the 12th Light Horse Regiment's commanding officers from 1915 to 1919:
- Lieutenant Colonel Percy Abbott (1915);[Note 5][117]
- Lieutenant Colonel John Royston (1916);[Note 6]
- Lieutenant Colonel Harold McIntosh (1916–1917);
- Lieutenant Colonel Donald Cameron (1917–1919);
- Lieutenant Colonel Philip Chambers (1919).[17][119]
Notes
- Footnotes
- ^ A previous 12th Light Horse Regiment had been formed in Tasmania in 1903, although that unit is not a predecessor of the 12th Light Horse Regiment that was raised during the First World War. The Tasmainan unit re-designated as the 26th Light Horse in 1912,[1] and subsequently contributed a squadron to the 3rd Light Horse Regiment during the war and was later re-raised as the 22nd Light Horse Regiment.[2]
- ^ These figures differ slightly from those provided by the Australian War Memorial, which lists: 53 killed and 401 wounded.[17]
- ^ Inherited through predecessor units, having been originally awarded in 1908 to the 6th Australian Light Horse Regiment (New England Light Horse).[102]
- ^ This list differs from that of Hollis who details the regiment's battle honours as: South Africa 1899–1900, Suvla, Sari Bair, Gallipoli 1915, Nebi, Samwill, Jerusalem, Jordan (Es Salt), Megiddo, Sharon, Damascus, Palestine 1917–1918.[116]
- ^ Following the end of the war, Abbott resumed command of the regiment after it was re-raised as a part-time Citizens Forces unit, remaining in command until 1929.[117]
- Zulu Rebellion before organising the Natal Light Horse upon the outbreak of the First World War. After commanding the 12th Light Horse, Royston attained the rank of brigadier general and commanded the 2nd Light Horse Brigade temporarily, before taking command of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade, leading them until October 1917 when he returned to South Africa.[118]
- Citations
- ^ Hall 1968, Appendix 5.
- ^ Festberg 1972, p. 54.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 1.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 2.
- ^ Bou 2010a, p. 14.
- ^ Gullett 1941, pp. 29 & 39.
- ^ Hollis 2008, pp. 2–3.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 4.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 5.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 6.
- ^ a b c Gullett 1941, p. 54.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 9.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 10.
- ^ Hollis 2008, pp. 10–15.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 23.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 25.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Australian War Memorial – 12th Light Horse.
- ^ a b Hollis 2008, p. 26.
- ^ Mallett 1998, p. 63.
- ^ a b c Hollis 2008, p. 28.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 29.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 30.
- ^ Gullett 1941, p. 200.
- ^ Hollis 2008, pp. 32–33.
- ^ Gullett 1941, pp. 201–202.
- ^ AWM 4 10/17/2, p. 27.
- ^ Bou 2010b, p. 152.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 33.
- ^ a b Hollis 2008, p. 34.
- ^ Gullett 1941, p. 255.
- ^ AWM4 10/17/3, pp. 1–8.
- ^ Hollis 2008, pp. 37–38.
- ^ a b Hollis 2008, p. 39.
- ^ Hollis 2008, pp. 38–39.
- ^ Gullett 1941, p. 321.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 42.
- ^ Bou 2010a, p. 56.
- ^ Hollis 2008, pp. 43–44.
- ^ Falls 1930, vol. 2 p. 27.
- ^ Coulthard-Clark 1998, pp. 134–135.
- ^ Perry 2009, pp. 318–323.
- ^ Gullett 1941, p. 395.
- ^ Coulthard-Clark 1998, p. 135.
- ^ Gullett 1941, p. 396.
- ^ Coulthard-Clark 1998, pp. 135–136.
- ^ Bou 2007, p. 108.
- ^ Gullett 1941, pp. 398–400.
- ^ Falls 1930, p. 60, Vol. 2.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 59.
- ^ Gullett 1941, p. 401.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 60.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 61.
- ^ Gullett 1941, p. 432.
- ^ Hollis 2008, pp. 62–63.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 63.
- ^ Gullett 1941, p. 473.
- ^ Hollis 2008, pp. 63–64.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 64.
- ^ Hollis 2008, pp. 64–66.
- ^ Hollis 2008, pp. 64–65.
- ^ a b Hollis 2008, p. 66.
- ^ Hollis 2008, pp. 67–69.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 69.
- ^ Preston 1921, p. 186.
- ^ Hollis 2008, pp. 69–70.
- ^ Coulthard-Clark 1998, p. 145.
- ^ a b Coulthard-Clark 1998, p. 146.
- ^ Gullett 1941, p. 605.
- ^ a b Hollis 2008, p. 71.
- ^ Gullett 1941, p. 615.
- ^ Gullett 1941, p. 619.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 73.
- ^ Perry 2009, p. 397.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 76.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 77.
- ^ Perry 2009, p. 399.
- ^ Bou 2007, p. 119.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 78.
- ^ a b Hollis 2008, p. 79.
- ^ a b Hollis 2008, p. 80.
- ^ Bou 2007, p. 121.
- ^ Perry 2009, pp. 435–436.
- ^ Perry 2009, p. 437.
- ^ Hollis 2008, pp. 80–81.
- ^ a b Hollis 2008, p. 81.
- ^ Gullett 1941, p. 736.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 83.
- ^ Hollis 2008, pp. 84–85.
- ^ Gullett 1941, pp. 746–749.
- ^ Hollis 2008, pp. 86–88.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 94.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 93.
- ^ Hollis 2008, pp. 94–95.
- ^ Perry 2009, p. 497.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 114.
- ^ Hollis 2008, pp. 95–96.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. 111.
- ^ Hollis 2008, pp. 100 & 104.
- ^ Australian War Memorial – Victoria Cross Nomination.
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 125.
- ^ a b 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Festberg 1972, p. 47.
- ^ Palazzo 2001, p. 102.
- ^ Stanley.
- ^ Grey 2008, pp. 125 & 138.
- ^ Keogh 1965, p. 44.
- ^ Bou 2010b, p. 245.
- ^ Keogh 1965, p. 49.
- ^ a b c d Hall 1968, p. 60.
- ^ Hopkins 1978, p. 104.
- ^ Bou 2010b, pp. 251–254.
- ^ Morrison 2006, pp. 66–69.
- ^ Hopkins 1978, pp. 125–130.
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 200.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. viii.
- ^ Hollis 2008, p. ii.
- ^ a b Hogan 1979, pp. 2–3.
- ^ Jones 1988, pp. 472–473.
- ^ Hollis 2008, pp. 183–188.
References
- "12th Light Horse Regiment". First World War, 1914–1918 units. Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 13 March 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
- "Cuthbert Murchison Fetherstonhaugh: Victoria Cross" (PDF). Honours and Awards (Recommendation). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- "12th/16th Hunter River Lancers". Australian Light Horse Association. Archived from the original on 12 June 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
- "AWM 4 10/17/12: February to December 1916 (12th Australian Light Horse Regiment)". Australian Imperial Force Unit War Diaries, 1914–18 War. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- "AWM 4 10/17/3: January to April 1917 (12th Australian Light Horse Regiment)". Australian Imperial Force Unit War Diaries, 1914–18 War. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- Bou, Jean (2007). "Cavalry, Firepower, and Swords: The Australian Light Horse and the Tactical Lessons of Cavalry Operations in Palestine, 1916–1918". The Journal of Military History. 71 (1). Lexington, Virginia: Society for Military History: 99–125. S2CID 159813243.
- Bou, Jean (2010a). Australia's Palestine Campaign. Australian Army Campaign Series # 7. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Army History Unit. ISBN 978-0-9808100-0-4.
- Bou, Jean (2010b). Light Horse: A History of Australia's Mounted Arm. Port Melbourne, Victoria: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-19708-3.
- Coulthard-Clark, Chris (1998). Where Australians Fought: The Encyclopedia of Australia's Battles (1st ed.). St Leonards, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-611-2.
- OCLC 644354483.
- 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.
- OCLC 220624545.
- Hall, Richard John (1968). The Australian Light Horse. Blackburn, Victoria: W.D. Joynt & Co. OCLC 59504.
- Hogan, Terry (1979). "Abbott, Percy Phipps (1869–1940)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 7. Melbourne, Victoria: Melbourne University Press. pp. 2–3. ISBN 978-0-522-84185-5.
- Hollis, Kenneth (2008). Thunder of the Hooves: A History of 12 Australian Light Horse Regiment 1915–1919. Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military History Publications. ISBN 978-0-9803796-5-5.
- ISBN 0-642-99407-2.
- Jones, Ian (1988). "Royston, John Robinson (1860–1942)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 11. Melbourne, Victoria: Melbourne University Press. pp. 472–473.
- OCLC 7185705.
- Mallett, Ross (1998). The Interplay Between Technology, Tactics and Organisation in the First AIF (Masters). University of New South Wales. OCLC 222659270. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- Morrison, James (2006). Mechanising An Army: Mechanisation Policy and the Conversion of Light Horse, 1920–1940 (PDF). Land Warfare Studies Centre Study Papers. Vol. Study Paper No. 307. Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory: Land Warfare Studies Centre. ISSN 1442-8547. Archived from the original(PDF) on 7 March 2016.
- Palazzo, Albert (2001). The Australian Army: A History of its Organisation 1901–2001. South Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-551507-2.
- ISBN 978-0-7336-2272-4.
- Preston, Richard (1921). The Desert Mounted Corps: An Account of the Cavalry Operations in Palestine and Syria 1917–1918. London: Constable & Co. OCLC 3900439.
- ISBN 978-0-642-70822-9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2011.)
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External links
- The Waler: Australia's Great War Horses (2014 documentary)