3rd Light Horse Regiment (Australia)
3rd Light Horse Regiment | |
---|---|
First World War
| |
Insignia | |
Unit colour patch |
The 3rd Light Horse Regiment was a
During the inter-war years, the regiment was re-raised as a part-time unit based in the state of
Formation
On 17 August 1914, the 3rd Light Horse Regiment was raised in Adelaide, South Australia and in Hobart, Tasmania.[1] It had an establishment of twenty-five officers and 497 other ranks serving in three squadrons, each of six troops.[2] Each troop was divided into eight sections, of four men each. In action one man of each section, was nominated as a horse holder reducing the regiment's rifle strength by a quarter.[3] Once formed the regiment was assigned to the
All
Operational history
Gallipoli
In October 1914, the regiment left Australia, bound for the Middle East. After arriving in Egypt in December, they took part in the
Sinai and Palestine Campaign
After its return to Egypt, the regiment – along with the rest of the 1st Light Horse Brigade – became part of the
The regiment followed up the retreating Ottoman forces and fought in the
The Ottoman Empire signed the Armistice of Mudros on 30 October 1918, bring the war to an end. No longer required, the regiment sailed for Australia in March 1919 and subsequently disbanded. Their campaigns in the First World War cost them 158 men killed and 653 men wounded.[1]
Perpetuation
In 1921, the decision was made to perpetuate the honours and traditions of the AIF by reorganising the units of the Citizens Force to replicate the numerical designations of their related AIF units.[6] As a result, the 3rd Light Horse was re-raised as a part-time unit based in the 4th Military District,[7] which encompassed the state of South Australia and part of New South Wales. Adopting the designation of the "South Australian Mounted Rifles", it assumed the lineage of several previously existing militia units, including the 22nd Light Horse (South Australian Mounted Rifles) that had been formed in 1912. This unit traced its lineage back to the 16th Australian Light Horse Regiment (South Australian Mounted Rifles), which had been formed in 1903 as part of the amalgamation of Australia's colonial forces into the Australian Army after Federation.[8]
At the outbreak of the Second World War, the 3rd Light Horse was assigned to the
In the post war period, the regiment was re-raised in 1948 equipped with armoured cars.[11] It was initially designated the 3rd Reconnaissance Regiment (South Australian Mounted Rifles), but the following year it was amalgamated with the 9th Light Horse and re-designated the 3rd/9th Light Horse (South Australian Mounted Rifles).[12] The 3rd/9th remains part of the Australian Army Reserve and is currently part of the 2nd Division.[11]
Commanding officers
The following officers commanded the 3rd Light Horse Regiment during the First World War:[1]
- Lieutenant ColonelFrank Milton Rowell
- Lieutenant Colonel George John Bell
- Lieutenant Colonel David Fulton
Battle honours
The 3rd Light Horse Regiment was awarded the following battle honours:[1]
- Palestine 1917–1918
References
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "3rd Light Horse Regiment". First World War, 1914–1918 units. Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
- ^ Gullett 1941, p. 54.
- ^ Horner and Williams, Chapter: Setting up the Light Horse
- ^ Gullett 1941, p. 29.
- ^ Gullett 1941, p. 38.
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 125.
- ^ a b Finlayson 2012, p. 190.
- ^ Festberg 1972, p. 40.
- ^ a b c Festberg 1972, p. 41.
- ^ "Australian Military Forces 1921–1949". Digger History. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
- ^ a b Finlayson 2012, p. 313.
- ^ Festberg 1972, p. 15.
- Bibliography
- Festberg, Alfred (1972). The Lineage of the Australian Army. Melbourne, Victoria: Allara Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85887-024-6.
- Finlayson, David (2012). Green Fields Beyond. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Department of Veterans' Affairs. OCLC 799180097.
- ISBN 9780521697910.
- OCLC 220901683.
- ISBN 978-1-74246-894-5.
Further reading
- Smith, Neil (1993). The Third Australian Light Horse Regiment 1914–1918: A Short History and Listing of Those Who Served. Gardenvale, Victoria: Mostly Unsung Military History, Research and Publications. ISBN 9780646134871.