7th Light Horse Regiment (Australia)
7th Light Horse Regiment | |
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First World War
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Insignia | |
Unit colour patch |
The 7th Light Horse Regiment was a
Formation
The 7th Light Horse Regiment was raised at Sydney in October 1914.[1] and comprised 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 regiments rifle strength by a quarter.[3] Its manpower being mostly recruited from residents of New South Wales.[1] Once formed, the regiment was assigned to the 2nd Light Horse Brigade, serving alongside the 5th and 6th Light Horse Regiments.[1]
All
Operational history
Gallipoli
In December 1914, the 7th Light Horse Regiment left Sydney for Egypt, arriving on the 1 February 1915.[1] When the Australian infantry units were dispatched to Gallipoli, it was thought the terrain was unsuitable for mounted troops, and the light horse regiments remained in Egypt. However, heavy casualties amongst the Australian infantry resulted in the deployment of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade as reinforcements in May 1915.[1] On arrival the regiment was attached to the 1st Division, who by this stage of the campaign were fighting a defensive battle around the beachhead around Anzac Cove. The regiment was withdrawn back to Egypt at the end of the campaign in December 1915.[1]
Sinai and Palestine Campaign
On their arrival back in Egypt, the 2nd Light Horse Brigade was assigned to the newly raised
With the
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 7th Light Horse was re-raised as a part-time unit based in the 2nd Military District, which encompassed the majority of the state of New South Wales; in doing so, it assumed the lineage of several previously existing militia units, including the 11th Light Horse (Australian Horse), which had been formed in 1912, and the 3rd Australian Light Horse Regiment (Australian Horse), which had been formed in 1903 as part of the amalgamation of Australia's colonial forces into the Australian Army after Federation.[7]
In early 1937, the regiment was amalgamated with the
In the post-war period, the regiment was re-raised as an amalgamated unit, designated the 7th/21st Australian Horse. Formed in July 1948, this unit was established as a reconnaissance regiment within the 2nd Division, and remained in existence until 15 September 1957 when it was disbanded;[11] its personnel were later used to re-raise the 4th Infantry Battalion, which later became part of the Royal New South Wales Regiment.[12]
Commanding officers
The following officers commanded the 7th Light Horse during the First World War:[1]
- Lieutenant Colonel John McLean Arnott CMG
- Lieutenant Colonel
- Lieutenant Colonel John Dalyell Richardson
Battle honours
The 7th Light Horse Regiment was awarded the following battle honours:
- Palestine 1917–1918.[1]
Cartoons
From the sketch book[13] of the 7th light horse trooper, Lieutenant P.V. Ryan:[14]
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"YOURE - LUCKY YE STOPPED THAT STRAY ONE - I AD A FULL AND AGAINST YOU"
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"LOOK OUT MATE - SHE MIGHT KICK YER"
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"Struth Ginger - If we gets home from this we orter pay a fair dividend"
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THE OPTIMIST It's orright mate they never drops two in the SAME SPOT
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BILL (Who has had strict instructions re saluting officers in Cairo.) "What about chuckin 'im a rough one(?) Nuggett?"
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"TWO UP" BEHIND THE FIRING LINE "RING ORF - 'ERE THEY COME - 'N' DONT FERGET Y'OWE ME ARF A DOLLAR GINGER"
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THE SNIPER "Found im down the WADDY SIR A PASSIN IMSELF OFF AS A PRICKLY PEAR"
References
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "7th Light Horse Regiment". First World War, 1914–1918 units. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 29 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 c Festberg 1972, p. 43.
- ^ Finlayson 2012, p. 196.
- ^ "7 Light Horse: Locations". Orders of Battle. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ "7 Motor Regiment: Superiors". Orders of Battle. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ Finlayson 2012, p. 322.
- ^ Festberg 1972, pp. 27, 37 & 61.
- ^ "Lieut P. V. Ryan cartoons". Collection - State Library of NSW. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- ^ "Lieutenant Patrick Vincent Ryan". www.awm.gov.au. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- 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
- Richardson, J.D. (2009) [1919]. The History of the 7th Light Horse Regiment A.I.F. East Sussex, United Kingdom: Naval & Military Press / Imperial War Museum. ISBN 9781847349316.