Australian Mounted Division

This article is part of the ANZAC series.

Military History

Australia | New Zealand

Expeditionary Forces

AIF | NZEF

Corps

ANZAC | I Anzac | II Anzac Australian | Desert Mounted

Divisions

Aus 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th NZ & Aus | New Zealand Anzac Mounted | Aus Mounted

The Australian Mounted Division was a mounted infantry (light horse) division formed in Egypt during World War I. When the British forces in the Middle East expanded in late 1916, a second mounted division was created called the Imperial Mounted Division. It originally comprised the Australian 3rd Light Horse Brigade (from the Anzac Mounted Division) and the reconstituted Australian 4th Light Horse Brigade as well as two British mounted brigades. After protests from the Australian government, the division was renamed in June 1917 when one of the British brigades was detached.

Unit history

During the First Battle of Gaza, the division (as the Imperial Mounted Division) provided protection from counter-attack on the eastern flank while the main infantry assault was underway. The brigades became the rearguard during the withdrawal from Gaza after the attack was called off.

Formation

The core brigades of the division were:

3rd Light Horse Brigade

• 8th Light Horse Regiment (Victoria, Australia)
• 9th Light Horse Regiment (Victoria and South Australia)
• 10th Light Horse Regiment (Western Australia)

4th Light Horse Brigade

• 4th Light Horse Regiment (Victoria)
• 11th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland and South Australia)
• 12th Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales)

British 5th Mounted (Yeomanry) Brigade

• 1/1 Warwickshire Yeomanry
• 1/1 Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
• 1/1 Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars

British 19th Horse Artillery Brigade

• 1/1 Nottinghamshire Battery RHA
• 1/1 Berkshire Battery RHA
• A Battery HAC
• B Battery HAC
• Brigade Ammunition Column

Light Horse Field Ambulance

• Australian Light Horse Field Ambulance

Originally the division also contained the British 6th Mounted Brigade. In mid-1918 the British 5th Mounted Brigade was detached and the Australian 5th Light Horse Brigade (containing the 14th and 15th Light Horse Regiments as well as a French cavalry regiment) joined the division.

Battles

• First Battle of Gaza
• Second Battle of Gaza
• Third Battle of Gaza
  • Battle of Beersheba
• Battle of Jerusalem (1917)
• Battle of Megiddo (1918)

Commanders

1917-1919: Maj. Gen. W. Hodgson

See also

• Military history of Australia during World War I
• Sinai and Palestine Campaign

External links

• First AIF Order of Battle 1914-1918: Australian Mounted Division