The Australian Light Horse in Palestine during World War I

The Australian Light Horse soldiers were mounted infantry who served during the Boer War and World War I. The Light Horse differed from cavalry in that they usually fought dismounted, using their horses as transport to the battlefield and as a means of swift disengagement when retreating or retiring. A famous exception to this rule was the charge of the 4th Light Horse Regiment at Beersheba on 31 October 1917. In 1918 some light horse regiments were equipped with swords, enabling them to fight in a conventional cavalry role during the advance on Damascus. Image File history File links AustralianLightHorseBrigade. ... Image File history File links AustralianLightHorseBrigade. ... Map of the British Mandate of Palestine. ... World War I was primarily a European conflict with many facets: immense human sacrifice, stalemate trench warfare, and the use of new, devastating weapons - tanks, aircraft, machineguns, and poison gas. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Boer guerrillas during the Second Boer War There were two Boer wars, one from December 16, 1880-March 23, 1881 and the second from October 11, 1899-May 31, 1902 both between the British and the settlers of Dutch, French and German origin (called Boers, Afrikaners or Voortrekkers) in South... World War I was primarily a European conflict with many facets: immense human sacrifice, stalemate trench warfare, and the use of new, devastating weapons - tanks, aircraft, machineguns, and poison gas. ... Italian cavalry officers practice their horsemanship in 1904 outside Rome. ... horse, see Horse (disambiguation). ... Soroka Hospital, Beersheba Beersheba or Beer-sheva (Hebrew בְּאֶר שֶׁבַע, Standard Hebrew Bəʼer Šévaʻ, Tiberian Hebrew Bəʼer Šéḇaʻ or בְּאֶר שָׁבַע Bəʼer Šāḇaʻ; Arabic بِئْرْ اَلْسَبْعْ Biʼr as-Sabʻ) is a city in Israel. ... October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 61 days remaining, as the final day of October. ... 1917 was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Damascus by night, pictured from Jabal Qasioun; the green spots are minarets Damascus (Arabic officially دمشق Dimashq, colloquially ash-Sham الشام) is the capital city of Syria and is the oldest inhabited city in the world. ...

A light horse regiment is roughly equivalent to a battalion, but containing only about 500 men (whereas an infantry battalion would contain about 1000 men). Around a quarter of this nominal strength (or one man in each section of 4) could be allotted to horse-holding duties when the regiment entered combat. A regiment was divided into three squadrons, designated "A", "B" and "C", (equivalent to a company) and a squadron divided into four troops (equivalent to a platoon). Each troop was divided into about ten 4-man sections. When dismounting for combat, one man from each section would take the reins of the other three mens' horses and lead them out of the firing line where he would remain until called upon. // Size and Composition A regiment is a military unit, larger than a company and smaller than a division. ... In military terminology, a battalion consists of two to six companies typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel. ... A Squadron is a small unit or formation of cavalry, aircraft (including balloons), or naval vessels. ... A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 100-200 soldiers. ... A troop is a military unit, which can have different meanings depending on the country in which it is used. ... See also Platoon (movie) and platoon (automobile) for the concept for reducing traffic congestion. ...

The Australian waler horse was the common mount for the light horsemen. The Waler is an Australian working horse breed that originated from the horse stock that was bought to the Australian colonies in the 1800s. ...

A number of Australian light horse units are still in existence today, generally as RAAC (Royal Australian Armoured Corps) Cavalry units. The Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) is the overall umbrella grouping of Regular Army and Army Reserve regiments equipped with armoured vehicles in the Australian Army. ... Italian cavalry officers practice their horsemanship in 1904 outside Rome. ...

The 1987 film the Lighthorsemen is based on the charge at Beersheba in 1917. 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Light horse field ambulance

A light horse field ambulance was an Australian World War 1 military unit whose purpose was to provide medical transport and aid to the wounded and sick soldiers of a light horse brigade. ...

External link

• The Australian Light Horse Association
• The Great War, 1914-1915: a collection of photographs taken by Signaller J.P. Campbell whilst on active service with the glorious 3rd Brigade of Light Horse ...