10th Light Horse Regiment

The 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment AIF was the only AIF light horse regiment recruited in Western Australia during the First World War.

The regiment was raised in October 1914 when it became apparent that Western Australia could provide more than a single squadron of mounted soldiers. The regiment joined the 3rd Light Horse Brigade in Egypt and served dismounted at Gallipoli. The regiment’s most famous actions were the charge at the Nek on 7 August 1915, and Hill 60 on 29-30 August. It was in this last action that Lieutenant V.H. “Hu” Throssell performed the valorous deeds for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He was the only Australian light horseman to be so decorated during the Great War.

After the withdrawal from Gallipoli in December 1915 the regiment was bought up to strength and reorganised. With the rest of the Australian light horse they defended Egypt from the Ottoman Army advancing on the Suez Canal. Through 1916 they drove the Turks across the deserts of Sinai, participating in the battles of Romani and Magdhaba.

In 1917 they were part of the Desert Column that advanced into Palestine. The regiment participated in the bloody battles to break the Gaza-Beersheba line and helped capture Jerusalem. They participated in the Es Salt Raid in May 1918. In August they were one of the regiments re-equipped with swords and rifle boots, and retrained to take a more orthodox cavalry role. In their new role they took part in the rout of the Ottoman army in the Jordan Valley, a campaign the light horse referred to as “The Great Ride”. In September the 10th was the first formed regiment to enter Damascus.

Turkey surrendered on 30 October 1918. After the end of the war, elements of the regiment saw action in putting down the Egyptian uprising of 1919. They were finally disbanded in 1920.

Glossary

Battle Honours

Battle Honours source: Australian Army Orders (112), 1927. Army Head-Quarters, 9 March 1927. 'Award of Battle Honours for the Great War to Cavalry and Infantry Units.'

Casualties

  • 237 killed, 479 wounded

For more information please see the Roll of Honour, Wounded and Missing, First World War Nominal Roll and Embarkation Roll databases.

Commanding Officers

Decorations

  • 1 VC
  • 1 CMG
  • 3 DSO, 1 bar
  • 1 MBE
  • 9 MC, 1 bar
  • 15 DCM, 1 bar
  • 15 MM
  • 3 MSM
  • 48 MID
  • 4 foreign awards

For more information please see Honours and Awards database

Collection Items

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References

  • AWM4/10/15/1: May 1915 unit diary
  • A.I.F., in the Great War, 1914-1918 , (Melbourne: Alexander McCubbin, 1921).
  • A.C.N. Olden, Westralian cavalry in the war: the story of the Tenth Light Horse Regiment,