1st Light Horse Brigade

Formation of the First Australian Imperial Force November 2019 1st Light Horse Brigade File:Light horse walers.jpg A trooper of the 1st Light Horse Regiment 1902–1921 Australia Australian Crown Australian Army Mounted infantry Light horse ~1,500 personnel 1st Australian Contingent (1914–15) Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) New Zealand and Australian Division (1915–16)Anzac Mounted Division (1916–19) Horse, rifle and bayonet Harry Chauvel Charles Frederick Cox File:Australian 1st Light Horse Brigade colour patch.jpg Unit colour patch World War I Gallipoli campaign Battle of Sari Bair Battle of the Nek Sinai and Palestine Campaign Battle of Romani Battle of Magdhaba Battle of Rafa Second Battle of Gaza Battle of Beersheba Battle of Mughar Ridge Capture of Jericho First Transjordan attack on Amman First Battle of Amman (1918) Second Transjordan attack on Shunet Nimrin and Es Salt Third Transjordan attack Second Battle of Amman (1918) The 1st Light Horse Brigade was a mounted infantry brigade of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), which served in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I. The brigade was initially formed as a part-time militia formation in the early 1900s in New South Wales and then later in Queensland. In 1914, the brigade was re-constituted as part of the AIF and was sent to Egypt. Forming part of the New Zealand and Australian Division, during the Gallipoli Campaign it served in a dismounted role between May and December 1915. After being withdrawn to Egypt it served in the Anzac Mounted Division from March 1916 as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, taking part in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign until the end of the war. It was disbanded in 1919. After the war, the AIF light horse regiments were demobilised and disbanded; however, the brigade briefly existed as a part-time militia formation in Queensland until 1921 when its regiments were reorganised into cavalry brigades. History Early formation The 1st Light Horse Brigade was initially raised as part of the Citizens Forces in the early 1900s, being formed sometime between 1902 and 1905. That formation was raised in New South Wales, and consisted of three light horse regiments – the 1st (New South Wales Lancers), 2nd (New South Wales Mounted Rifles) and 3rd (Australian Horse). The 1st had depots around Parramatta and other smaller centres; the 2nd was based in Sydney and was spread out across depots from Camden to Dubbo; and the 3rd was based in several small towns including Bega, Goulburn and Bungendore. In 1912, an Army wide reorganisation resulted in the brigade's designation being reused for a Queensland-based formation, consisting of the 2nd Light Horse (Queensland Mounted Infantry), the 3rd Light Horse (Darling Downs Regiment), and 4th Light Horse (Northern River Lancers). The 2nd had depots in Brisbane and its surrounds, spread out to Laidley and Ipswich, while the 3rd was based around Toowoomba, Warwick, Roma and other smaller centres; the 4th was based around Lismore, Casino, Grafton and a couple of other smaller centres.Hall 1968 61–71 The previously assigned New South Wales-based regiments were redesignated and reassigned to 2nd and 3rd Light Horse Brigades.Hall 1968 70 World War I Formation and service at Gallipoli At the outbreak of the war August 1914 the Australian Government decided to raise the all- volunteer Australian Imperial Force (AIF) consisting of 20,000 troops comprising an infantry division and a light horse brigade of three regiments to be used at the discretion of Britain.Grey 2008 85 These regiments were raised from volunteers for overseas service, as the provisions of the Defence Act did not allow conscripts to be deployed overseas. Nevertheless, many of the recruits were drawn from the various militia light horse formations created as a consequence of the Kitchener Report 1910 and the introduction of Universal Training, although they were assigned to freshly raised units that were separate to the light horse regiments raised as part of the militia. Initial enlistments outstripped expectations and, as a result, a total of three light horse brigades as well as two divisional cavalry regiments were formed in the early part of the war.Bou 2010a 99 & 141 The 1st Light Horse Brigade was the first light horse formation raised at the start of the war. It was part of the 1st Contingent that was hastily put together in the middle of August 1914, and consisted of 1,560 men organised into three regiments – the 1st, 2nd and 3rd – each of approximately 520 men,Perry 2012 31 under the overall command of Brigadier General Harry Chauvel.Grey 2008 88 The brigade's personnel were drawn from the states of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania.Grey 2008 88 thumb|left|Survivors from the failed attack at Pope's Hill, 7 August 1915 Following its formation, the brigade began embarking for Egypt from Sydney,Perry 2009 45 Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart, in September and October 1914. Upon arrival in December 1914, the brigade moved into camp at Mena, where training was undertaken, and further reinforcements were received from Australia.http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse/index.blog/1898924/troop-transport-ships/ Troop transport ships Australian Light Horse Studies Centre 19 April 2014 In May 1915, the brigade was deployed to Gallipoli as reinforcements for the infantry that had landed in April, but had become pinned around a small perimeter around a beachhead at Anzac Cove; deployed in a dismounted role, the brigade was assigned to the New Zealand and Australian Division. About a quarter of the strength of each light horse regiment remained in Egypt with their horses; however, additional reinforcements were provided prior to their arrival, to bring them up to strength.Bou 2010a 145–146Travers 2002 272–273 Upon arrival, Chauvel's brigade was assigned to hold part of the defensive line that the Allies had established around Anzac Cove. During this time, they undertook patrolling operations, occupied outposts, carried out sniping and worked to dig trenches and lay down wire.Bou 2010a 146 For the majority of the campaign the brigade's regiments maintained a defensive posture; however, in August the Allies attempted to break the deadlock on the Gallipoli peninsula, launching the August Offensive in an effort to secure the heights around Sari Bair, Chunuk Bair and Baby 700.Perry 2009 100–101 During this effort, the 1st Light Horse Regiment carried out a feint attack at Pope's Hill, in support of the attack at the Nek. Out of 200 men committed, less than 40 survived.Bou 2010a 147 Meanwhile, the 2nd Light Horse Regiment undertook its own attack around Quinn's Post; this too met little success and was called off after the first wave of attackers suffered many casualties. Meanwhile, the 3rd Light Horse Regiment was held back in reserve. Following the failed offensive, the brigade occupied positions around the top of Monash Valley, which remained strongly contested.Bou 2010a 146 As winter approached, in early September, they were moved to a more secure location on the seaward side, to the north of Anzac Cove, towards Suvla Bay; this position included outposts at Destroyer Hill and Sazli Dere, which had been captured in late August during the Battle of Hill 60.Perry 2009 121 By mid-December all three regiments were withdrawn from the peninsula, as part of the general withdrawal that followed the decision to abandon the position. The 3rd Light Horse Regiment was the first to depart, leaving on 14 December; it was followed by the 2nd on 18 December, while the 1st remained until 21 December, which was the last day. They were subsequently returned to Egypt, sailing via Mudros.Bou 2010a 149 Sinai and Palestine campaign After the evacuation from Gallipoli, the Australian and New Zealand forces in the Middle East were reorganised. There were a large number of reinforcements that had arrived in Egypt at this time, and while the infantry was to be deployed to the Western Front, the mounted units were to remain in the Middle East.Grey 2008 98–100 This resulted in the establishment of the Anzac Mounted Division, which consisted of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Light Horse Brigades, and the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade. Chauvel had been promoted to command this division, while Brigadier General Charles Frederick Cox, who had taken over command of the brigade in early November 1915, remained in command of the 1st Light Horse Brigade.Bou 2010a 150 He would remain in command of the brigade until after the end of the war. At this time, the brigade was provided with a British Territorial horsed artillery battery,Bou 2010a 150 the Leicestershire Battery, which was detached from III Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery (T.F.). Until July 1916, the brigade was supported by a machine gun section, but this was then expanded to a full squadron, equipped with 12 machine guns. A light horse training regiment was also established for each brigade, to provide trained reinforcements, while other supporting elements including signals, logistic, engineer, medical and veterinary support units were also assigned.Bou 2010a 149–150 thumb|3rd Light Horse Regiment in front of Bethlehem In the early part of 1916, the 1st Light Horse Brigade was sent to guard parts of the Nile and Suez Canal from Senussi tribesmen.Bou 2010b 9 This lasted from January to May 1916; afterwards it was reassigned to defend the Suez Canal. Bou 2010a 155 In August 1916, the brigade helped repel an Ottoman advance on the canal during the Battle of Romani, which took place 35 km mi to the east; they were involved in the initial fighting as the Ottoman forces clashed with the brigade on the night of 3/4 August, which had occupied outposts throughout the area that the Ottoman commanders had detailed as the forming up position for their attack on the Suez Canal. Threatened with being outflanked, the brigade was pushed back in the early morning, but they were reinforced just in time by the 2nd Light Horse Brigade, which appeared on the brigade's right and helped restore the situation. They were followed by New Zealand and British troops who launched a counterattack later in the day,Bou 2010b 13 while the two light horse brigades remained in the centre. Initially too exhausted to counterattack, they were committed early on 5 August, advancing with bayonets drawn.Coulthard-Clark 1998 119 As the tide of the fighting turned, in the following days, the brigade was committed to the pursuit that followed as the Ottoman forces began to withdraw. After a period of rest out of the line, the brigade returned to join the advance across the Sinai into southern Palestine, taking part in actions at Maghdaba in December 1916, and at Rafa in early January 1917. During the first battle, the attack was hampered by limited artillery and a lack of water; this resulted in slow progress from the dismounted troops and eventually Chauvel decided to withdraw back to El Arish. However, the commander of the 1st Light Horse Brigade delayed following the order and pushed the dismounted 3rd Light Horse Regiment forward against an Ottoman redoubt in the northwest, which proved to be successful and wrested the initiative from the Ottomans. The 2nd Light Horse Regiment carried out a mounted attack to the south, and captured another Ottoman redoubt, while other units also began to make gains, resulting in a general advance.Bou 2010b 22 A fortnight later, they began to advance towards Rafa, and the 1st Light Horse Brigade was committed along with the New Zealand Mounted Rifles and the Imperial Camel Corps.Bou 2010b 25 For several months, the brigade undertook defensive duties, protecting lines of communication, before taking part in the unsuccessful Second Battle of Gaza in April 1917. After this, British planners decided to attempt an indirect approach, focusing their efforts on Beersheba, about 50 km mi from Gaza.Bou 2010b 41 In late October and early November, the brigade took part in the Battle of Beersheba; the breakthrough here paved the way for the opening of the Southern Palestine Offensive,Bou 2010b 52 after which the brigade participated in the advance north towards Jaffa on the coast. Jerusalem was captured in November 1917, and after this the brigade moved inland east towards the Jordan River, to occupy defensive positions along the western bank as part of the British occupation of the Jordan Valley. thumb|left|The 1st Light Horse Brigade resting on the road between Jerusalem and Latron after fighting at Abu Tellul on 14–16 July In February 1918, the Somerset Battery was detached from XVIII Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery (T.F.), replacing the Leicestershire Battery. In the middle of the month, the brigade took part in the capture of Jericho, during which the Anzac Mounted Division was placed on the right of two British infantry divisions, pushing through a large gorge near the Dead Sea towards Rujm el Bahr.Cutlack 1941 102Gullett 1941 536 At the end of the month, the brigade pushed further west and took part in the failed First Battle of Amman during the First Transjordan attack on Amman. This was followed by the raid on Es Salt in April and May, and then launched a counterattack on 14 July during the Battle of Abu Tellul following an attack by two Ottoman divisions.Bou 2010a 191 Following this, the Allies renewed their offensive, during which the Anzac Mounted Division was assigned to a mixed force that became known as Chaytor's Force to join the Third Transjordan attack, supporting the main drive towards Damascus further to the north.Bou 2010b 137 The Australian Mounted Division who were advancing along the coast, employed cavalry tactics, having been issued swords and trained in their use in August; however, the Anzac Mounted Division continued to be employed as mounted rifles.Bou 2010b 108 In late September, the brigade took part in the Second Battle of Amman. During their final battle of the war, the brigade helped clear the west bank of the Jordan, before crossing the river at Uniin esh Sher and then advanced to Es Salt, before later advancing to Suweile and supporting the capture of Amman.Gullett 1941 718–719 On 30 October, the Ottomans surrendered, and the Armistice of Mudros came into effect, bringing an end to the fighting in the theatre.Bou 2010a 197 Disbandment and perpetuation After the conclusion of hostilities, the Anzac Mounted Division undertook occupation duties in southern Palestine until it returned to Egypt in early 1919.Bou 2010a 200 The various regiments within the brigade embarked for Australia around March 1919.http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_10549.asp https://web.archive.org/web/20110313193646/http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_10549.asp 1st Light Horse Regiment First World War, 1914–1918 units Australian War Memorial 8 September 2010 13 March 201129 November 2011 First World War 1914–1918 units Australian War Memorial 2nd Light Horse Regiment http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_10551.asp https://web.archive.org/web/20130704223823/http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_10551.asp 4 July 2013 live30 November 2011 First World War, 1914–1918 units Australian War Memorial 3rd Light Horse Regiment http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_10553.asp https://web.archive.org/web/20160820032025/https://www.awm.gov.au/unit/U51037/ 20 August 2016 live The horses remained behind due to cost and quarantine issues, and were either destroyed or undertook further service in Egypt or Syria.Bou 2010a 201 The brigade's headquarters finally closed on 4 July 1919 after arriving in Sydney.https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1351485 AWM4 10/1/59 – June–July 1919: 1st Light Horse Brigade Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914–18 war Australian War Memorial 4 August 2019 thumb|The 2nd Light Horse Regiment on return to Brisbane, 1919 Throughout late 1918 and early 1919, the process of demobilising the AIF continued, although this would not be complete until 1921.Grey 2008 125 At this time, the militia formations that had remained in Australia for home service were reorganised to realign them with the recruitment areas that had contributed to the AIF regiments, and to replicate the AIF's organisational structure and designations. These formations had continued to exist alongside the AIF in Australia, albeit largely on paper only as they had been reduced significantly due to large-scale enlistment in the AIF, and a lack of funds and resources for training.Bou 2010a 110–111 By 1919, a 1st Light Horse Brigade had been formed in the militia, consisting of 2nd, 5th and 11th Light Horse Regiments, which were based in Brisbane, Ipswich, Gympie, and Toowoomba.Hall 1968 75 In the first couple of years after the war, plans were made to reorganise the home forces to meet the needs of peacetime while providing a strong base upon which to mobilise if necessary. By 1921, when the AIF was officially disbanded, plans were approved to raise two cavalry divisions, each of three brigades, utilising a mix of voluntary enlistment and compulsory service.Hall 1968 47 At this time, the brigades were designated as cavalry brigades, rather than light horse brigades,Bou 2010a 229 and the 1st Light Horse Brigade ceased to exist. Within the new structure, the 2nd Light Horse Regiment became part of the 11th Mixed Brigade, while the 5th and 11th Light Horse Regiments were assigned to the 1st Cavalry Brigade, based in the same locations as before.Hall 1968 77–78 Composition During World War I, the 1st Light Horse Brigade consisted of the following:1st Australian Light Horse Brigade 19 April 2009 Australian Light Horse Studies Centre http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse/index.blog/1859849/1st-australian-light-horse-brigade/ 1st Light Horse Regiment 2nd Light Horse Regiment 3rd Light Horse Regiment 1st Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron (1916–1919) 1st Light Horse Signal Troop 1st Light Horse Field Ambulance 1st Light Horse Brigade Train 6th Mobile Veterinary Section (1916–1919) Leicestershire Battery of III Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery (T.F.) (1916–1918) Somerset Battery of XVIII Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery (T.F.) (1918–1919) 1st Light Horse Training Regiment 1st Light Horse Double Squadron (July – November 1916) Commanders The following officers commanded the brigade during the war: Brigadier General Harry Chauvel (15 August 1914 – 6 November 1915) Brigadier General Charles Frederick Cox (6 November 1915 – 13 March 1919) See also Military history of Australia 2nd Light Horse Brigade 3rd Light Horse Brigade 4th Light Horse Brigade 5th Light Horse Brigade References Citations 2 Bibliography Bou Jean Light Horse: A History of Australia's Mounted Arm 2010a Port Melbourne, Victoria Cambridge University Press 978-0-52119-708-3 Bou Jean Australia's Palestine Campaign Australian Army Campaign Series # 7 2010b Army History Unit Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 978-0-9808100-0-4 Coulthard-Clark Chris The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles 1998 1st Allen & Unwin Sydney, New South Wales 1-86448-611-2 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1069925/ The Australian Flying Corps in the Western and Eastern Theatres of War, 1914–1918 Cutlack F.M. Frederic Cutlack 1941 11th Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918 VIII Australian War Memorial Canberra 220900299 Grey Jeffrey Jeffrey Grey 2008 A Military History of Australia 3rd Cambridge University Press Melbourne, Victoria 978-0-521-69791-0 Gullett Henry Henry Gullett The Australian Imperial Force in Sinai and Palestine, 1914–1918 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1417019 Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918 VII 10th 1941 Angus & Robertson Sydney, New South Wales 220624545 Hall Richard John The Australian Light Horse 1968 W.D. Joynt & Co. Blackburn, Victoria 59504 Perry Roland Roland Perry 2012 Bill the Bastard: The Story of Australia's Greatest War Horse Allen & Unwin Sydney, New South Wales 978-1-74331-262-9 Perry Roland 2009 The Australian Light Horse Hachette Australia Sydney 978-0-7336-2272-4 Travers Tim Gallipoli 1915 2002 Tempus Charleston, South Carolina 0-7524-2551-X External links Australian Light Horse Studies Centre 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade Australian National Archives – Kitchener Report, 1910 https://web.archive.org/web/20080617005538/http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=98464&I=1&SE=1 17 June 2008 Category:Australian Light Horse Category:Military units and formations established in 1902 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1921