‘A’ Squadron 10th Light Horse parade to mark centenary

Member of A Squadron 10th Light Horse will conduct a parade tomorrow – Saturday 10 August – to mark the centenary of the regiment’s return to Australia after World War I.

FILE PHOTO (2017): Members of the 10th Light Horse Re-Enactment Group on ANZAC Day 2017 in Esplanade, WA. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Damian Pawlenko.

10th Light Horse Regiment returned to Australia in August 1919 from Egypt.

Tomorrow’s parade will take place at The Army Museum of Western Australia, commencing at 3pm.

The museum is located at Artillery Barracks, Burt Street, Fremantle.

 

Today’s 10th Light Horse Regiment:

Today’s 10th Light Horse Regiment is a light cavalry regiment in the Australian Army, comprising a single squadron – A Squadron.

A Squadron is a reserve unit, and is part of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps.

The squadron is attached to the 13th Brigade and is based in Western Australia, where it operates 4×4 and 6×6 vehicles in the light-cavalry and reconnaissance roles.

The squadron has deployed members to the Solomon Island’s, Timor Leste and Afghanistan.

It has also supported regional operations including Operation Resolute and Operation Amulet.

The motto of 10th Light Horse is ‘Percute et Percute Velociter’, which is Latin for ‘Strike and Strike Swiftly’.

 

100 years ago
Australian War Memorial Description:

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.

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