A Squadron 10th Light Horse, history & current.

‘Percute et Percute Velocitor’
(Strike and Strike Swiftly)

Also see the Page called 10ALHR

and the one called 10th Light Horse

The 10th Light Horse Regiment is one of the country's oldest and best known Light Horse Regiments.

It can trace its origins to 7th June 1900 when the order was given for the unit to be raised as the Western Australian Mounted Infantry.

It's inherited lineage goes even further back (see right) >>

Pinjarra Mounted Volunteers
Union Troop of Western Australian Mounted Volunteers
The Wellington Mounted Volunteers
The Perth Mounted Rifle Volunteers
Western Australian Mounted Infantry (WAMI),
Militia Light Horse Regiment,
18th Australian Light Horse (WAMI),
25th Australian Light Horse (WAMI),
10th Australian Light Horse Regiment AIF,
10th Reconnaissance Battalion (WAMI),
10th Australian Light Horse Regiment (2nd AIF),
10th Western Australian Mounted Infantry,
"A" Squadron 10th Light Horse Regiment


10 ALHR (unofficial)	18th Light Horse WAMI	25 Light Horse WAMI (MG)

During the Boer War (1898 - 1902) the colony of Western Australia raised and sent nine contingent's (six Western Australian Mounted Infantry and three Australian Commonwealth Horse) to South Africa. In recognition of their service during the Boer War, the Volunteer Regiment, the Western Australian Mounted Infantry, of which the Militia Light Horse Regiment (later the 10th Light Horse Regiment) was part, was granted the Battle Honour 'South Africa 1900-1902'.

In 1903 the 18th Light Horse Regiment was formed from the Western Australian Mounted Infantry. With the establishment of Military Districts in 1912, the 18th LHR (Light Horse Regiment) was redesignated 25th Light Horse (Western Australian Mounted Infantry ).

With the outbreak of war in 1914, a mounted unit was not required from Western Australia, although approval was given to raise C squadron of the 7th LHR. The response was so great that it was realised that a complete Regiment could be formed, and the 10th LHR was established.

The 10th LHR entered The Great War as an Infantry Regiment at Gallipoli, but suffered devastating losses, with their baptism of fire at Quinn's Post and Pope's Hill.

For his bravery and dedication to duty at Hill 60 (Kaiakij, Aghala), Gallipoli, on the 29- 30 August 1915, Second Lieutenant Hugo Throssell was awarded the Victoria Cross, the only member of the 10th LHR to be so honoured.

Evacuated from the Gallipoli Peninsula, 10th LHR went on to fight as Mounted Infantry in Sinai, Palestine, Jordan, and Syria.

In the fall of Damascus the unit had the honour of leading the Australian Mounted Division and accepted the formal surrender on 1 October, 1918.

Before returning home after the armistice, the 10th LHR was involved in quelling the bitter Egyptian uprising in 1919. Upon arrival back in Australia, the unit was disbanded, but to perpetuate the traditions and distinctions gained by the AIF in the Great War, it was decided to redesignate the Citizen Military Force units to conform with the unit designation numbers of the AIF. Accordingly, with effect from October 1918 the 25th LHR (Western Australia Mounted Infantry) became the 10th LHR.

During World War ll, 10th LHR underwent several name changes, 10th Reconnaissance Battalion (Western Australia Mounted Infantry) in 1940 and several others until in 1949 it was titled 10th Western Australian Mounted Infantry. In 1943 the unit gained AIF status, but did not serve overseas during the hostilities. The main responsibility for the unit was the defence of the south-west of western Australia.

While the unit moved quickly to mechanised armour during World War ll, it still retained troops of horses which patrolled the West Australian coastline.

In 1949 the unit was fully mechanised when it was equipped with Staghound Armoured Cars (above left) and Canadian Scout Cars (above right).

In 1969 10th LHR was equipped with M113A tracked carriers and still uses these sturdy vehicles today.

The Regiment was reduced to A Squadron, 10th LH, in 1976, and was granted the Freedom-of-Entry to the City of Northam in 1979. A Squadron is the only armoured element of the 13th Brigade and therefore performs a vital role, whatever the Brigade's tasking.

most text from http://members.iinet.net.au/~spooner/