Brief history of the Australian Mounted Division
The division was formed by an Egyptian Expeditionary Force order of 20 June 1917, when it reorganised the forces serving in Egypt and Palestine, creating the Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division, the Australian Mounted Division and the Yeomanry Mounted Division. The Imperial Mounted Division was renamed as the Australian Mounted Division as part of these changes.
Major-General Sir Henry West Hodgson continued in command throughout the war.
The division participated in the following named battles and engagements:
- The Third Battle of Gaza, in phases:
- The capture of Beersheba, 31 October 1917
- The action of El Mughar, 13-14 November 1917
- Defence against Turkish counter-attacks in the Turkish defence of Jerusalem, 27 November – 30 December 1917
- The Second Trans-Jordan raid, 30 April – 4 May 1918
- The final offensive into Syria, in phases:
- The Battle of Samakh, 25 September 1918
- The capture of Damascus, 1 October 1918
Order of Battle
Divisional headquarters
3rd Light Horse Brigade (transferred from ANZAC Mounted Division)
- Brigade headquarters
- 8th Australian Light Horse
- 9th Australian Light Horse
- 10th Australian Light Horse
- 3rd Australian Light Horse Signal Troop
- 3rd Australian Machine Gun Squadron
4th Light Horse Brigade (in process of formation when division formed)
- Brigade headquarters
- 4th Australian Light Horse
- 11th Australian Light Horse
- 12th Australian Light Horse
- 4th Australian Light Horse Signal Troop
- 4th Australian Machine Gun Squadron
5th (1st South Midland) Mounted Brigade (assigned to new 2nd Mounted Division 24 April 1918; but it remained on the ration strength of Australian Mounted Division until replaced by 5th Light Horse Brigade in late August 1918; was renamed as 13th Cavalry Brigade on 22 July 1918)
- Brigade headquarters
- 1/1st Warwickshire Yeomanry (left April 1918)
- 1/1st Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
- 1/1st Queen’s Own Worcestershire Hussars (left May 1918)
- 5th Mounted Brigade Signal Troop, Royal Engineers
- 16th Machine Gun Squadron, Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry)
- 9th Hodson’s Horse (from 3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade, April 1918)
- 18th King George’s Own Lancers (from 3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade, April 1918)
5th Light Horse Brigade (previously Imperial Camel Corps Brigade, joined division late August 1918)
- Brigade headquarters
- 14th Australian Light Horse
- 15th Australian Light Horse
- 1er Regiment Mixte de Marche du Cavalerie du Levant (French unit)
- 5th Australian Light Horse Signal Troop
- 2nd New Zealand Machine Gun Squadron
Divisional artillery
- XIX Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery
- 1/1st Nottinghamshire Battery, Royal Horse Artillery
- 1/1st Berkshire Battery, Royal Horse Artillery
- 1/A Battery, Honourable Artillery Company
- 1/B Battery, Honourable Artillery Company
Divisional Royal Engineers
- Australian Mounted Division Field Squadron
- Australian Mounted Division Signal Squadron
Divisional Royal Army Medical Corps
- 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance
- 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance
- 5th Light Horse Field Ambulance
- 8th Sanitary Section
Divisional Army Veterinary Corps
- 8th Australian Mobile Veterinary Section
- 9th Australian Mobile Veterinary Section
- 10th Australian Mobile Veterinary Section
Divisional transport
- 35th Company, Australian Army Service Corps
- 36th Company, Australian Army Service Corps
- 37th Company, Australian Army Service Corps
- 38th Company, Australian Army Service Corps
- 27th Depot Unit of Supply