3rd Light Horse Regiment ( Australia ) The 3rd Light Horse Regiment was a mounted infantry regiment of the Australian Army during the First World War . The regiment was raised in September 1914 , and by December as part of the 1st Light Horse Brigade had moved overseas . During the war the regiment only fought against the forces of the Ottoman Empire , in Egypt , at Gallipoli , on the Sinai Peninsula , and in Palestine and Jordan . After the armistice the regiment eventually returned to Australia in March 1919 . For its role in the war the regiment was awarded nineteen battle honours . Formation . On 17 August 1914 , the 3rd Light Horse Regiment was raised in Adelaide , South Australia and in Hobart , Tasmania . It had an establishment of twenty - five officers and 497 other ranks serving in three squadrons , each of six troop s . Each troop was divided into eight Section s , of four men each . In action one man of each section , was nominated as a horse holder reducing the regiments rifle strength by a quarter . Once formed the regiment was assigned to the 1st Light Horse Brigade serving alongside the 1st and 2nd Light Horse Regiments . All Australian Light Horse regiments used cavalry unit designations , but were mounted infantry armed with rifles , not swords or lances , and mounted exclusively on the Australian Waler horse . Operational history . Departure for Egypt . In October 1914 the regiment left Australia arriving in Egypt in December . Here they took part in the North African campaign defending the Suez Canal . They remained there until May 1915 , when they left for the Gallipoli campaign with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps ( ANZAC ) . Gallipoli . The regiment left their horses in Egypt , and arrived at the Gallipoli peninsula on 12 May 1915 . Here regiment fought in the Landing at Anzac Cove , and the Battle of Sari Bair , but spent most of the campaign in a defensive posture . The regiment left Gallipoli for Egypt in December 1915 , by which time they had earned four battle honours . Sinai and Palestine Campaign . Back in Egypt , the regiment still with the 1st Light Horse Brigade , became part of the ANZAC Mounted Division , responsible for the defence of the Suez canal from raiding Senussi Arabs . The on 4 August 1916 , they fought in the Battle of Romani , before being withdrawn to rest and refit . The regiment rejoined the brigade in November and took part in the battles of Maghaba and Rafa in December 1916 and January 1917 . The was followed by defeat in the second battle of Gaza in April 1917 , and the successful Battle of Beersheba and the third battle of Gaza in October and November . The regiment followed up the retreating Ottoman forces and fought in the battle of Mughar Ridge the , the battle of Jerusalam , the battle of Jaffa , the capture of Jericho , the attack on Amman , the attack on Es Salt and finally in September and October 1918 the battles and Megiddo and Nablus . The Ottoman Empire signed the Armistice of Mudros on 30 October 1918 , and the regiment sailed for Australia in March 1919 . Their campaigns in the First World War had cost them 158 men killed and 653 men wounded . Battle honours . ANZAC Defence at ANZAC Suvla Sari Bair Gallipoli 1915 – 1916 Egypt 1915 – 1917 Romani Magdhaba - Rafah Gaza - Beersheba El Mughar Jerusalem Jaffa Jericho Jordan ( Es Salt ) Jordan ( Amman ) Megiddo Nablus Palestine 1917 – 1918