8th Light Horse Regiment ( Australia ) The 8th Light Horse Regiment was a mounted rifles regiment of the Australian Army during the First World War . The regiment was raised in September 1914 , and assigned to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade . During the war the regiment 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 Fifteen battle honours . Formation . The 8th Light Horse Regiment was raised at Victoria in September 1914 , originally as the 6th Light Horse Regiment , but following a reorganisation in October was renumbered the 8th Regiment . and comprised 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 3rd Light Horse Brigade , serving alongside the 9th and 10th Light Horse Regiments . All Australian Light Horse regiments used cavalry unit designations , but were mounted rifles armed with rifles , not swords or lances , and mounted exclusively on the Australian Waler horse . Operational History . Gallipoli . In December 1914 , the 8th Light Horse Regiment left Sydney for Egypt , arriving on the 1 February 1915 . When the Australian infantry units were dispatched to Gallipoli , it was thought the terrain was unsuitable for mounted troops , and the light horse regiments remained in Egypt . However casualties resulted in the deployment of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade as reinforcements in May 1915 . On arrival the regiment was attached to the New Zealand and Australian Division . The regiment was heavily involved in the battle of the Nek , suffering several casualties including the commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel White who was killed leading the first wave . The regiment were mostly used in a defensive role , until being withdrawn back to Egypt in December 1915 . Sinai and Palestine Campaign . On their arrival back in Egypt , the 3rd Light Horse Brigade was assigned to the newly raised ANZAC Mounted Division , at first given responsibility for the defence of the Suez Canal . They regiment did not take part in any of the early battles in the Sinai , but were instead used to patrol the large open area of the region , until the British advance into Palestine . Becoming involved in the battle of Maghdaba in December 1916 . The regiment and brigade were then transferred to the Imperial Mounted Division , later renamed the Australian Mounted Division . There next battles were the unsuccessful first and second battle of Gaza , then the successful battle of Beersheba in October 1917 . With the Ottoman Empire forces in retreat , the regiment was part of the pursuit into Palestine , resulting in the capture of Jerusalem in 1917 , and raid across the River Jordan in 1918 , at Amman and Es Salt . The regiment then took part in the capture of Tiberius and Sa ' sa ' in September , and entered Damascus on 1 October . The war in the Middle East ended shortly afterwards when the armistice of Mudros was signed in October 1918 . The regiment , had to return to Egypt to assist in putting down a revolt , then sailed for Australia in July 1919 . The war had cost the regiment almost 200 per cent casualties , 302 killed and 675 wounded . Battle honours . Defence at ANZAC Suvla Sari Bair Gallipoli 1915 – 1916 Egypt 1915 – 1917 Romani Magdhaba - Rafah Gaza - Beersheba El Mughar Jerusalem Jordan ( Es Salt ) Megiddo Sharon Palestine 1917 – 1918