Australian Light Horse Australian Light Horse were mounted troops with characteristics of both cavalry and mounted infantry . They served in the Second Boer War and World War I . A number of Australian light horse units are still in existence today , most notably of the 2nd / 14th Light Horse Regiment ( Queensland Mounted Infantry ) , now a light armoured unit equipped with an Australian version of the LAV - 25 . History . The Australian Light Horse were mounted troops who served in the Second Boer War and World War I that combined characteristics of both cavalry and mounted infantry . This was the outcome of doctrinal debate in military circles in Australia in the late 19th century concerning the future of mounted troops . The example of the Franco - Prussian War illustrated that the battlefield had become dominated by massed land armies supported by artillery . For Australia the reality was vast spaces with sparse populations making it difficult to consider anything that remotely looked like the European model . The 1890s were wracked by drought and depression ensuring that none of the states were able to afford anything but the most token of armies supported by a large contingent of volunteers . The Second Boer War provided the short term answer . While Australian forces fought against the Boers in South Africa , the Boer methodology of conducting war was considered to be the answer for Australian defence . Volunteer Light Horse Regiments were established around Australia supported by the Rifle Club movement which provided semi trained reinforcements for the various formations . Should these formations be called upon to defend Australia , the local commander was charged with maintaining resistance through the use of the Commando formation which envisaged a large scale guerrilla war . The prospect of an endless and strength sapping guerrilla war was the key deterrent factor which relied heavily upon mobile soldiers . The mounted infantry remained the key to the Australian defence posture until the Kitchener Report of 1910 which envisaged formations that could be slotted directly into an Imperial expeditionary force . The plan envisaged two mounted divisions . Light horse were like mounted infantry in that they usually fought dismounted , using their horses as transport to the battlefield and as a means of swift disengagement when retreating or retiring . A famous exception to this rule though was the charge of the 4th and 12th Light Horse Regiments at Beersheba on 31 October 1917 . In 1918 some light horse regiments were equipped with sabre s , enabling them to fight in a conventional cavalry role in the advance on Damascus . However , unlike mounted infantry , the light horse also performed certain roles , such as scouting and screening , while mounted . The light horse were organised along cavalry rather than infantry lines . A light horse regiment was roughly equivalent to a battalion , but containing only about 600 men ( an infantry battalion would contain about 1000 men ) . Around a quarter of this nominal strength ( or one man in each section of 4 ) could be allotted to horse - holding duties when the regiment entered combat . A regiment was divided into three squadron s , designated " A " , " B " and " C " , ( equivalent to a company ) and a squadron divided into four troop s ( equivalent to but smaller than a platoon ) . Each troop was divided into about ten 4 - man sections . When dismounting for combat , one man from each section would take the reins of the other three men ' s horses and lead them out of the firing line where he would remain until called upon . " Specially Sighted Telescopic Rifles will be issued , stated in Routine Order No . 112 by Major G . M . M . Onslow , 7th Light Horse A . I . F . , dated 2nd October , 1915 . In this , is the extract from Operation Memo . 73 where the specially sighted telescopic rifle issued at the rate of four to each Brigade of the Division , ' for use at sniping posts by SPECIALLY SELECTED MARKSMEN ONLY " ( ref : AWM4 - 10 - 12 - 4 . pdf page 9 ) . Each regiment had a troop of two Maxim gun s . At Gallipoli , where the light horse served dismounted , this was increased to four guns . In 1916 , these were consolidated into light horse machine gun squadrons , each with 12 Vickers machine gun s . In turn , the troops received the Lewis Gun . This was replaced by the Hotchkiss M1909 Benet - Mercie machine gun in April 1917 . Eventually they arrived in such numbers as to allow each troop to have a Hotchkiss gun , which considerably added to the mobile firepower of a regiment and considerably altered their combat tasking and activities . The Australian Waler horse was the common mount for the light horsemen , as it was strong and hardy , which was needed in the harsh desert climate . This was facilitated by the horses being left behind in Egypt while the light horsemen went to Gallipoli , allowing them to gradually acclimatise . Light Horse Brigades . Light Horse Brigades served at Gallipoli , against the Senussi in Libya , and in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign . The Australian 4th Light Horse Brigade at the Battle of Beersheba in 1917 made a successful cavalry charge . ANZAC Mounted Division . The Australian Light Horse Regiments that served in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign were organised into five Australian Light Horse Brigade s . In February 1916 the Australian mounted troops of the 1st , 2nd and 3rd Light Horse Brigades and the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade were placed together in the ANZAC Mounted Division . A reorganisation of the mounted troops was ordered in February 1917 leading to the formation of the ANZAC Mounted Division ( 1st , 2nd Light Horse Brigades , New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade , and British 22nd Mounted Brigade ) . Together with orders issued when serious faults were identified and as reminders , this information formed the basis for a small brochure on horse management in Egypt , which was issued to all units in the field . Care of horses in the Sinai campaign . In 1916 the average loss of sick horses and mules from the Sinai front was approximately 640 per week . They were transported in train loads of thirty trucks , each holding eight horses . Animals which died or were destroyed while on active service were buried from the nearest camp unless this was not practicable . In this case the carcasses were transported to a suitable sites away from troops , where they were disemboweled and left to disintegrate in the dry desert air and high temperatures . Animals which died or were destroyed in veterinary units at Kantara , Ismalia , Bilbeis , and Quesna were dealt with in this way and after four days ’ drying in the sun , the carcases were stuffed with straw and burnt , after the skins were salved . These were sold to local contractors . Imperial Mounted Division / Australian Mounted Division . The Imperial Mounted Division was formed from the 3rd and 4th Light Horse Brigades and the British Yeomanry 5th and 6th Mounted Brigades . The Imperial Mounted Division ' s name was soon changed to the Australian Mounted Division at the request of the Australian government . The arrival of more yeomanry from Salonika prompted the raising of the Yeomanry Mounted Division ( 6th , 8th and 22nd Yeomanry Brigades ) in June 1917 . The three mounted divisions and the Imperial Camel Brigade formed the Desert Mounted Corps under the command of Lieutenant General Henry George Chauvel . With the removal of most of the Yeomanry to France and the breakup of the Imperial Camel Corps , the newly formed 5th Light Horse Brigade took its place with the Australian Mounted Division . Two Indian cavalry divisions replaced the Yeomanry Division in the Desert Mounted Corps . Western Front . The 13th Light Horse Regiment and one squadron of the 4th Light Horse Regiment served on the Western Front , first as divisional cavalry squadrons for the 2nd , 4th and 5th Divisions , and then as the I ANZAC Corps Mounted Regiment . A squadron of the 4th provided the divisional cavalry squadron for the 1st Division and one of the 14th Light Horse Regiment for the 3rd Division . In combination with New Zealand mounted troops , the squadron of the 4th became part of the II ANZAC Corps Mounted Regiment . After the Australian Corps was formed in November 1917 , the I Anzac Corps Mounted Regiment became known as the 13th Light Horse Regiment again . Post World War I . After the war , the light horse regiments were distributed as follows : Most Light Horse Regiments were converted to motorised infantry , armoured car or armoured regiments in World War II ( See : Australian Armoured Units of World War II ) . The 20th Light Horse Regiment , as the 20th Motor Regiment , served overseas , at Merauke . The 1st Light Horse Regiment became the 1st Tank Battalion , and as such fought in New Guinea and Borneo . Popular culture . Literature . " The Wells of Beersheba " ( 1933 ) by Frank Dalby Davison " The Desert Column " ( 1932 ) by Ion L . Idriess The only known published account by a participant who was not an Officer . Film . Several films include the charge at Beersheba in 1917 :