Topic: AIF - 5B - 14 LHR
Outline of the First 14th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF
[From: Sydney Mail, 10 May 1916, p. 26.]
Formation
The 14th Light Horse Regiment was formed as part of the early 1916 Cavalry policy of attaching a Light Horse Regiment to an Australian Division. Consequently, the 14th Light Horse Regiment was raised specifically to provide a regiment to the 3rd Infantry Division, AIF. Recruits went to the Enoggera Training Camp to the west of Brisbane, Queensland, in March 1916. The recruits were drawn from the four main Militia Regimental catchment areas within the 1st Military District which incorporated all of Queensland, Darwin and Northern New South Wales.
Training
Training for the 14th Light Horse Regiment commenced at the Enoggera Training Camp to the west of Brisbane, Queensland, from March 1916.
Embarkation
To facilitate the embarkation of the 14th Light Horse Regiment, it was entrained to Sydney by rail. The 14th Light Horse Regiment embarked on the HMAT A72 Beltana at Sydney, New South Wales.
HMAT A72 Beltana
[See: His Majesty's Australian Transports [HMAT] Ships, A72.]
The 14th Light Horse Regiment "A" Squadron and 1st Reinforcements embarked on the HMAT A72 Beltana at Sydney, New South Wales, 13 May 1916.
The 14th Light Horse Regiment sailed to Davenport, England and disembarked in 10 July 1916.
Colour Patch
Initially, the only colour separation of the various Australian mounted troops was by use of the pennant. The marker pennants were carried on poles to mark lines troop lines in camps in Egypt. They were not lance pennants as the Australian lancers had red over white pennants on their lances.
While this pennant was useful in distinguishing horse and troop lines, it failed to identify the individual with a unit. The AIF 1st Australian Division Standing Orders issued in December 1914 ordered the Australian Light Horse Regiments to wear a 4 inch wide [10.2cm] blue armband with the regiment name marked on the band in black lettering.
The earlier systems proved to be ineffective so to assist with identification of the men in the various units within the AIF, Divisional Order No 81 (A) Administration was issued at Mena on 8 March 1915 detailing the Colour Patches for the various units in the AIF. The colour patch was made of cloth 1¼ inches wide and 2¾ inches long and worn on the sleeve one inch below the shoulder seam. In contrast, a special amendment to the order created the 14th Light Horse Regiment patch which was a oval in shape granted under the original order.
Britain
It accompanied the 3rd Division to England. After some months of traininig, Divisional Cavalry were removed to become Corps Cavalry in September 1916. The 14th Light Horse Regiment was disbanded and the men dispersed over the various AIF formations.
Commanding Officers
Captain Frederick Butterworth
Embarkations:
The following list details all the embarkations in support of the 14th Light Horse Regiment, AIF, during the Great War. The list has been constructed from information and links kindly provided by The AIF Project. Each entry details to formation and the ships on which the units embarked with the date and place of embarkation. The detail of the formation is linked to a list of men who embarked upon that ship on the specific date. Each man is then linked to a brief military biography.
| 14th Light Horse Regiment, A Squadron | Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A72 Beltana 13 May 1916 |
| 14th Light Horse Regiment, 1st Reinforcement | Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A72 Beltana 13 May 1916 |
See: Troop transport ships for information and photographs about the various ships employed in transporting the troops to Egypt.
Further Reading:
14th Light Horse Regiment List of Pages
The Australian Light Horse - Structure
Citation: The First 14th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF, History
