Topic: AIF - Lighthorse
Australian Light Horse
Roles within the Regiment
Subalterns
The following entries dealing with the roles and duties within the hierarchy of a light horse regiment are extracted from a very informative handbook called The Bushman’s Military Guide, 1898. While written in 1898, the information contained in the entries held true for the next twenty years with only minor modifications with the principles remaining as current then as now.
Subalterns
(1.) The orders respecting officers commanding regimental units apply in general to subalterns. A strict attention to their duties on the horse-lines and other duties is required from them, and obedience to their superior officers.
(2.) Subalterns who do not command troops are to generally assist the officer commanding each unit in maintaining order and discipline. They should have a roll of the troop in their books, as well as a permanent section roll.
(3.) For the efficiency and regularity of the permanent sections, the officer commanding the unit holds them responsible.
(4.) They are, with their sergeants, to inspect the permanent sections on parade, reporting to officer commanding he unit, who (in the case of a half-squadron) will direct one of them to tell off and form up the half-squadron for his inspection.
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Further Reading:
Citation: Australian Light Horse, Roles within the Regiment, Subalterns
