Topic: AIF - Lighthorse
Australian Light Horse
Roles within the Regiment
Guards on Horse Lines
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.
Guards on Horse Lines
(1.) The Night Guard will parade after evening stables fatigue dress, with cloak and service caps, but without arms.
(2.) This Guard will usually consist of 3 men for each 50 Horses in camp, under a corporal. This will allow a sentry to be in charge of 50 horses only.
(3.) In detailing the men for this guard it should be so arranged that the men of the troop, or half squadron, furnish the sentries for the horses of their own unit.
(4.) The corporal in charge of the Horse Lines Guard should frequently visit the horses during the night, accompanied by a trooper of his guard, and should always carry a lantern.
(5.) Sentries on horse lines should challenge after lights out, and when ordered pass the call of "all's well" every half hour until reveille.
Previous: Guards Turning Out
Next: Orders for Sentries on the Horse Lines by Night
Further Reading:
Citation: Australian Light Horse, Roles within the Regiment, Guards on Horse Lines
