| 15th Light Horse Regiment | |
|---|---|
 15th Light Horse Regiment hat badge | |
| Active | 1918–1919 1921–1944 1948–1956 |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Australian Army |
| Type | Mounted infantry |
| Size | Regiment |
| Part of | 5th Light Horse Brigade |
| Engagements | First World War |
| Insignia | |
| Unit colour patch |  |
The15th Light Horse Regiment was amounted infantryregiment of theAustralian Army during theFirst World War. The regiment was raised in Palestine in 1918, from soldiers that had been serving with theImperial Camel Corps Brigade, and assigned to the5th Light Horse Brigade. During the war the regiment fought against the forces of theOttoman Empire, in theSinai and Palestine Campaign and was awarded fourteenbattle honours. During the inter-war years, the regiment was re-raised as a part-time unit based in theNorthern Rivers region ofNew South Wales. It was later converted to a motor regiment during theSecond World War but was disbanded in 1944 without having been deployed overseas. In the post war period, the regiment was briefly re-formed, before being amalgamated into the1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers in 1956.
The 15th Light Horse Regiment was raised inPalestine in June 1918, from Australian soldiers serving in the disbandedImperial Camel Corps Brigade,[1] and comprised twenty-five officers and 497other ranks serving in threesquadrons, each of sixtroops.[2]Each troop was divided into eightsections, of four men each. In action one man of each section, was nominated as a horse holder reducing the regiment's rifle strength by a quarter.[3] The Camel Corps were all trained infantrymen, and some of them had previously served with theAustralian Light Horse regiments, but all required a period of training in horsemanship. Once formed, the regiment was assigned to the5th Light Horse Brigade, alongside a French regiment and the14th Light Horse Regiment.[1] AllAustralian Light Horse regiments used cavalry unit designations, but weremounted infantry armed with rifles, not swords or lances, and mounted exclusively on the AustralianWaler horse.[4]
By the time the regiment was ready for service, the war in theMiddle East was almost over. The regiment fought in only one major battle atMegiddo in September 1918. Over ten days the 5th Light Horse Brigade advanced 600 kilometres (370 mi) destroying road and rail links, and pursuing the retreatingOttoman Army into Syria. They enteredDamascus on 1 October 1918. When the war ended the regiment was recalled to Egypt to assist in policing a riot that had broken out, before returning to Australia. The war cost the regiment sixteen killed and only three wounded, but for their service they were awarded fourteenbattle honours, most of them inherited from the disbanded Imperial Camel Corps.[1]
In 1921, Australia's part-time military forces were re-organised to perpetuate the numerical designations of the AIF following its demobilisation.[5] Through this process, the 15th Light Horse was re-raised as aCitizens Forces unit within the2nd Military District in theNorthern Rivers region ofNew South Wales, drawing lineage from the 5th Australian Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales Mounted Rifles), which had been formed in 1903. This unit remained in existence throughout the inter-war years, and in December 1941 it was converted into a motor regiment, adopting the designation of the "15th Motor Regiment (Northern River Lancers). In 1942, the regiment was re-designated the "15th Australian Motor Regiment" and was gazetted as an AIF unit,[6] meaning that it could be deployed outside of Australian territory to fight if necessary.[7] Nevertheless, the regiment was deemed surplus to requirements and on 12 October 1944 it was disbanded without having seen operational service during World War II.[6] During the war years, the regiment was variously assigned to the1st Armoured and2nd Motor Brigades.[8]
In the post war period, Australia's part-time force was re-raised and in July 1948 the regiment was reformed as a single squadron, with the designation of the "A Squadron, 15th Amphibious Assault Regiment (Northern River Lancers)". The following year it was re-designated the "15th Northern River Lancers". In 1952, the squadron was expanded into a full regiment due to the influx ofnational servicemen, but in 1956 the regiment was amalgamated with the1st Royal New South Wales Lancers to form the1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers.[9][10]
The 15th Light Horse Regiment was awarded the following battle honours:
During the First World War, the regiment was commanded by: