The 10th Light Horse Regiment was a Light Horse militia unit in Western Australia. Prior to World War 1, the 25th Light Horse (Western Australian Mounted Infantry) was the only Light Horse regiment in Western Australia and on 1st October, 1918 as part of a army renumbering scheme became the 10th Light Horse. This scheme was adopted so that Citizen Military Force (CMF) units would take on the numerical designations of their A.I.F. counterparts which had been raised in the same areas.

In 1921, a further reorganisation took place and the regiment official became the 10th Light Horse with the secondary title of Western Australian Mounted Infantry, which was official confirmed in 1927.

The regiment received its new guidon, which listed the 10 battle honours of the 10th Light Horse A.I.F. in a ceremony on 10th March, 1928. The "South Africa" battle honour was missing from this guidon and was added in the 1950s.

The regiment's activities were curtailed during the 1920s and 1930s and it was until the declaration of war in 1939 that the regiment became more active and saw extended periods of active service. The official history states that for a brief period between November 1941 and June 1942, the regiment became partially mechanised with one squadron equipped with bren gun carriers, however, from June 1942 the regiment reverted back to its horse mounted role with three squadrons and remained horsed until its disbandment in April, 1944.

10th Light Horse riding down Hay Street, Perth - 1939

(State Library of WA)

 

10th Light Horse tank attack section armed with a Boys anti tank rifle, 21st June, 1943
Left to Right: WX29448 Trooper Thurley; WX26221 Trooper Ritchie; WX26181 Trooper McCavanagh.

(www.awm.gov.au)

This site was last updated 08/12/07.

Unit History Book(s):
Westralian Cavalry at War
LTCOL Olden

Affiliations:
10th Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own) - 1934

Motto:
Percute et Percute Velociter