AIF - 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment

The regiment that would eventually become the 8th Light Horse Regiment was formed at Broadmeadows camp in Victoria on 23rd September 1914 as the 6th Light Horse Regiment. A reorganisation of the rapidly expanding AIF in early October resulted in the 6th being renumbered the 8th, and it became part of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade. It sailed from Melbourne on the 24th February 1914 and arrived in Egypt on 14th March 1915. It fought in many battles at Gallipoli and Palestine before sailing home to Australia on 3rd July 1919.

The 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment on parade, Altona Bay, Victoria, December 1914

(www.awm.gov.au)

Portrait of Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Leslie C Maygar VC DSO VD, Commanding Officer of the 8th Light Horse Regiment. Lt Col Maygar died of wounds during the battle of Beersheba on 1st November 1917

(www.awm.gov.au)

This page was last updated 03/02/07.

Tradition

Date of Formation:
23rd September 1914

Date of Disbandment:
August 1919

Casualties:
302 killed, 675 wounded

Decorations:
3 DSO
8 MC
10 DCM
13 MM
36 MID
3 Foreign awards

State Raised:
Victoria

Unit Colour Patch:

Unit History Book(s)
Maygar's boys: a biographical history of the 8th Light Horse Regiment AIF 1914-19
C.V. Simpson

Traditions inherited by:

Prince of Wales's Light Horse (via amalgamation with the 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles during the 1990s).

8th Light Horse Regiment Colour Patch

(www.awm.gov.au)

8th Light Horse Regiment Association Badge

(www.awm.gov.au)

8th Australian Light Horse Regiment

Tradition

The Regiment

Personnel

Battles

Picture Gallery