The Anzac Mounted Division was a mounted infantry (light horse) division formed in March 1916 in Egypt during World War I following the Battle of Gallipoli when the Australian and New Zealand mounted regiments returned from fighting as infantry. For the remainder of the war it served in the Middle East, in the Sinai, Palestine and Syria.

The title Anzac indicated its composite Australian and New Zealand nature and as such was possibly the first official use of this term for this purpose, rather than as a designation for an army corps.

Unit History

Formation

The division contained three or four mounted brigades. At is core were the following three brigades:

Australian 1st Light Horse Brigade  

• 1st Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales)
• 2nd Light Horse Regiment (Queensland and Northern Territory)
• 3rd Light Horse Regiment (South Australia and Tasmania)

Australian 2nd Light Horse Brigade  

• 5th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland)
• 6th Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales)
• 7th Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales)

New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade  

• Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment
• Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment
• Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment

During the Sinai campaign, the Australian 3rd Light Horse Brigade was also part of the division before moving to the Imperial Mounted Division (which was subsequently retitled the Australian Mounted Division). During 1917 the British 22nd Mounted (Yeomanry) Brigade was attached to the division.

Battles

Sinai

• Battle of Romani
• Battle of Magdhaba
• Battle of Rafa.

Palestine

• First Battle of Gaza - 2nd Brigade and NZ Brigade
• Second Battle of Gaza
• Third Battle of Gaza
  • Battle of Beersheba

Syria

External links

First AIF Order of Battle 1914-1918: Anzac Mounted Division