Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division

Narrative

The Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division was formed in Egypt in March 1916 from the four Australian and New Zealand mounted brigades assigned to ANZAC. These brigades had fought at Gallipoli as infantry. After the formation of the Australian Mounted Division in June 1917, the division became known as the Anzac Mounted Division.

Even before the division had finished forming, the 1st Light Horse Brigade was sent to the Western Desert to fight the Senussi while the rest of the division moved to the Suez Canal, relieving the 1st Division, which moved to the Western Front. The division soon became involved in raiding the Turkish positions.

An attempt by the Turks to attack the Suez Canal in August 1916 resulted in it being intercepted and defeated by the Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division in the Battle of Romani. The division followed up its victory, pursuing the Turks to the Palestine frontier, capturing major Turkish positions at Magdhaba in December 1916 and Rafah in January 1917.

In March 1917 the division captured Gaza in the First Battle of Gaza but was ordered to withdraw. It played a minor role in the Second Battle of Gaza before participating in the Third, successful Battle of Gaza in October 1917. Afterward it pursued the enemy as far as Jaffa.

In March and again in April 1918, the division made major raids across the Jordan River.

In August 1918, the Anzac Mounted Division participated in the final breakthrough and captured Amman in September 1918, capturing 10,300 prisoners in just nine days.

Units of this division reoccupied Gallipoli in December 1918.

Commanders

• Major General Harry G. Chauvel 16 March 1916 to 20 April 1917
• Major General E.W.C. Chaytor 21 April 1917 to past November 1918

Campaigns

Egypt: Defence of Egypt, Sinai: Romani, Magdhaba, Rafah, Palestine: First Battle of Gaza, Second Battle of Gaza, Third Battle of Gaza, Beersheba,Jerusalem, Jericho, Es Salt, Megiddo, Amman

Memorial (including Australian Mounted Division)

Canberra

Casualties (including Australian Mounted Division)

• killed in action: 1,168
• died of wounds: 566
• other deaths: 598
• prisoners: 83
• wounded: 7,590
• total: 10,005

Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division (Egypt, April 1916)

• Australian and New Zealand  Mounted Division Artillery
  • British 3rd (Territorial Force) Horse Artillery Brigade [8 x 18 pounders]
    • British Leicester, Somerset Batteries
    • British 3rd Horse Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column
  • British 4th (Territorial Force) Horse Artillery Brigade [8 x 18 pounders]
    • British Inverness, Ayr Batteries
    • British 4th Horse Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column
• Anzac Mounted Division Engineers
  • Anzac Field Squadron
  • Anzac Signal Squadron
• Anzac Mounted Division Medical Services
  • 1st,2nd,3rd Light Horse Field Ambulances
  • New Zealand Mounted Field Ambulance
• 1st Light Horse Brigade
  • 1st,2nd,3rd Light Horse Regiments (New South Wales; Queensland and Northern Territory; South Australia and Tasmania)
  • 1st Signal Troop
• 2nd Light Horse Brigade
  • 5th,6th,7th Light Horse Regiments (Queensland;New South Wales; New South Wales)
  • 2nd Signal Troop
• 3rd Light Horse Brigade
  • 8th,9th,10th Light Horse Regiments (Victoria; Victoria and South Australia; Western Australia)
  • 3rd Signal Troop
• New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade
  • New Zealand Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiments 
  • New Zealand Mounted Rifles Signal Troop
• Anzac Mounted Division Train
  • 1st,2nd,3rd Supply Sections
  • New Zealand Mounted Rifles Supply Section
• Anzac Mounted Division Veterinary Services
  • 6th,7th,8th Mobile Veterinary Sections
  • New Zealand 2nd Mobile Veterinary Section

Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division (Egypt, February 1917)

• Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division Horse Artillery
  • British 3rd (Territorial Force) Horse Artillery Brigade [8 x 18 pounders]
    • British Leicester, Somerset Batteries
    • British 3rd Horse Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column
  • British 4th (Territorial Force) Horse Artillery Brigade [8 x 18 pounders]
    • British Inverness, Ayr Batteries
    • British 4th Horse Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column
• Anzac Mounted Division Engineers
  • Anzac Field Squadron
  • Anzac Signal Squadron
• Anzac Mounted Division Medical Services
  • 1st,2nd Light Horse Field Ambulances
  • New Zealand Mounted Field Ambulance
  • British 22nd Mounted Field Ambulance
  • 7th Sanitary Section
• 1st Light Horse Brigade
  • 1st,2nd,3rd Light Horse Regiments (New South Wales; Queensland and Northern Territory; South Australia and Tasmania)
  • 1st Machinegun Squadron [12 x Vickers machine guns]
  • 1st Signal Troop
• 2nd Light Horse Brigade
  • 5th,6th,7th Light Horse Regiments (Queensland; New South Wales; New South Wales)
  • 2nd Machinegun Squadron [12 x Vickers machine guns]
  • 2nd Signal Troop
• New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade
  • New Zealand Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiments
  • New Zealand 1st Machinegun Squadron [12 x Vickers machine guns]
  • New Zealand Mounted Rifles Signal Troop
• British 22nd Mounted Brigade
  • British 1/1 Staffordshire Yeomanry, 1/1 Lincoln Yeomanry, 1/1 East Riding Yeomanry
  • British 18th Machinegun Squadron [12 x Vickers machine guns]
  • British 22nd Mounted Brigade Signal Troop
• Anzac Mounted Division Train
  • 1st,2nd Supply Sections
  • New Zealand Mounted Rifles Supply Section
  • 26th Depot Unit of Supply
• Anzac Mounted Division Veterinary Services
  • 6th,7th Mobile Veterinary Sections
  • New Zealand 2nd Mobile Veterinary Section

Anzac Mounted Division (Palestine, February 1918)

• Anzac Mounted Division Artillery
  • British 18th Horse Artillery Brigade [18 x 13 pounders]
    • British Somerset , Inverness, Ayr Batteries
    • British 18th Horse Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column
• Anzac Mounted Division Engineers
  • 1st Field Squadron
  • 1st Signal Squadron
• Anzac Mounted Division Medical Services
  • 1st,2nd Light Horse Field Ambulances
  • New Zealand Mounted Field Ambulance
  • 7th Sanitary Section
• 1st Light Horse Brigade
  • 1st,2nd,3rd Light Horse Regiments (New South Wales; Queensland and Northern Territory; South Australia and Tasmania)
  • 1st Machinegun Squadron [12 x Vickers machine guns]
  • 1st Signal Troop
• 2nd Light Horse Brigade
  • 5th,6th,7th Light Horse Regiments (Queensland;New South Wales; New South Wales)
  • 2nd Machinegun Squadron [12 x Vickers machine guns]
  • 2nd Signal Troop
• New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade
  • New Zealand Aukland,Canterbury,Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiments
  • New Zealand 1st Machinegun Squadron [12 x Vickers machine guns]
  • New Zealand Mounted Brigade Signal Troop
• Anzac Mounted Division Train
  • 32nd,33rd,34th Australian Army Service Corps Companies
  • 5th New Zealand Army Service Corps Company
  • 26th Depot Unit of Supply
• Anzac Mounted Division Veterinary Services
  • 6th,7th Mobile Veterinary Sections
  • New Zealand 2nd Mobile Veterinary Section

Main 1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division 4th Division 5th Division 6th Division NZ & Australian Division Anzac Mounted Division Australian Mounted Division

Page created by Ross Mallett
ross@metva.com.au
Last update 28 June 2010