12 Australian Light Horse Regiment was formed at Holsworthy (NSW) in 1915 – many of the recruits being 'natural horsemen’, good shots and acquainted with living in the open.

   They went into action at Gallipoli, without horses and fighting as normal infantry.

    By February 1916, the regiment had been remounted in Egypt and joined  the main Australian Light Horse force to help eject the Turks from the Sinai, Palestine and Arabia.

    The men endured intense heat, frequent thirst, limited shelter and a lack of success against the stubborn Turkish defences at Gaza, then played a leading role at the Charge on Beersheba.

    In one of the greatest Australian feat of arms, the 12th and 4th regiments, did a ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ and rode straight into the mouths of the Turkish guns.

    The wild, almost reckless, charge swept into the town and overwhelmed the defences. Most of the enemy immediately surrendered.

   After Beersheba, the regiment took part in the capture of Damascus.

   The regiment returned to Australia in 1919 and passed into Australian military history.

CONTAINS A FULL NOMINAL ROLL