Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Inter-War, Australia, Western Australia, Claremont, 10 Light Horse. 1936

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Overview

Named group at Claremont Showgrounds Camp 1936

Historical information

To perpetuate the traditions and distinctions of the Australian Imperial Force, in July 1919 all CMF units were re-designated with the unit numbers of the AIF. The 25th Australian Light Horse Regiment was renamed the 10th Australia Light Horse Regiment, while retaining the territorial title Western Australia Mounted Infantry (WAMI). In 1923 the regiment was awarded the right to carry the battle honour “South Africa 1900-02” for the Second Boer War.
Due to financial restraint, there were only occasional camps between 1925 and 1938. The regiment was called up for training in November 1939, spending a month camped just south of Woodman Point on the location of the abandoned Naval Base. They returned in January 1940 for three months' training, during which time they were visited by Lord Gowrie, the Governor-General.
During World War 2, the regiment underwent several name changes in order to show its varying roles. In 1943, it was gazetted as an Australian Imperial Force unit, after the majority of its personnel volunteered to serve overseas. This did not occur, though, and instead, its main task was the defence of south-west Australia. During this period, the regiment was also partially mechanised, although it did retain horses which were used to patrol the coastline. It was the last regiment in Australia to employ horses. It was disbanded on 14 April 1944. The unit was reformed as a single squadron in 1949, when it became fully mechanised and was renamed the 10th Western Australian Mounted Infantry.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-99-132A

Inscriptions and markings

The mounted infantry designation In Western Australia, predates Federation It was the custom for the volunteer infantry at major centres to form, within themselves, small bodies of mounted infantry for the purpose of performing certain cavalry duties. By 1900, four such bodies existed at Perth, Guildford, Geraldton and Bunbury. These units were brought together under a single command and with the title Western Australia Mounted Infantry (WAMI). During the Boer War, Western Australia despatched five contingents to South Africa bearing the name Western Australia Mounted Infantry (WAMI), although these contingents were not part of the part-time Western Australian mounted volunteer who also bore this same name.

Contextual Information

This photograph is part of the extensive Phil Sullivan 10th Light Horse Collection donated to the Army Museum in November 2023.

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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