2/14th Light Horse Regiment (QMI)
The 2/14th Queensland Infantry was formed when volunteers were called by proclamation on 18th February 1860 by the first Governor of Queensland, Sir George Ferguson Bowen. In 1864 the unit was renamed Queensland Light Horse. Under the 'Defence Act of 1884' there was a reorganisation and the unit name changed in 1885 to Moreton Mounted Infantry. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Presentation of Guidons 2/14th QMI 1954 | Freedom of the City 1976 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In 1897 the Mounted Infantry were reorganised as the Queensland Mounted Infantry consisting of 11 companies. By 1901 the Queensland Mounted Infantry had been organised as a Brigade of four Battalions of some 20 companies with a strength of 1200 officers and men. On the 10th July 1899 the Premier of Queensland, the Honourable J.R. Dickson, offered troops to help Great Britain against the Boers in South Africa. This was the first offer of assistance made by any of the Australian Colonies. It was accepted and one company of Mounted Infantry was detailed for duty. Although the Queensland contingent was not the first to see action, they were the first to suffer casualties. Private V.S. Jones and Private D.C. McLeod, killed in an engagement at Sunnyside, were the first Australians ever to be killed in action. In the period following the Boer War the State forces were amalgamated to form the Commonwealth Military Forces. In the changes the four battalions of the QMI were reformed as the 13th, 14th and 15th Australian Light Horse Regiments (Queensland Mounted Infantry). King Edward VII awarded a King's Banner to each unit which served in the South African War and in 1904 each of the three Regiments of the QMI was represented in Melbourne where the banners were presented by the Governor-General. In 1908 each regiment was further awarded the Battle Honour "SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1900-1-2". With the introduction of compulsory military service the army was expanded and in 1912 the designation of the units of the QMI were again changed to 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 27th Light Horse Regiments (QMI). During World War 1 these units continued to serve at home and in 1914 a volunteer expeditionary force, the Australian Imperial Force, was formed. The 2nd ALH served at Anzac on the Gallipoli Peninsula where it distinguished itself at Quinn's Post, Sari Bair and Suvla and later served in Egypt, Palestine and Syria. Some of the actions in which the Regiment took part included Romani, Charge of Magdhaba, Rafa, Gaza, Beersheba, Jerusalem, Megiddo and Jordan.
Battle Honours
On the outbreak of World War 2 in 1939 the serving units of QMI were 2nd/14th, 5th and 11th Light Horse Regiments forming the 1st Cavalry Brigade. In August 1940 the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment was unlinked and the 14th was raised in Eastern Command as 14th Light Horse (MG) Regiment. 14th Light Horse (MG) Regiment became 14th Motor Regiment in March 1942 and was disbanded in May 1942. The troops were sent to 2nd/4th Armoured Regiment and 3 Army Tank Brigade.
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Prince of Wales Cup 1957 |  The Modern Trooper | The Staghound 1951 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
During 1952 the regiment was changed to a heavy tank unit however it continued to train with the same equipment. In 1956 the role changed to anti-tank. Initially the unit was equipped with 6 pounder and 17 pounder guns but these were soon replaced, firstly by 120mm (BAT) anti-tank guns and finally by 106mm Recoilless Rifles. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
17 Pounder Bulimba 1957 | Canadian Scout 1952 | APCs on patrol | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| During 1966 2nd/14th QMI was once again designated a Cavalry Regiment and re-equipped with Staghound Armoured Cars, Ferret Scout Cars and Saracen APC's. The Regiment was reduced to a squadron on 31st July 1976 and continued to train in the cavalry role using vehicles of the M113A1 family. 21st February 1980 saw the arrival of the first Fire Support Vehicle (Scorpion) mounting a 76mm gun. On 2nd December 1980 the unit again became a Regiment and on 31st October 1981 was renamed 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry). In June 1986 the Regiment became an integrated regular army and army reserve unit which saw it's end as a primarily citizen soldier Regiment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
