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Light Horse Military Units
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Light Horse Military Units
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| 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. In 1891 during the Shearers Strike, a State of Emergency was declared and many units were called out for active duty to help maintain order. One of these units was the Moreton Mounted Infantry. The troops were placed on full time duty for five months and served in the Barcaldine, Clermont, Longreach and Charleville districts. One of the Mounted Infantry officers who served at this time was Captain Harry George Chauvel - later to become General Sir Harry Chauvel. Following the Shearers Strike the Mounted Infantry units adopted the emu feather plumes to wear in their felt hats. It was also at this time that the emu was incorporated in the units badge. |
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Presentation of
Guidons 2/14th QMI 1954 File size: 36kb |
Freedom of the City 1976 File Size: 63kb |
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| 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 File Size: 43kb |
 The Modern Trooper |
The Staghound 1951 File Size: 35kb |
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| 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. In 1960 the reorganisation of the Army resulted in the closure of the QMI country depots. A Squadron became a regular army squadron and eventually became B Squadron 1st Cavalry Regiment. |
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17 Pounder Bulimba 1957 |
Canadian Scout 1952 File Size: 41kb |
APCs on patrol File Size: 65kb |
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| 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.
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