The Australian Mounted Division originally formed as the Imperial Mounted Division in January 1917, was a mounted infantry, light horse and yeomanry division. The division was formed in Egypt, and along with the Anzac Mounted Division formed part of Desert Column, Egyptian Expeditionary Force in World War I. The division was originally made up of the Australian 3rd Light Horse Brigade, (formerly Anzac Mounted Division) the reconstituted 4th Light Horse Brigade, and two British yeomanry brigades; the 5th Mounted Brigade and 6th Mounted Brigade.

History

Formation

The Imperial Mounted Division was formed in Egypt in 1917 by bringing together two Australian Light Horse brigades, two British Yeomanry brigades, and a British horse artillery brigade (four batteries). These units were: The division was also provided with support units, mostly assigned or attached directly to the brigades, but including an engineer squadron, a signals squadron, and train.

Service history

The division joined the Desert Column alongside the ANZAC Mounted Division. During the First Battle of Gaza, the division (as the Imperial Mounted Division) provided protection from counter-attack on the eastern flank while the main infantry assault was underway. The brigades became the rearguard during the withdrawal from Gaza after the attack was called off.

<!-- # Composition ## 5th Mounted Brigade (January 1917 – April 1918) With the division, it took part in the [First](https://bliptext.com/articles/first-battle-of-gaza) and [Second](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-battle-of-gaza) Battles of Gaza. The brigade remained with the division when it was renamed **Australian Mounted Division** on 30 June 1917. It then took part in the [Third Battle of Gaza](https://bliptext.com/articles/third-battle-of-gaza) including the [Capture of Beersheba](https://bliptext.com/articles/battle-of-beersheba-1917) and the [Battle of Mughar Ridge](https://bliptext.com/articles/battle-of-mughar-ridge). It also resisted the Turkish counter-attacks in the [Turkish Defence of Jerusalem](https://bliptext.com/articles/battle-of-jerusalem-1917). Three of the brigade's squadrons took part in the [Charge at Huj](https://bliptext.com/articles/charge-at-huj), the last British cavalry charge against enemy guns. In March 1918, the [2nd Indian Cavalry Division](https://bliptext.com/articles/2nd-indian-cavalry-division) was broken up in France. The Canadian ([Canadian Cavalry Brigade](https://bliptext.com/articles/canadian-cavalry-brigade)) and British units ([7th Dragoon Guards](https://bliptext.com/articles/7th-dragoon-guards), [8th Hussars](https://bliptext.com/articles/8th-hussars) and [N](https://bliptext.com/articles/n-battery-royal-horse-artillery) and [X Batteries, RHA](https://bliptext.com/articles/x-battery-royal-horse-artillery)) remained in France and the Indian elements were sent to Egypt. By an [Egyptian Expeditionary Force](https://bliptext.com/articles/egyptian-expeditionary-force) GHQ Order of 12 April 1918, the mounted troops of the EEF were reorganised when the Indian Army units arrived in [theatre](https://bliptext.com/articles/theater-warfare). On 24 April 1918, the [2nd Mounted Division](https://bliptext.com/articles/5th-cavalry-division-british-indian-army) was formed on the Indian Establishment; 5th Mounted Brigade was merged with elements of the [3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade](https://bliptext.com/articles/3rd-ambala-cavalry-brigade) and assigned to the new division. # [Charge at Huj, by Lady Butler | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Lady///Butlers///Charge///at///Huj.jpg] ## 6th Mounted Brigade (January 1917 – June 1917) With the division, it took part in the [First](https://bliptext.com/articles/first-battle-of-gaza) and [Second](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-battle-of-gaza) Battles of Gaza. The complete brigade was transferred to the newly formed [Yeomanry Mounted Division](https://bliptext.com/articles/yeomanry-mounted-division) on 27 June 1917, joining it at el Maraqeb. ## 5th Light Horse Brigade (from mid-1918) ## XIX Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery (T.F.) On establishment the Imperial Mounted Division had been supplied with [18–pounder artillery guns](https://bliptext.com/articles/ordnance-qf-18-pounder). In September 1917 the guns were replaced with [13-pounders](https://bliptext.com/articles/ordnance-qf-13-pounder), making the division "even more capable," according to Erickson. Each battery was equipped with four [Ordnance QF 13 pounder](https://bliptext.com/articles/ordnance-qf-13-pounder) field guns. -->

Battles

The division served in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign from formation through to the end of the First World War including

Orders of battle