following increased political tensions in Europe. In March 1942, during the Second World War, the 12th Light Horse was converted to a motor regiment, known as the 12th Motor Regiment. In September 1942, it was redesignated the 12th Armoured Car Regiment, and assigned to the 3rd Armoured Division. During this period a process of mechanisation resulted in the last of the light horse units giving up their horses. Throughout 1943, the Australian Army was faced with a manpower shortage and as the Japanese threat to mainland Australia decreased many Militia armoured units were broken up and their personnel sent to other units as reinforcements. As a result, the regiment was disbanded on 19 October 1943, having only undertaken garrison duty within Australia. When Australia's part-time military force was reformed in 1948 as the Citizens Military Force, the regiment was not re-raised in its own right, although an amalgamated unit known as the 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers was established. Through this unit the 12th Light Horse Regiment's honours and traditions are perpetuated. Alliances The 12th Light Horse Regiment held the following alliances: United Kingdom – The King's Colonials (Yeomanry); United Kingdom – Royal Scots Greys. Battle honours The 12th Light Horse received the following battle honours: South Africa 1899–1900; First World War: Gallipoli 1915, Suvla, Sari-Bair, Egypt 1915–1917, Rumani, Palestine 1917–1918, Gaza–Beersheba, El Mughar, Nebi Samwill, Jerusalem, Jordan (Es Salt), Megiddo, Sharon, Damascus. Commanding officers The following is a list of the 12th Light Horse Regiment's commanding officers from 1915 to 1919: Lieutenant Colonel Percy Abbott (1915); Lieutenant Colonel John Royston (1916); Lieutenant Colonel Harold McIntosh (1916–1917); Lieutenant Colonel Donald Cameron (1917–1919); Lieutenant Colonel Philip Chambers (1919). Notes Footnotes Citations References External links The Waler: Australia's Great War Horses (2014 documentary) Mounted regiments of Australia Military units and formations established in 1915 Military units and formations disestablished in 1919 1915 establishments in Australia