3/9 Light Horse (South Australian Mounted Rifles)

Welcome

Welcome to 3/9 Light Horse

 

Broadmeadows Road Smithfield, is the home of today’s 3rd/9th Light Horse (South Australian Mounted Rifles), and is the training Armoured Corps unit in South Australia.
The unit consists of over 100 personnel who still train with the same intensity, pride and professionalism as the founding members of the unit did many years ago.
Today’s horses are Armoured Personnel Carriers, or APC’s as they are known and provide significant firepower and support to other Australian Army units when required.
The main characteristics of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) are; firepower, mobility, protection, communications, endurance and flexibility.
In peacetime, the unit continues to train on a regular basis and there are specific requirements and skill levels to reach to enable proficiency in many varied areas.
All RAAC corps members complete basic recruit training before progressing to further more-specific corps training, most of which occurs at Puckapunyal, in Victoria.
On a more local basis, the 3rd/9th LH unit provides support as required to other 9th Brigade Army Reserve units during training activities both in South Australia and Tasmania.

  

 

APC on display

Armoured personnel carrier on display at Glenelg Beach

Funeral service for Bert Whitmore

State funeral service for Bert Whitmore, Australia's last Light Horseman

 Unit members are also very community minded and will help out their local community wherever possible. Their last assistance was for the winter St Vinnie’s Blanket Appeal when unit members collected blankets and clothing (using the inside of an APC as a collection bin) for those less fortunate.
The 3rd/9th LH at Smithfield is continuously looking to recruit part-time members into their unit.
Advantages of being in the Army Reserve include tax-free pay, the opportunity to learn new and technical skills (some of which are transferable to the civil workplace), and the friendships that are made can and often will, last a lifetime.
As well as the opportunity to learn to drive the APC’s, the unit is also looking for store-persons, clerks, cooks, medics, mechanics to name a few of the opportunities.
Anyone interested in helping to continue the long and significant traditions of the Light Horsemen can contact the unit for further information on 8254 6177, or call the 9th Brigade recruiting office on 8305 6663.