Historical information

A guidon is the regimental banner or flag carried by a regiment of light cavalry or light horse. The 8th light Horse (Indi) Regiment was presented with the guidon circa 1927. The actual date is not certain. The guidon carries the battle honours accorded to the regiment for service in the South African War (1899-1902), World War One (!914-1918) and World War Two (1939-1945). The guidon passed into the custody of the 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regiment when it was raised on 1 May 1948.
At Federation, the Victorian Mounted Rifles companies in North East Victoria were reorganised into the 8th Light Horse Regiment. In 1912 the regiment was renumbered 16th Light Horse.
The 8th Light Horse Regiment AIF was raised at Broadmeadows Victoria in September 1914 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander White and formed part of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade. The regiment served at Gallipoli where in a courageous but ill-fated charge at the Nek on 7 August 1915 it suffered horrendous casualties including Lieutenant Colonel White. Rebuilt in Egypt under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Maygar VC the regiment went on the serve throughout the Middle East Campaign. Colonel Maygar died of wounds at Beersheba when the regiment was attacked by enemy aircraft while waiting to follow up the successful charge of the 4th LH Brigade on 30 October 1917. The 8th Light Horse AIF was disbanded in 1919, but soon after re-raised as the 8th (Indi) Light Horse in the Citizen Military Forces, superseding 16th (Indi) Light Horse. It had its headquarters at Benalla with sub-units throughout the Upper Murray and Northeast Victoria. In December 1941, the regiment converted from horse to mechanised, initially as 8th Reconnaissance Battalion then in July 1942 it became 8th Cavalry Regiment and served in Northern Territory. As Japanese threat to the mainland declined the regiment was disbanded.
In 1948, the 8th Light Horse was linked with 13th and 20th Regiments to form the 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles in the Citizen Military Forces.

Physical description

Guidon of the 8th Light Horse Regiment. Maroon corded cotton double thickness fabric with gold metal thread fringe, gold embroidered regimental number in Roman numerals, regimental badge and battle honours; colour patch below badge. Braided corded with tassels.

Inscriptions & markings

Battle honours: "South Africa 1899-1902, Sari Bair, Maghdaba-Rafah, Jerusalem, Megiddo, Damascus, Defence of ANZAC, Rumani, Gaza-Beersheba, Jordan (Es Salt), Sharon, South West Pacific 1943-1944"