While the name of the 10th Light Horse originated in the first months of World War I, the regiment traces its ceremonial lineage to mounted infantry units of the Colonial militia of Western Australia, raised during the late 19th century, such as the Western Australian Mounted Infantry.

By a combination of rifle clubs, infantry regiments and mounted units, the defence of Western Australia was based on the concept of guerrilla war being waged on any potential invader.

Unfortunately, the cost for the individual of being in the Light Horse was in excess of the sustenance allowance received and the numbers dropped alarmingly.

The man whose personal energy singularly saved the WAMI from oblivion during this period was Noel Brazier, an officer from Kirup, Western Australia.

[13] The regiment was sent to Egypt as part of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade, embarking from Fremantle on the Mashobra[14] in two stages, beginning 7 February 1915,[15] arriving on 8 March 1915.

The regiment's action at the Nek during this offensive was immortalised in the final scenes of the 1981 Peter Weir film Gallipoli.

[10] Reverting to its original mounted infantry role, the regiment saw service in the Middle East for the remainder of the war, taking part in numerous actions including those at Romani and Beersheba.

The regiment was later given the honour of leading the Australian Mounted Division, and accepted the formal surrender of the city of Damascus on 1 October 1918.

This oversight was corrected and from this time they bore these battle honours in addition to those granted to the AIF 10th light Horse Regiment.

[6] The regiment was called up for training in November 1939, spending a month camped just south of Woodman Point on the location of the abandoned Naval Base.

[6][17] After the war, it was reformed as a single squadron in 1949, when it became fully mechanised and was renamed the 10th Western Australian Mounted Infantry,[21] operating Staghound and Canadian Scout armoured cars.

Expanded to a full regiment in 1952, it was again renamed as the 10th Light Horse in 1956 when it was equipped with Staghounds, Saracens and Ferrets, before being reduced to a single independent squadron again in 1976.

Under Plan Beersheba the squadron was task with pairing with Regular and Reserve cavalry units to provide Bushmaster crews in support of the ready multi-role combat brigade.