"Cavalry bugles; when obsolete?" Topic

We're rewatching "The Lighthorsemen" movie this evening, a film set in 1917, the Near East, and I'm noticing that the Australian Light Horse and the Turkish cavalry are relying on hand signals and voice commands -- no bugles, no guidons -- was this how a cavalry regiment or squadron would have operated on active service by those times? In the context of this film (just a movie, but one that seems to try and do things right by history), a signal bugle would seem to make a lot of sense. But they have vanished. We're obviously late in the history of horse cavalry, but when did buglers cease to be a feature of mounted combat; any well-informed folks here who can weigh in?

The Australian Light Horse were not considered cavalry. More like dragoons.
Th us, no sabers. They charged with bayonets.

I have nothing for Turkish horse.

Also note that in "We were Soldiers", they did use bugles.

The US Cav used bugles, as well as voice commands and hand signals. Buglers were part of the horse cavalry until the units were disbanded.

Some indication they were used in Combat as late as WW2 – but might just be fancy and creative license

"These were from the German 17th Cavalry Regiment. They drew their sabers as a bugle called and they thundered down the hill towards the Polish cavalry."

link

A piece on an Italian Charge against the Soviets in 1942 – mentions "Trumpeter Carenzi, having to handle both trumpet and pistol, unintentionally shot his own horse in the head" – referenced to an interview with a veteran

link

Found a reference to US Cavalry – 1916

"On 5 May 1916, the 11th Cavalry had the honor of making what proved to be the last mounted charge in regular US Cavalry history. … "The column advanced onto the village to be found out by guards. The bugler sounded and with guidon flying on high the charge began."

link

Lastly found this piece from 1937 looking at a US Cavalry Bugler – Humorous read – but seems very real

Wilson says, "It was hard blowing a bugle, riding a horse and staying alive at the same time."

link

The US Cavalry used bugles in WW2 as did Polish and Russian Cavalry. Japanese had cavalry versus the Russians in 1939. They also used them in China.

I don't believe the 1st Air Cavalry engaged the enemy on horseback, I could be mistaken.

British Cavalry and Yeomanry units that were still mounted used bugles, so that is the entire 1st Cavalry Division 1939-40, with gradual mechanization through 1941 until the last units give up their horses in 1942. Plenty of action in Syria.

The ALH did have bugles, one in each troop. In A & D Troops these were issued to Trumpeters, and in B & C Troops to Signalers. I think they actually sound Last Post on Roy Wynter's bugle at some ANZAC events. Wynter was a Signaler in 12th ALH and fought at, among other places, Beersheba. The move is fun, but don't take the history too seriously.

I will pick a bone with the 11th ACR site: 26th Cavalry made the last mounted charge in Regular US Cavalry history in 1942. I think some people put an asterisk by this because G Troop comprised Philippine Scouts, which ignores the fact that the 26th and the PS were both constituted in the Regular Army.

Fascinating. Thanks for the replies! Always someone here who knows more than I do.

I rather suspect that – assuming the bugler wanted to keep all of his teeth – the charge, as such, was never actually sounded (it wasn't, eg, for the charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War). I say this after numerous conversations with re-enactors and former soldiers who have attempted the feat whilst riding at the appropriate speed on horseback and who gave it up as a bad job, leaving the CO to shout himself "horse" (pun intended).