British Army Cavalry Regiments
History
The cavalry regiments of the British Army began to be established following the restoration of Charles II. Horse regiments fought as mounted cavalry whereas dragoons were originally mounted infantry. Originally named after their colonel, and so changing name with each new commanding officer, in 1751 the regiments were numbered according to seniority. At first there was a distinction between the light cavalry (Light Dragoon regiments) and the heavy cavalry (Dragoon and Dragoon Guard regiments). At the beginning of the 19th century light dragoon regiments began to be called hussars or lancers. By 1861 the heavy cavalry consisted of three regiments of dragoons and seven of dragoon guards. The light cavalry consisted of nine regiments of hussars and five of lancers. In 1862 the three European Light Cavalry regiments from the Bengal Army were transferred to the British Army. The titles of the cavalry units are generally those in use in 1861.
Listed below are the British Army Cavalry Regiments that served in British India and for which there are separate detailed articles.
Terminology: |
Dragoon |
Hussar |
Lancer |
Dragoon Guards
- 1st Dragoon Guards
- 2nd Dragoon Guards
- 3rd (Prince of Wales') Dragoon Guards
- 4th Dragoon Guards
- 6th Dragoon Guards/The Carabiniers
- 7th Dragoon Guards
Light Dragoons
- 3rd The King's Own Hussars
- 4th Hussars
- 5th Dragoons / Lancers
- 7th (Queen's Own) Hussars
- 8th Light Dragoons / Hussars
- 9th (The Queen's Royal) Lancers
- 10th Light Dragoons / Hussars
- 11th Light Dragoons / Hussars
- 12th Light Dragoons / Lancers
- 13th Light Dragoons / Hussars
- 14th Light Dragoons / Hussars
- 15th Dragoons / Hussars
- 16th Lancers
- 17th Dragoons / Lancers
- 18th Hussars
- 19th Light Dragoons / Lancers
- 20th Hussars
- 21st Hussars
- 22nd Light Dragoons
- 23rd Light Dragoons
- 24th Light Dragoons
- 25th Light Dragoons
- 27th Light Dragoons
External Links
Cavalry regiments of the British Army Wikipedia
British Regiments in India Where & When