Skinner's Horse
Known pre-1859 as 1st Irregular Cavalry and post-1859 as 1st (Duke of York's Own) Bengal Lancers
Biography
SKINNER, JAMES (1778-1841)
The son of Lt-Colonel Hercules Skinner and the founder of Skinner's Horse.
James Skinner Wikipedia
SKINNER, THOMAS (1800?-1843)
The son of Lt-General John Skinner. Joined the 16th Regiment of Foot as an ensign in 1816. With the rank of captain changed to 31st Regiment of Foot in 1824 and went to India in 1826. Commanded the regiment with Sir George Pollock's Army of Retribution during the 1st Afghan War and fought at the Battle of Tezin. Made CB and Brevet Colonel. Wrote Excursions in India about his travels in the Himalayas and Adventures during a Journey Overland to India about his journey to India.
Chronology
- 1803 raised by James Skinner as Captain Skinner's Corps of Irregular Horse
- 1823 became 1st Regiment of Local Horse
- 1840 became 1st Bengal Irregular Cavalry
- 1861 became 1st Regiment of Bengal Cavalry
- 1896 became 1st Regiment of Bengal Lancers
- 1899 became 1st (The Duke of York's Own) Regiment of Bengal Lancers
- 1901 became 1st (Duke of York's Own) Bengal Lancers (Skinner's Horse)
- 1903 became 1st Bengal Lancers (Skinner's Horse)
- 1821 became 1st Duke of York's Own Skinner's Horse
- 1947 allocated to India on Partition
Battle Honours
Recommended Reading
- The Recollections of James Skinner of Skinner's Horse by James Skinner. This book can be purchased through the FIBIS Shop
External Links
- Skinner's Horse British Empire website
- Skinner's Horse Wikipedia
- 3rd Skinner's Horse Wikipedia
- James Skinner Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- Thomas Skinner Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- James Skinner from the National Army Museum website
- Skinner’s Horse Thread from Gentleman’s Military Interest Club, with images
- Soldiers of the Queen, Issue 82 September 1995 has drawings of 3rd Skinner’s Horse uniforms on the cover. Click to enlarge. www.victorianmilitarysociety.org.uk
Historical Books Online
- Military memoir of Lieut-Col. James Skinner, C. B.: for many years a distinguished officer commanding a corps of irregular cavalry in the service of the H. E. I. C. by James Baillie Fraser 1851 Volume 1, Volume 2 Google Books
- "Ist Bengal Cavalry" from Incidents in India and Memories of the Mutiny; with some records of Alexander's Horse and the 1st Bengal Cavalry, page 98 by F W. Pitt 1896 Archive.org