Other ranks’ cap badge of the 17th (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Lancers, c1898
NAM. 1955-03-269

Introduction

In 1759 Colonel Hale of the 47th Foot was sent back to Britain with the news of General Wolfe’s death at the Battle of Quebec. As a reward, he was commissioned to raise the 17th Light Dragoons. In memory of Wolfe’s death, their cap badge is a skull and crossed bones and their motto ‘Death or Glory’.

They first served overseas during the American Revolutionary War, where they fought at Bunker Hill and were the only regular unit in Tarleton’s Legion. They fought in the West Indies for eight years early in the French Revolutionary Wars, gaining the unusual nickname of ‘Horse Marines’ when two troops of the regiment embarked on HMS Success, which was then without its Royal Marine contingent.

In 1806 the regiment was sent to reinforce the British force sent to capture the Spanish colony of Buenos Aires, and then in 1808 to India to protect the interests of the East India Company. They finally returned to Britain in 1823 and found out en route that the Army List had converted them into a Lancers regiment.

The 17th Lancers in the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava, 1854
NAM. 2002-07-339

They spent the next 30 years on garrison duty in Britain and Ireland. During this time, in 1842, Queen Victoria’s grandson the Duke of Cambridge became their colonel-in-chief – the unit took his name as part of its own in 1876. In 1854 they were sent to the Crimea, where they took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade and three years later were sent to India as reinforcements during the Mutiny there. They also fought in the Zulu and Boer Wars.

Despite not being an Indian Army unit, they were deployed to the Western Front as part of the 1st Indian Cavalry Division in October 1914, serving in the trenches and only resuming mounted duties in early 1918. They then spent two years in Ireland until 1921, when they returned to Britain. There, again in recognition of their repeated service in India, they were merged in 1922 with the 21st Lancers (Empress of India’s), a former East India Company unit, to form the 17th/21st Lancers.

Key facts

Motto:

• ‘Death or Glory’

Nicknames:

• The Death or Glory Boys
• The Horse Marines
• Bingham’s Dandies (from the elaborate uniforms required by its commander Lord Bingham, later known as Lord Lucan and also famous for ordering the Charge of the Light Brigade)
• The Tots
• Skull and Crossbones (after their cap badge)
• The White Lancers (after their white facings)

Titles to date:

• 18th Regiment of (Light Dragoons)
• Hale’s Light Horse
• 3rd Regiment of Light Dragoons
• 17th Regiment of (Light) Dragoons
• 17th Regiment of Lancers
• 17th (The Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Lancers
• 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge’s Own)
• 17th/21st Lancers
• The Queen’s Royal Lancers

21st Lancers (Empress of India’s)

Cap badge of the 21st Lancers, c1900
NAM. 1955-05-5-28

Introduction

Three units known as the 21st Light Dragoons were raised and then disbanded in the British Army between 1760 and 1820. The ancestor of a fourth was raised in 1858 as the 3rd Bengal European Light Cavalry as a unit of the East India Company in the aftermath of the Indian Mutiny. With the loyalty of Indian cavalry in doubt, the new unit was entirely made up of Europeans.

However, less than a year after its formation, the British government disbanded the Company and took control of all its army units. Some of these formed the core of a new Indian Army, but the 3rd Bengal European Light Cavalry was transferred to the British Army and in 1862 was renamed the 21st Regiment of Hussars.

Charge of the 21st Lancers at Omdurman, 1898
Oil on canvas by Edward Matthew Hale, 1899
NAM. 1957-04-4

It turned into a Lancers regiment in 1897 and a year later took part in the last major British cavalry charge at the Battle of Omdurman during the Sudan War. Then an officer with the 4th Hussars, Winston Churchill was attached to the 21st Lancers during the battle and the regiment’s conduct there won it the title ‘Empress of India’s Lancers’.

It spent the First World War stationed on the North West Frontier, winning it as a battle honour. Private Hull from the regiment won the Victoria Cross for his actions in that theatre in 1915. After the war they were brought back to Britain, at first to prepare for disbandment and then for amalgamation with the 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge’s), to form the 17th/21st Lancers.

Key facts

Motto:

• ‘Death or Glory’

Titles to date:

• 3rd Bengal European Light Cavalry
• 21st Regiment of Hussars
• 21st Lancers
• 21st (Empress of India’s) Lancers
• 21st Lancer’s (Empress of India’s)
• 17th/21st Lancers
• The Queen’s Royal Lancers

 

17th/21st Lancers

Collar badge of the 17th/21st Lancers, c1980.
NAM. 1994-01-87

Introduction

The unit was formed in 1922 by merging the 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge’s) and the 21st Lancers (Empress of India’s), as the British Army adjusted to peacetime conditions after the First World War.

Five years later the British Army abolished the lance as a weapon, but it was only in 1938 that the 17th/21st Lancers were mechanised instead, during a posting to Meerut in India.

The oncoming Second World War saw them posted back to England to guard against a German invasion. They then joined 6th Armoured Division, remaining with it in Britain until November 1942, when they were posted to North Africa. There they helped block the Thala to Kasserine road against the German advance and fought in the Battle of Fondouk. They then spent nine months out of action before being deployed to Italy in March 1944 for the attacks on the Gustav Line and Gothic Line.

Chapka worn by the 17th Lancers and the 17th/21st Lancers, c1856. NAM. 1981-01-14-1

In the immediate aftermath of the war they were stationed on peacekeeping and occupation duties in Austria, Greece, Suez and Palestine, becoming an armoured car regiment and also operating armoured rail cars. Other post-war postings included Germany, Northern Ireland, Borneo, Aden, Libya and Cyprus.

It finally provided over two squadrons for the First Gulf War before being amalgamated in 1993 with the 16th/5th Lancers to form The Queen’s Royal Lancers

Key facts

Motto:

• ‘Death or Glory’

Nickname:

• The Death or Glory Boys

Titles to date:

• 17th/21st Lancers
• The Queen’s Royal Lancers