6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse)
abbreviation=


caption=
dates= 1851 - 1947
country=British India
allegiance= British Crown
branch= British Indian Army
type= Cavalry
role=
size= Regiment
command_structure=Indian Cavalry Corps
equipment=
Past Commanders=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=Duke of Connaught
notable_commanders=General Sir John Watson VC, GCB (1829-1919)
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_2=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=Afghanistan 1878-80
Tel-el-Kebir
Egypt 1882
Punjab Frontier
China 1900
Shaiba
Kut-al-Amara 1915-17
Ctesiphon
Tigris 1916
Baghdad
Sharqat
Mesopotamia 1915-18
North West Frontier
India 1915
Afghanistan 1919
Battle of Trigno
Battle of Tufillo
Battle of Sangro
Battle of Moro
Battle of Cassino II
Battle of Pignataro
Advance to the Liri Valley
Battle of Senio
Battle of Santerno Crossing
Italy 1943-45

The 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse) was a regular cavalry regiment in the British Indian Army formed from the 13th Duke of Connaught's Lancers (Watson's Horse) and the 16th Cavalry. The Regiment saw saw active service on the North West Frontier in China during the Boxer Rebellion and in both World Wars.

Early History 13th Duke of Connaught's Lancers

The 13th Duke of Connaught's Lancer was originally raised as the 4th Sikh Irregular Cavalry in 1858 by Lieutenant John Watson. His command only lasted for eleven years but his name was in common use as the regiments title until confirmed officially in 1904.cite web|title=defence.journal|url=http://www.defencejournal.com/may99/6th-duke.htm]

Army changes in 1861 saw the 4th Sikh Irregular Cavalry become the 13th Bengal Cavalry and, in 1864, the 13th Bengal Lancers. Their first battle-honour was awarded for service in the Second Afghan War they were next in action in Egypt against Arabi Pasha and fought in the Battle of Tel el-Kebir.

They so impressed the Duke of Connaught that he asked his mother Queen Victoria if he might become the Colonel of the 13th.

In 1897 the regiment gained another battle honour, Punjab Frontier for service during the tribal uprisings on the North West Frontier.

In 1903 the 13th became the 13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers and in 1906, 'Watson's Horse' was added as a subsidiary title.

World War I

During World War I the regiment remained on the North West Frontier until July 1916 when they were moved to Mesopotamia for the relief of Kut-al-Amara.

Early History 16th Cavalry

The 16th originated as the Rohikand Horse in 1857. There was no shortage of volunteers and, on formation, the regiment received a European sergeant from the 4th Hussars who contrived for himself a permanent posting and rose to the rank of Risaldar, normally an Indian officer's rank.

In 1864 the regiment was a part of the Bhutan Field Force afterwards they were disbanded in 1882 when three regiments were broken up to provide an additional, fourth squadron for the other regiments.After fears of a Russian invasion approval was gained for a increase in strength and the 16th Cavalry was reformed in 1885 at Ambala.In 1900, as the 16th Bengal Lancers, they went to China to relieve the international legations in Peking which were being besieged by the Boxers.On relieving the American Legation, the 16th were presented with the US flag which had flown over the building and, for many years, the flag hung in the Officers' Mess.(Dramatised in the film 55 Days at Peking)

World War I

In 1915, the 16th Cavalry, joined the Indian Expeditionary Force and served in Mesopotamia.

Between the Wars

After World War I both regiments returned to India for service in Afghanistan and for the Waziristan Campaign in 1919.Before the formal amalgamation in 1921 as the 13/16th Cavalry this name only lasted a year before they became the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers.The new badge was to be crossed lances with a figure '6' on the intersection and a generous scroll across the lance-butts, reading 'The Duke of Connaught's Own'.

During this time they were part of the 1st Cavalry Brigade with the Guides Cavalry on the North West Frontier and received a commendation for their part in the action on the Khajuri Plain when the Afridi made to advance upon Peshawar in support of the Civil Disobedience movement then fashionable in India.

World War II

At the start of World War II the regiment was still a horsed unit and just starting mechanisation to become part of the 10th Indian Division as the divisional reconnaissance regiment but the Iraq crises in April 1942 changed that.Being equipped with South African Morris armoured cars, the regiment was dispatched to Iraq to join the 8th Indian Division part of the British Tenth Army.In September 1942, they were transferred to the 6th Indian Division in Persia to meet any possible German threat through the Caucasus, but returned to the 8th Indian Division for operations in Italy the following year..They were now equipped with tracked carriers and landed in Italy in October 1943.In Italy the regiment was involved in the actions at Trigno,Tufillo,Sangro,Moro,Second Battle of Cassino,Pignataro,Liri Valley, Senio and Santerno Crossing.The Italian campaign ended on May 2 , 1945 and the Regiment returned to India in June..

Partition

In August 1947. Partition saw the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers allotted to Pakistan. Their Jat Squadron went to the 7th Light Cavalry in exchange for their Punjabi Mussalman squadron whilst their Sikh Squadron went to the 8th King George V's Own Light Cavalry in change for the 8th's Punjabi Mussalman squadron.

Further Reading

:'The 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers in Italy' by Major F. Brock. (Pub: privately 1948)

Changes in Title

:Pre-1903 13th Duke of Connaught's Own Bengal Lancers 16th Bengal Lancers :1903 13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers 16th Lancers :1906 13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse) 16th Cavalry :1921 13/16th Cavalry :1922 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers

References