7th Light Cavalry

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 7th Light Cavalry
abbreviation=


caption=
dates= 1784 - 1947
country=British India
allegiance=British Crown
branch= British Indian Army
type= Cavalry
role=
size= Regiment
command_structure=Indian Cavalry Corps
equipment= Horse
Past Commanders=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_2=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=Third Mysore War
Fourth Mysore War
Pindari War
World War I
World War II
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=Mysore
Seringapatam
Mahidpur
Merv
Persia-1915
Imphal
Kyaukmaung Bridgehead
Meiktila
Mandalay
Rangoon Road
Burma 1942-45

The 7th Light Cavalry, was a regular army cavalry regiment in the British Indian Army , they first come into British service with the East India Company and went on to serve on the North West Frontier and in World War I and World War II.

Formation

The history of this regiment can be traced to 1784 when they had been hired from the Nawab of Arcot by the East India Company , when these regiments mutinied for lack of pay John Company was forced to quell the mutiny. The regiments involved were disbanded and from the remnants, volunteers formed the 2nd Madras Cavalry which would eventually become the 7th Light Cavalry.

They soon changed their title to the 3rd Madras Native Cavalry and it was under that title that they were first in action during the Third Mysore War in 1790 against Tipu Sultan.cite web|title=bharat-rakshak|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=28&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26#]

They were next in action during the Fourth Mysore War in 1799 and fought with distinction at the Battle of Seringapatam and at the Battle of Mahidpur in the Pindari War of 1817, after which they became known as the 3rd Madras Light Cavalry.For these actions they were awarded the battle honors "Mysore", "Seringapatam" and "Mahidipore".

Apart from some minor operations against the southern Mahrattas from 1844 to 1855 and sending some troops to join the Decan force during the Mutiny of 1857, the regiment would not see any action for the next hundred years.

In 1891 they were converted to lancers becoming the 3rd Regiment of Madras Lancers and in the reorgimisation of the Indian Army in 1903, there title was changed to the 28th Light Cavalry.

World War I

At the start of the Great War, the Regiment was stationed in Quetta being part of the 4th (Quetta) Division. [cite web|title=orbat.com|url=http://orbat.com/site/history/historical/india/army1914.html]

In 1915 two squadrons were sent to Persia where they were mounted on camels they were tasked with stopping German agents from traveling across persia to Afghanistan.

The Regiments success in Persia was demonstrated when they captured a German officer, Lieutenant Winkleman, who was attempting to reach the Amir of Afghanistan to convince him to rebel or start a Jihad, against the British in India.

Russia

Following the Russian Revolution the Regiment was sent to Russia in 1917 to assist the White Russian forces to fight the Bolsheviks.

The regiment received the battle honors "Merv" and "Persia 1915" for their services in the Great War.

Between the Wars

In 1922 another reorganization saw the regiment renamed as The 7th Light Cavalry and a year later as the ‘Indianization’ of the Indian Army officer corps began, the squadron officers were replaced by those of Indian origin, known as Viceroy’s Commissioned Officers (VCOs).

World War II

At the start of the Second World War the Regiment was stationed in Bolarum part of the 4th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade they were brigaded with the::14th/20th Hussars:Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry:3rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery:4th Cavalry Brigade Signal Troop. [cite web|title=adelphia|url=http://home.adelphia.net/~dryan67/orders/ia.html]

The regiment was mechanized in 1942 and attached to the 254th Indian Tank Brigade [The Indian Army 1914-1947 By Dr Angus Konstam, Ian Sumner, Mike Chappell] , equipped with the M4 Sherman. The Brigade under the command of Brigadier B Scoones consisted of the::7th Light Cavalry :1st Sqn 3rd Carabiniers :3rd Btn 4th Bombay Grenadiers:11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force):150th Regt Royal Armoured Corps. [cite web|title=burmastar|url=http://www.burmastar.org.uk/tanks.htm#254th]

The Brigade fought with the 5th Indian Division and the 7th Indian Infantry Divisions in Burma and was involved in the Battle of Imphal, Battle of Kyaukmaung Bridgehead, Battle of Meiktila, and the Rangoon Road.

Post War

In 1947 the regiment passed to the independent nation of India.

Regimental Titles

:1784 – 2nd Regiment of Madras Native Cavalry:1786 – 1st Regiment of Madras Native Cavalry:1788 – 3rd Regiment of Madras Native Cavalry:1819 – 3rd Regiment of Madras Light Cavalry:1891 – 3rd Regiment of Madras Lancers:1903 – 28th Light Cavalry:1922 – 7th Light Cavalry:1947 - 7th Regiment of Light Cavalry, Army of India.

Victoria Cross

L/Daffadar Gobind Singh ,28th Light Cavalry February 1 1917 Place of Action: east of Peizieres, France attached to the 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse)

Citation:Lance Dafadar Gobind Singh of Indian Cavalry was awarded the Victoria Cross "for most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the 1st February 1917, east of Pozieres, France, in thrice volunteering to carry messages between the regiment and Brigade Headquarters, a distance of 1-1/2 miles over open ground which was under the observation and heavy fire of the enemy. He succeeded each time in delivering the message, although on each occasion his horse was shot and he was compelled to finish his journey on foot." [London Gazette, 11 January 1918]

References

Further Reading

:Bowling A.H. Indian Cavalry Regiments 1880-1914 Almark Publishing 1971:Carmen W.Y Indian Cavalry Uniforms Leonard Hill 1961:Mollo B. The Indian Army Blandford Press 1981

External Site

Follow this link to view the uniforms of the late 19th Centuryhttp://www.members.tripod.com/~Glosters/IAcavalry1.htm