- 18th King Edward's Own Cavalry
Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=18th King Edward's Own Cavalry
abbreviation=
caption=
dates= 1842 -
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=
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_2=
nickname=
patron=King Edward VII
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=Gwalior Campaign First Anglo-Sikh War
Third Ango-Burmese War1882 Anglo-Egyptian War Great War World War II
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=Punniar Moodkee Ferozeshah Sobraon Egypt 1882Tel-El-Kebir Punjab Frontier The 18th King Edward's Own Cavalry was a regular cavalry regiment in the
British Indian Army it was formed in 1922 by the amalagamation of the 6th King Edward's Own Cavalry and the 7th Hariana Lancers. they served theBritish Crown from before theIndian Mutiny toWorld War II .6th King Edward's Own Cavalry
The 6th King Edward' Own Cavalry was raised at
Fatehgarh in 1842 by Liet W H Ryves as the 8th Regiment of Bengal Irregular Cavalry,:In 1861 became the 6th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry:In 1883 became the 6th (the Prince of Wales) Regiment of Bengal Cavalry:In 1901 became the 6th (Prince of Wales) Bengal Cavalry:In 1906 became the 6th King Edward's Own CavalryTher first action was in 1843 during the
Gwalior Campaign in central India for which they earned the battle honour "Punniar ".In 1845 the were involved in theFirst Anglo-Sikh War and participated in the "Battle of Moodkee" the "Battle of Ferozeshah " and the "Battle of Sobraon "They were next in action inEgypt during the1882 Anglo-Egyptian War where they were awarded the battle honours"Egypt 1882" as a theatre honour and also honours for the "Battle of Tel-El-Kebir ". It was while on service in Egypt thatKarki was worn by all ranks for the first time. [Bengal Cavalry Regiments 1857-1914 By R. G. Harris, Christopher Warner]During the
Great War they were part of the1st Indian Cavalry Division ,2nd (Sailkot) Cavalry Brigade which arrived in France in November 1914. They were involved in theFirst Battle of Ypres and other actions on theWestern Front but notably in,the German Retreat to theHindenburg Line and theBattle of Cambrai [cite web|title=1914-1918|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/1cavdiv_indian.htm]The brigade formation was;
:
17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own):6th King Edward's Own Cavalry :19th Lancers (Fane's Horse) :Brigade Signal Troop7th Hariana Lancers
The
7th Hariana Lancers was formed in 1846 as a regiment of Bengal Irregular Cavalry raised inMeerut andCawnpore by Captain Liptrott. The Regiment was raised after theFirst Sikh War in anticipation of the Second War starting. When the Second Sikh War broke out, they did not become involved in any engagements but found themselves in the reserve force.In 1857 when theIndian Mutiny broke out the were stationed on theNorth West Frontier the regiment remained loylal and did not mutiny. As a result of the mutiny and the reconstruction of theBengal army, the irregular cavalry regiments 8th to 16th were disbanded and the 17th became the 7th Bengal Cavalry.They went to Burma in 1886 during the3rd Burmese War which would be there last action until the Great War.In 1915 during theGreat War they were part of the forces sent to Mesopotamia and fought in theBattle of Shaiba where on 13 Apr Major Wheeler received a posthumous VC. They would lose a squadron in the actions at Kut-Al-Amara, they returned toBolarum in October 1916. Like all regiments of the Indian Army, the 7th Cavalry underwent many name changes in the various reorganisations. They are listed below.There seems to be no reason for the name chosen in the 1904 reorganisation other than a large number of the men came from that district.:In 1846 16th Irregular Cavalry:In 1847 became the 17th Irregular Cavalry:In 1861 became the 7th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry:In 1900 became the 7th Regiment of Bengal Lancers:In 1901 became the 7th Bengal Lancers:In 1903 became the 7th Lancers:In 1904 became the 7th Hariana Lancers.
Victoria Cross
One member of the 7th Hariana Lancers was awarded the
Victoria Cross , MajorGeorge Godfrey Massy Wheeler .On12 April 1915 at Shaiba,Mesopotamia , Major Wheeler led his squadron in an attempt to capture a flag which was the centre-point of a group of the enemy who were firing on one of his troop's picquets. He advanced, attacked the enemy's infantry with the lance, and then retired while the enemy swarmed out of hidden ground whereRoyal Artillery guns could attack them. On13 April Major Wheeler led his squadron to the attack of the North Mound. He was seen far ahead of his men, riding straight for the enemy's standards, but was killed in the attack.World War II
In
World War II the regiment was mechanised in December 1940 and attached to the3rd Indian Motor Brigade which as initially part of the31st Indian Armoured Division . [cite web|title=mod.nic|url=http://mod.nic.in/samachar/dec15-20/html/ch9.htm] The brigade was sent toEgypt and theWestern Desert Campaign and was attached to a number of different formations including the 2nd Armoured Division,7th Armoured Division and the9th Australian Division who they were with at theSiege of Tobruk . [cite web|title=mod.nic|url=http://mod.nic.in/samachar/dec15-20/html/ch9.htm]The brigade was later overrun by the Italians during the
Battle of Gazala and took some days to reform. In 1942 the brigade returned to the 31st Armoured and was stationed inIraq as part ofPaiforce .The Brigade formation was:
:
2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse) , equipment Cavalry Carrier – 2 x Recon Sqn, 1 x AT Sqn.Mackenzie (1951), p. 71] :11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force) equipment Cavalry Carrier - 2 x Recon Sqn, 1 x AT Sqn. :18th King Edward's Own Cavalry, equipment Cavalry Carrier - 2 x Recon Sqn, 1 x AT Sqn. [cite web|title=axisforam|url=http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=104408&start=0] . [cite web|title=rothwell|url=http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/NA310341.htm]References
Further Reading
*Kempton, C (1996). "A Register of Titles of the Units of the H.E.I.C. & Indian Armies 1666-1947." Bristol: British Empire & Commonwealth Museum. ISBN 978-0953017409
*Gaylor, J (1992). "Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903- 1991." Stroud: Spellmount Publishers Ltd. ISBN 978-0946771981
*Bengal Cavalry Regiments 1857-1914 By R. G. Harris, Christopher Warner. ISBN 978-0850453089External Site
Follow this link to view the uniforms of the late 19th Centuryhttp://www.members.tripod.com/~Glosters/IAcavalry1.htm
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