Central India Horse

The Central India Horse is a tank regiment of the Indian Army.

History

The regiment was founded as an irregular cavalry regiment in 1857, at the outset of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 by Henry Otway Mayne, and was known initially as Mayne's Horse. They came to be based at the town of Guna, in the state of Gwaliorand Augar in central India. In 1860 Mayne's Horse was renamed the 1st Regiment Central India Horse, and the former Beatson's Horse was renamed the 2nd Regiment Central India Horse.

In 1860 the officer commanding the Central India Horse was made the British political officer for the small states of Raghugarh, Khaniadhana (after 1888), Paron, Garha, Umri, and Bhadaura, which were made a separate charge from that of the Resident of Gwalior. This arrangement was abolished in 1896, when these states were again placed under the resident, with the officer commanding at Guna continuing to act as ex-officio assistant to the Resident, with very limited powers.

In 1903, the 1st Regiment became the 38th Regiment Central India Horse, and the 2nd regiment became the 39th Regiment Central India Horse. In 1906, the regiments were renamed the 38th and 39th Prince of Wales's Own Central India Horse, and in 1910 the 38th and 39th King George's Own Central Indian Horse.

In 1921, the two regiments were amalgamated into the 38th/39th Cavalry, which was renamed the 38th/39th King George's Own Light Cavalry (1922), The Central India Horse (21st King George's Own Horse) (1923), and The Central India Horse (21st King George V's Own Horse) (1937). The regiment served in North Africa and Greece during the Second World War.

Upon India's independence, the Central India Horse (21st King George V's Own Horse) was allocated to India, although a Muslim Punjabi squadron was transferred to the 19th King George V's Own Lancers in exchange for its Jat squadron. When India became a republic in 1950, the regiment was renamed The Central India Horse which is one of the decorated regiment of Indian Army.

References

* Hunter, William Wilson, Sir, et al (1908). "Imperial Gazetteer of India", Volume 12. 1908-1931; Clarendon Press, Oxford.
* "38th King George's Own Central India Horse" at Regiments.org [http://www.regiments.org/regiments/southasia/cav/1903-38.htm]
* "39th King George's Own Central India Horse" at Regiments.org [http://www.regiments.org/regiments/southasia/cav/1903-39.htm]
* "The Central India Horse (21st King George V's Own Horse)" at Regiments.org [http://www.regiments.org/regiments/southasia/cav/1921-21.htm]

Resources

*Watson, William Arthur (1930). "King George's Own Central India Horse: The story of a local corps". W. Blackwood, UK.
*Filose, A. A. (1950). "King George V's Own Central India Horse: The story (continued) of a local corps, being volume II of the regimental history". Blackwood, UK