12th Royal Lancers

The "12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's)" was a cavalry regiment of the British Army.

The regiment of dragoons that was to become the 12th Royal Lancers was raised by Brigadier-General Phineas Bowles in 1715 against the threat of the Jacobite rebellion. In 1718 the regiment was posted to Ireland, where it remained for seventy-five years.

In 1768 King George III bestowed the title of "'The 12th Prince of Wales's Regiment of Light Dragoons", and the regiment was given the badge of the three ostrich feathers, and the motto "Ich Dien".

In 1816, the 12th Light Dragoons were armed with lances after the cavalry of Napoleon's Army had shown their effectiveness.

The British Army removed the lance from its weaponry in 1903, but an influential lobby secured its re-instatement in 1909.

The 12th Lancers served on the Western Front throughout World War I. In the mobile opening months of the war, cavalry played a vital role. On 29 August 1914, C Squadron of the 12th Lancers made a successful charge against a dismounted squadron of Prussian Dragoons. The 9th/12th Royal Lancers celebrate Mons/Moy Day annually, which commemorates the last occasions on which each predecessor regiment charged with lances. In all, 166 officers and men of 12th Lancers died in World War I.

In 1928, the 12th Lancers gave up their horses and were equipped with armoured cars.

The 12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's) were amalgamated with the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers to form the 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's) in 1960.

References

* P.F. Stewart. History of the XII Royal Lancers. Oxford University Press. 1950