19th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars

 

 

Other Ranks, 19th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars

Full Dress, c. 1914

The regiment was originally raised in Bengal by the East India Company as the 1st Bengal European Light Cavalry in 1858, for service in response to the Indian Rebellion. As with all other "European" units of the Company, they were placed under the command of the Crown, and subsequently formally moved into the British Army in 1862 when they were designated as the 19th Hussars. At this time, the regiment was authorised to inherit the battle honours of the disbanded 19th Light Dragoons.

The regiment saw action at the Battle of Tel el-Kebir in 1882 during the Anglo-Egyptian War and at the Battle of Abu Klea in 1885 during the Mahdist War. It also fought at the Siege of Ladysmith in 1899 during the Second Boer War. The regiment was titled the 19th (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own) Hussars in 1902 and, when Alexandra became Queen Consort in 1908, the name changed to the 19th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars.

With the outbreak of the First World War, the regiment was split up, with squadrons attached to the 4th, 5th, and 6th Infantry Divisions as divisional cavalry squadrons; all three divisions moved to France with the British Expeditionary Force. The regiment was brought together again in 1915, and attached to the 9th Cavalry Brigade in the 1st Cavalry Division, with whom it served for the remainder of the war. The regiment was retitled 19th Royal Hussars (Queen Alexandra's Own) in 1921 and shortly thereafter disbanded when stationed in Muttra, India, as part of the post-War reduction in forces.

 

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Departed the collection in 2025.