19th Light Dragoons The 19th Light Dragoons was a cavalry regiment of the British Army created in 1781 for service in British India . The regiment served in India until 1806 , and in North America during the War of 1812 , and was disbanded in Britain in 1821 . History . Formation . The 19th Light Dragoons was raised by Colonel Sir John Burgoyne ( a cousin of General John Burgoyne ) as the 23rd Regiment of Light Dragoons on 24 September 1781 for service in India . There had been no European cavalry to that date in India , and successive commanders there had called upon the regular British Army to supply a cavalry unit . The regiment arrived at Fort St . George , Madras in 1782 and became the first British cavalry regiment to serve in India . In 1786 , the regiment was renumbered as the 19th Light Dragoons . India . The 19th played a major role in the Anglo - Mysore Wars and Anglo - Maratha Wars . Their first campaign was against Tipu Sultan of Mysore from 1790 to 1792 . After defeating Tipu , the 19th were on garrison duty until 1799 when war broke out with Tipu again . This time , the Sultan was killed during the Battle of Seringapatam . In 1800 , the 19th fought Dhoondia Wao ' s rebel army and in 1803 , led by Major - General Arthur Wellesley ( who later became the Duke of Wellington ) , they participated in the Battle of Assaye . In this battle , the outnumbered British troops defeated a Maratha army and the regiment was subsequently awarded the battle honour of " Assaye " and presented with an honorary colour . The 19th Light Dragoons then spent time garrisoning various British outposts . They were stationed at Cheyloor in 1802 , at Arcot in 1803 , in Bombay in 1804 , and at Arcot again from 1805 to 1806 . The regiment was summoned to Vellore on the night of 10 July 1806 to rescue the 69th Regiment of Foot who had been the victims of a revolt by Indian sepoy s . North America . The regiment embarked for England on 20 October 1806 , and remained in Britain until the outbreak of the war with the United States in 1812 . The 19th were one of the only two British regular cavalry units that served in North America during the War of 1812 , and the only one to serve in Canada . ( The 14th Light Dragoons served in campaigns on the American coast . ) The regiment ' s first three squadrons arrived at Quebec City in May 1813 and were mounted on horses procured in Lower Canada . Two squadrons were sent to Upper Canada where they were involved in the blockade and re - capture of Fort George , and the destruction of Black Rock and Buffalo in New York State . Elements of the two squadrons participated in Colonel Thomas Pearson ' s delaying action against Brigadier General Winfield Scott ' s brigade during the American invasion of 1814 . They subsequently fought at the Battle of Chippawa , the Battle of Lundy ' s Lane and the Siege of Fort Erie . Another troop pursued American raiders who had struck at Battle of Malcolm ' s Mills . For these actions , the regiment earned the battle honour of " Niagara " . The other squadron had been stationed south of Montreal and participated in the Battle of Plattsburgh . In the autumn of 1814 , the two squadrons serving on the Niagara rejoined the other squadron . The regiment served south of Montreal until the end of the war . They were sent back to England in August 1816 . Disbandment . The 19th Light Dragoons were re - equipped as lancer s in September 1816 and renamed the 19th Lancers . The regiment remained in Britain until it was disbanded on 10 September 1821 due to reductions in size of the British Army . In 1862 , the 19th Royal Hussars were created and given permission to inherit the battle honours of the 19th Light Dragoons .