17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own) | Famous Units | Research | National Army Museum, London 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Share this page Last updated: 23 May 2016 Other ranks’ cap badge of the 17th (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Lancers, c1898 NAM. 1955-03-269 Introduction In 1759 Colonel Hale of the 47th Foot was sent back to Britain with the news of General Wolfe’s death at the Battle of Quebec. As a reward, he was commissioned to raise the 17th Light Dragoons. In memory of Wolfe’s death, their cap badge is a skull and crossed bones and their motto ‘Death or Glory’. They first served overseas during the American Revolutionary War, where they fought at Bunker Hill and were the only regular unit in Tarleton’s Legion. They fought in the West Indies for eight years early in the French Revolutionary Wars, gaining the unusual nickname of ‘Horse Marines’ when two troops of the regiment embarked on HMS Success, which was then without its Royal Marine contingent.

In 1806 the regiment was sent to reinforce the British force sent to capture the Spanish colony of Buenos Aires, and then in 1808 to India to protect the interests of the East India Company. They finally returned to Britain in 1823 and found out en route that the Army List had converted them into a Lancers regiment. The 17th Lancers in the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava, 1854 NAM. 2002-07-339 They spent the next 30 years on garrison duty in Britain and Ireland. During this time, in 1842, Queen Victoria’s grandson the Duke of Cambridge became their colonel-in-chief - the unit took his name as part of its own in 1876. In 1854 they were sent to the Crimea, where they took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade and three years later were sent to India as reinforcements during the Mutiny there. They also fought in the Zulu and Boer Wars.

Despite not being an Indian Army unit, they were deployed to the Western Front as part of the 1st Indian Cavalry Division in October 1914, serving in the trenches and only resuming mounted duties in early 1918. They then spent two years in Ireland until 1921, when they returned to Britain. There, again in recognition of their repeated service in India, they were merged in 1922 with the 21st Lancers (Empress of India’s) , a former East India Company unit, to form the 17th/21st Lancers . Key facts The Death or Glory Boys The Horse Marines Bingham's Dandies (from the elaborate uniforms required by its commander Lord Bingham, later known as Lord Lucan and also famous for ordering the Charge of the Light Brigade) The Tots 17th Lancers | Military Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit In 1759, Colonel John Hale of the 47th Foot was ordered back to Britain with General James Wolfe 's final dispatches and news of his victory in the Battle of Quebec .

[1] After his return, he was rewarded with land in Canada and granted permission to raise a regiment of light dragoons . He formed the regiment in Hertfordshire on 7 November 1759 as the 18th Regiment of (Light) Dragoons, which also went by the name of Hale's Light Horse. [2] The admiration of his men for General Wolfe was evident in the cap badge Colonel Hale chose for the regiment: the Death's Head with the motto "Or Glory". The regiment was renumbered the 17th in 1761 and saw service in Germany. In 1766 it was renumbered again, this time as the 3rd Regiment of Light Dragoons. In 1764 the regiment went to Ireland, where it was based for many years. It regained the 17th numeral in 1769 as the 17th Regiment of (Light) Dragoons. Last Sleep of the Brave The 17th was sent to North America in 1775, arriving in Boston, then besieged by American rebels in their War of Independence .

The 17th fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill , a costly British victory. The 17th was withdrawn to Halifax. In 1776, the 17th fought in the Long Island campaign . Later, in 1780, the regiment provided a detachment for operations in the southern colonies as part of Tarleton's Legion , a mixture of infantry and cavalry, and was engaged in a number of battles. [3] The legion, commanded by Banastre Tarleton , was founded in 1778 by Loyalist contingents from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. [4] As the attached regular cavalry, the 17th clung on to an identity separate from the provincials, even refusing to exchange their fading scarlet clothing for the legion's green jackets. [5] They sustained heavy losses in the Battle of Cowpens in January 1781 after being ordered by Tarleton to charge a formation of American militia. Although their charge was initially effective, the dragoons, numbering about 50, were quickly surprised and outnumbered by concealed American cavalry , under Colonel William Washington , and driven back in disarray.

[6] [7] The American War of Independence officially ended in 1783. An officer of the regiment, Captain Stapleton, had the distinction of delivering to George Washington the despatch confirming the declaration of the cessation of hostilities. [8] The 17th returned to Britain, where it remained until 1795, when it sailed for the West Indies to reinforce depleted forces battling the French. [9] Two troops were used to suppress an uprising by "Maroons" in Jamaica soon after arriving in the Caribbean. [10] Other detachments were embarked aboard HMS Success as " supernumeraries ". Their experience at sea has been suggested by regimental historians to have gained the regiment the nickname "Horse Marines". [11] In 1806, the 17th took part in the disastrous expeditions to Spanish-controlled South America, then an ally of France during the Napoleonic Wars . Sir Home Riggs Popham had orchestrated an expedition against South America without the British government's sanction. This invasion failed, but a second invasion was launched. The 17th was part of this second force, under Sir Samuel Auchmuty .

The British force besieged and captured Montevideo. In 1807, the 17th were part of the force, now under John Whitelocke , that tried to capture Buenos Aires, but this failed abysmally. The British force (including the 17th), was forced to surrender, and did not return home until 1808. (Popham and Whitelocke were court-martialled.) The 17th was sent to India shortly after returning home. In 1817 they took part in the Third Mahratha War . Disease ravaged the regiment during its residency. Whilst in India, the British Army nominally re-classified the 17th as lancers , [12] and added "lancers" as a subtitle to its regimental designation in 1822. [2] The 17th did not learn of its new status until 1823, when, during a stopover at Saint Helena on its journey back to Britain, a copy of the Army List was obtained.

[12] Although the weapon's use had endured in parts of continental Europe, [13] the lance had not been in British service for more than a century. [14] Its reintroduction by the Duke of York , Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, owed much to the performance of Napoleon Bonaparte 's Polish Uhlans . [15] The lancer regiments adopted their own version of the Uhlan uniform, including the czapka -style headdress. [16] In 1826, Lord Bingham (later the 3rd Earl of Lucan) became the regiment's commanding officer when he bought its lieutenant-colonelcy for the reputed sum of £25,000 pounds. [17] During his tenure, Bingham invested heavily in the 17th, purchasing uniforms and horses, giving rise to the regimental nickname "Bingham's Dandies". As lancers the 17th retained the white facings that had distinguished the regiment as light dragoons. Crimean War Edit The 17th had been stationed in Britain since 1823 when the Crimean War began in 1854.

The 17th was part of a combined British and French expedition assembled to support the Ottoman Empire in its war with Russia . The intention of the expedition was to invade the Crimea (in present-day Ukraine) and capture the naval base of Sevastopol. The 17th was part of the Light Brigade, under the command of Major-General Lord Cardigan , which landed with the British forces at a place known as Calamity Bay . It took part in a minor skirmish at the Bulganek River and subsequently took part in the Battle of Alma on 20 September. During the Siege of Sevastopol (which began in September) the 17th Lancers took part in the Battle of Balaklava on 25 October. During the battle, the regiment took part in a cavalry charge that became known as the Charge of the Light Brigade , which spawned much controversy and indeed a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson . The Russians captured redoubts on the Causeway Heights, which held some British artillery. The army commander, Lord Raglan , issued an order for the Light Brigade to attack there before the guns could be taken away by the Russians.

The order was sent via Captain Louis Nolan to Lord Lucan, commander of the Cavalry Division . It is believed, however, that Nolan misinterpreted the order as an order to attack Russian artillery in the valley between the Fediukhine Heights and the Causeway Heights. It has been speculated [18] that Captain Nolan, an authority on cavalry tactics, actually directed Lucan toward the wrong guns in order to test his tactical theories, although this view has not found wide currency. 'Charge of the Light Brigade', Painting by Richard Caton Woodville (1825–1855) Lord Cardigan then ordered his Light Brigade to began the advance at a trot , with the 17th and 13th Light Dragoons leading the Brigade, heading into a concentration of Russian artillery, infantry and cavalry. The Light Brigade advanced to their objective and came under heavy artillery fire from all sides, which inflicted many casualties. The Brigade, upon nearing the enemy, then went into a full charge. The 17th Lancers, commanded by Captain William Morris , drove through the Russian artillery before smashing straight into the Russian cavalry and pushing them back.

The Light Brigade were unable to consolidate their position, however, having insufficient forces (the Heavy Brigade had not advanced further into the valley) and had to withdraw to their starting positions, coming under artillery and musket fire and cavalry attack as they did so. Despite the mistakes that culminated in unnecessary loss, the charge reasserted the renown of the British cavalry, to such an extent that Russian cavalry refused outright to confront them in battle for the duration of the war. The 17th Lancers suffered quite heavily. Of the 147 men of the 17th, just 38 were at the roll call the following morning. The Light Brigade as a whole suffered 118 men killed and 127 wounded out of a total of 673 men and 362 horses lost, effectively destroying the unit as a fighting force. The 17th took part in the Battle of Inkerman on 5 November, although only in a minor role. It did not return home with the conclusion of the war in 1856.

After the inception of the Victoria Cross (VC) in 1856, three members of the 17th received the award for acts of gallantry in the charge: These were Troop Sergeant-Major John Berryman , Sergeant-Major Charles Wooden , and Sergeant John Farrell . British Empire Service Edit 17th Lancers Waltz, 1905 music sheet cover to celebrate the cavalry regiment In December 1857 the 17th arrived in India to reinforce the effort to suppress the Indian rebellion against British rule. By the time the regiment was prepared for service, the rebellion was effectively over, although it did pursue Tantia Topi . During the course of the pursuit, Lieutenant Evelyn Wood earned the Victoria Cross for gallantry on two separate occasions. Tantia Topi was ultimately captured and hanged by the British. The 17th Lancers remained in India until 1863, when it returned to Britain. In India, the 17th became the 17th Regiment of Lancers.

When, in 1876, it gained Prince George, Duke of Cambridge as its Colonel-in-Chief , the regiment adopted the title of the 17th (The Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers. The 17th was sent to Natal Colony for the Zulu War . On 4 July 1879, the 17th fought at the Battle of Ulundi under Sir Drury Curzon Drury-Lowe . The 17th was posted inside a large British infantry square during the attack by the Zulu Army, which had surrounded the British. When the attack appeared to be wavering, the 17th Lancers were ordered to advance. Their charge routed the warriors with heavy loss. The battle proved to be decisive. The 17th returned to India the same year, remaining there until about 1890 when they returned home. 'All That Was Left of Them' by Richard Caton Woodville (1856–1927). C Squadron at Modderfontein In 1900 the 17th returned to Southern Africa for the Second Boer War .

They missed the large pitched battles, but would still see substantial action during the war. In 1900, Sergeant Brian Lawrence won the regiment's fifth and final VC at Essenbosch Farm. The 17th's most significant action was at the Battle of Elands River (Modderfontein) in September 1901. C Squadron of the 17th was attacked by Boers under Jan Smuts whom the cavalrymen mistook for British troops. [19] The Boers took advantage of a mist to encircle the British camp. When Smuts' vanguard ran head-on into a Lancer patrol, the British hesitated to fire because many of the Boers wore captured British uniforms. The Boers immediately opened fire and attacked in front while Smuts led the remainder of his force to attack the British camp from the rear. The British party suffered further casualties at a closed gate that slowed them down. All six British officers sustained wounds and four were killed. Only Captain Sandeman, the commanding officer, and Lieutenant Lord Vivian survived. The 17th Lancers had suffered 29 killed and 41 wounded before surrendering, while Boer losses were one killed and six wounded.

[20] The 17th returned home in 1902 with the conclusion of the war. The regiment left for India in 1905, where it remained until the First World War . First World War Further information: British cavalry during the First World War The 17th Lancers advancing, wearing their early-war uniform, postcard after Harry Payne At the beginning of the First World War, the 17th Lancers formed part of the Sialkot Cavalry Brigade of the 1st Indian Cavalry Division . [21] The regiment landed in France in November 1914. In the static warfare of the Western Front , the 17th was often restricted to infantry roles, such as the occupation of trenches. The 17th was eventually used in its conventional cavalry role in 1917, at the Battle of Cambrai , which happened to feature the first large-scale use of tanks . In 1918 the 17th was transferred to the 7th Cavalry Brigade , part of the 3rd Cavalry Division . That year the men got another chance to prove their worth as a cavalry regiment during the last-gasp German Spring Offensive .

The 17th functioned as mobile infantry during the attack, plugging gaps whenever the need arose, both as cavalry and as infantry. The 17th also saw service in the British counter-attack, including the Battle of Amiens . After the signing of the Armistice on 11 November 1918, the 17th remained in continental Europe, joining the British Army of the Rhine in Cologne, Germany. The regiment then served in County Cork, Ireland, where it operated against the Irish Republican Army during the War of Independence . In 1921, the 17th had its title altered to the 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own). Amalgamation In 1922 the 17th was amalgamated with the 21st Lancers (Empress of India's) to form the 17th/21st Lancers . This regiment was amalgamated with the 16th/5th Queen's Royal Lancers in 1993 to form the Queen's Royal Lancers .

Battle honours History - 17th Lancers Display Team History History of the 17th lancers 1759-1854 In 1759, Colonel John Hale of the 47th Foot was ordered back to Britain with General James Wolfe’s final dispatches and news of his victory in the Battle of Quebec. After his return, he was rewarded with land in Canada and granted permission to raise aregiment of light dragoons. He formed the regiment in Hertfordshire on 7 November 1759 as the 18th Regiment of (Light) Dragoons, which also went by the name of Hale’s Light Horse. The admiration of his men for General Wolfe was evident in the cap badge Colonel Hale chose for the regiment: the Death’s Head with the motto “Or Glory”. In 1761 the regiment was renumbered as the 17th and saw service in Germany. In 1766 it was renumbered again, this time as the 3rd Regiment of Light Dragoons. In 1764 the regiment went to Ireland, where it was based for many years.

In 1769 it regained the 17th numeral as the 17th Regiment of (Light) Dragoons. The 17th was sent to North America in 1775, arriving in Boston, then besieged by American rebels in their War of Independence. The 17th fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill, a costly British victory. The 17th was withdrawn to Halifax. In 1776, the 17th fought in the Long Island campaign. Later, in 1780, the regiment provided a detachment for operations in the southern colonies as part ofTarleton’s Legion, a mixture of infantry and cavalry, and was engaged in a a number of battles.The legion, commanded byBanastre Tarleton, was founded in 1778 by Loyalist contingents from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. As the attached regular cavalry, the 17th clung on to an identity separate from the provincials, even refusing to exchange their fading scarlet clothing for the legion’s green jackets.

They sustained heavy losses in the Battle of Cowpens in January 1781 after being ordered by Tarleton to charge a formation of American militia. Though their charge was initially effective, the dragoons, numbering about 50, were quickly surprised and outnumbered by concealed American cavalry, under Colonel William Washington, and driven back in disarray. The American War of Independence officially ended in 1783. An officer of the regiment, Captain Stapleton, had the distinction of delivering to George Washington the despatch confirming the declaration of the cessation of hostilities. The 17th returned to Britain, where it remained until 1795, when it sailed for the West Indies to reinforce depleted forces battling the French. Two troops were used to suppress an uprising by “Maroons” in Jamaica soon after arriving in the Caribbean. Other detachments were embarked aboard HMS Success as “supernumeraries”. Their experience at sea has been suggested by regimental historians to have gained the regiment the nickname “Horse Marines”. In 1806, the 17th took part in the disastrous expeditions to Spanish-controlled South America, then an ally of France during the Napoleonic Wars.

Sir Home Riggs Popham had orchestrated an expedition against South America without the British government’s sanction. This invasion failed, but a second invasion was launched. The 17th was part of this second force, under Sir Samuel Auchmuty. The British force besieged and captured Montevideo. In 1807, the 17th were part of the force, now under John Whitelocke, that tried to capture Buenos Aires, but this failed abysmally. The British force (including the 17th) was forced to surrender, and did not return home until 1808. (Popham and Whitelocke were court-martialled.) The 17th was sent to India shortly after returning home. In 1817 they took part in the Third Mahratha War. Disease ravaged the regiment during its residency. Whilst in India, the British Army nominally re-classified the 17th as lancers, and added “lancers” as a subtitle to its regimental designation in 1822.

The 17th did not learn of its new status until 1823, when, during a stopover at Saint Helena on its journey back to Britain, a copy of the Army List was obtained. Although the weapon’s use had endured in parts of continental Europe, the lance had not been in British employ for more than a century. Its reintroduction by the Duke of York, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, owed much to the performance of Napoleon Bonaparte’s Polish Uhlans.The lancer regiments adopted their own version of the Uhlan uniform, including the czapka-style headdress. In 1826, Lord Bingham (later the 3rd Earl of Lucan) became the regiment’s commanding officer when he bought its lieutenant-colonelcy for the reputed sum of £25,000 pounds.[17] During his tenure, Bingham invested heavily in the 17th, purchasing uniforms and horses, giving rise to the regimental nickname “Bingham’s Dandies”. As lancers the 17th retained the white facings that had distinguished the regiment as light dragoons.

The crimean war The 17th had been stationed in Britain since 1823 when the Crimean War began in 1854. The 17th was part of a combined British and French expedition assembled to support the Ottoman Empire in its war with Russia. The intention of the expedition was to invade the Crimea (in present-Ukraine) and capture the naval base of Sevastopol. The 17th was part of the Light Brigade, under the command of Major-General Lord Cardigan, which landed with the British forces at a place known as Calamity Bay. It took part in a minor skirmish at the Bulganek River and subsequently took part in the Battle of Alma on 20 September. During the Siege of Sevastopol (which began in September) the 17th Lancers took part in the Battle of Balaklava on 25 October. During the battle the regiment took part in a cavalry charge that became known as the Charge of the Light Brigade, which spawned much controversy and indeed a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The Russians captured redoubts on the Causeway Heights, which held some British artillery.

The army commander, Lord Raglan, issued an order for the Light Brigade to attack there before the guns could be taken away by the Russians. The order was sent via Captain Nolan to Lord Lucan, commander of the Cavalry Division. It is believed, however, that Nolan misinterpreted the order as an order to attack Russian artillery in the valley between the Fediukhine Heights and the Causeway Heights. It has been speculated that Captain Nolan, an authority on cavalry tactics, actually directed Lucan toward the wrong guns in order to test his tactical theories, although this view has not found wide currency. Lord Cardigan then ordered his Light Brigade to began the advance at a trot, with the 17th and 13th Light Dragoons leading the Brigade, heading into a maelstrom of Russian artillery, infantry and cavalry. The Light Brigade advanced to their objective and came under heavy artillery fire from all sides, which inflicted heavy casualties. The Brigade upon nearing the enemy then went into a full charge. The 17th Lancers, commanded by Captain William Morris, drove through the Russian artillery before smashing straight into the Russian cavalry and pushing them back.

The Light Brigade were unable to consolidate their position, however, having insufficient forces (the Heavy Brigade had not advanced further into the valley) and had to withdraw to their starting positions, coming under artillery and musket fire and cavalry attack as they did so. Despite the mistakes that culminated in unnecessary loss, the charge reasserted the renown of the British cavalry, to such an extent that Russian cavalry refused outright to confront them in battle for the duration of the war. The 17th Lancers suffered quite heavily. Of the 147 men of the 17th, just 38 were at the roll call the following morning. The Light Brigade as a whole suffered 118 men killed and 127 wounded out of a total of 673 men, and 362 horses lost, effectively destroying the unit as a fighting force. The 17th took part in the Battle of Inkerman on 5 November, though only in a minor role. It did not return home with the conclusion of the war in 1856.

After the inception of the Victoria Cross (VC) in 1856, three members of the 17th received the award for acts of gallantry in the charge: These were Troop Sergeant-Major John Berryman, Sergeant-Major Charles Wooden, and Sergeant John Farrell. British empire service 1857 - 1914 In December 1857 the 17th arrived in India to reinforce the effort to suppress the Indian rebellion against British rule. By the time the regiment was prepared for service, the rebellion was effectively over, though it did pursue Tantia Topi. During the course of the pursuit, Lieutenant Evelyn Wood earned the Victoria Cross for gallantry on two separate occasions. Tantia Topi was ultimately captured and hanged by the British. The 17th Lancers remained in India until 1863, when it returned to Britain. In India, the 17th became the 17th Regiment of Lancers. When, in 1876, it gained Prince George, Duke of Cambridge as its Colonel-in-Chief, the regiment adopted the title of the 17th (The Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Lancers.

The 17th was sent to Natal Colony for the Zulu War. On 4 July 1879, the 17th fought at the Battle of Ulundi under Sir Drury Curzon Drury-Lowe. The 17th was posted inside a large British infantry square during the attack by the Zulu Army, which had surrounded the British. When the attack appeared to be wavering, the 17th Lancers were ordered to advance. Their charge routed the warriors with heavy loss. The battle proved to be decisive. The 17th returned to India the same year, remaining there until about 1890 when they returned home. In 1900 the 17th returned to Southern Africa for the Second Boer War. They missed the large pitched battles, but would still see substantial action during the war. In 1900, Sergeant Brian Lawrence won the regiment’s fifth and final VC at Essenbosch Farm. The 17th’s most significant action was at the Battle of Elands River (Modderfontein) in September 1901.

C Squadron of the 17th was attacked by Boers under Jan Smuts whom they mistook for British troops. The Boers took advantage of a mist to encircle the British camp. When Smuts’ vanguard ran head on into a Lancer patrol, the British hesitated to fire because many of the Boers wore captured British uniforms. The Boers immediately opened fire and attacked in front while Smuts led the remainder of his force to attack the British camp from the rear. The British party suffered further casualties at a closed gate that slowed them down. All six British officers sustained wounds and four were killed. Only Captain Sandeman, the commanding officer, and Lieutenant Lord Viviansurvived. The 17th Lancers suffered 29 killed and 41 wounded before surrendering, while Boer losses were one killed and six wounded. The 17th returned home in 1902 with the conclusion of the war. The regiment left for India in 1905, where it remained until the First World War.

World war one 1914 - 1918 The 17th Lancers advancing, wearing their early-war uniform, postcard after Harry Payne At the beginning of the First World War, the 17th Lancers formed part of the Sialkot Cavalry Brigade of the 1st Indian Cavalry Division. The regiment landed in France in November 1914. In the static warfare of the Western Front, the 17th was often restricted to infantry roles, such as the occupation of trenches. The 17th was finally used in its conventional cavalry role in 1917, at the Battle of Cambrai, which happened to feature the first large-scale use of tanks. In 1918 the 17th was transferred to the 7th Cavalry Brigade, part of the 3rd Cavalry Division. That year they got another chance to prove their worth as a cavalry regiment during the last-gasp German Spring Offensive. The 17th functioned as mobile infantry during the disarray, plugging gaps whenever the need arose, both as cavalry and infantry.

The 17th also saw service in the British counter-attack, including the Battle of Amiens. After the signing of the Armistice on 11 November 1918, the 17th remained in Europe, joining the British Army of the Rhine in Cologne, Germany. The regiment then served in County Cork, Ireland, where it operated against the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence. In 1921, the 17th had its title altered to the 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge’s Own). Amalgamation In 1922 the 17th was amalgamated with the 21st Lancers (Empress of India’s) to form the 17th/21st Lancers. This regiment was amalgamated with the 16th/5th Queen’s Royal Lancers in 1993 to form the Queen’s Royal Lancers.

17th Lancers regiment 17th Lancers regiment Order Enquiries (UK) : 01436 820269 You currently have no items in your basket Photographs and history of the 17th lancers, during the reign of Queen Victoria. The value of light cavalry having been fully recognised in 1759, George II decided on increasing the establishment by adding five new light dragoon regiments to the army. Of these, the 17th Lancers was one, and was first numbered the 18th; but on the reduction of Lord Aberdour's regiment in 1763 it took rank as the 17th. Its first colonel was John Hale, who had carried home the despatches announcing the victory at Quebec; and in memory of his late chief, General Wolfe, he obtained permission for the new regiment to bear on its standard the Death's Head with the motto "Or Glory", which it still retains.

Though it sent a detachment to serve under the Marquis of Granby in 1761, when it was dressed in scarlet coats with white epaulets and facings, and a leather helmet ornamented with white metal and a scarlet horse hair crest, it saw no serious service until 1775, when it was despatched to America. It volunteered to send a dismount detachment to assist in the questionable victory at Bunker's Hill; landed in Long Island with Sir William Howe, to follow the retreating Americans to New York; and at "White Plains", "Fort Washington", and Rhode Island took part in the very ineffective campaigns of 1776. Throughout 1777-78 it accompanied Howe in the equally abortive operations which culminated in the evacuation of Philadelphia and the retreat of the British Army to New York. Its work was undoubtedly well done, and the history of the regiment shows no more harassing and exhausting duty than that which the men had to perform in this useless war. They were attached to Tarleton's "legion", the one force of mixed "provincials" and regulars which did good service, and with it accompanied Sir Henry Clinton in his expedition to South Carolina.

The whole history of the American war is one of desultory and disconnected operations. This was one. The siege of Charleston followed by its capture; and that by some unimportant "affairs" at "Wacsaw" and "Camden", where Gales was defeated, and at "Cowpens". It is somewhat amusing to read in the official history that the "American Colonel" Washington called out during the fight, "Where is now the boasting Tarleton?" when Cornet Patterson of the 17th rode up to attack him, and was killed by Washington's orderly. Even as late as 1841 there were men in England unwilling to give to the first President of the United States the grade of General, which he had earned by faithful service towards his native land, and by winning with the rawest levies a wonderful success. There were gleams of real heroism in this fateful war which are worth recording. Corporal O'Lavery of the 17th was sent to accompany the bearer of an important despatch; attacked on the way, the latter was killed, but the Corporal, hiding the paper in his wound, rode on with it till he fell from loss of blood.

But his message was safe and was delivered, and the appreciation of his gallantry is shown by the monument his chief, Lord Rawdon, raised to his memory in his native county of Down. In 1783 the 17th Lancers returned home, and their uniform was changed from scarlet to blue. After this they saw various but unimportant service in Ireland, the West Indies, Holland, Monte Video, and Buenos Ayres, where they acted as dismounted troops. The official history of the regiment records a curious fact which, illustrating as it does the varied service of the regiment before its present battle roll was tabulated, is worth mentioning. In four successive years it celebrated the King's birthday in the four quarters of the world. "In 1806, in Europe, in England; in 1807, in America, at Monte Video; in 1808, in Africa, at the Cape of Good Hope; and in 1809, in Asia, at Surat. Meanwhile, from South America it had gone by the Cape to India. The uniform, both "field day" and "review" order, was striking at this time.

The dress was still blue, with a scarlet "girdle", but the head covering was, in the former, a tall conical cap with a plume in the top; and in the latter case a helmet with a ridge of wool apparently from front to rear, with a tall white plume at the side. There is no apparent record of a similar dress, so it was probably a "Colonel's fancy". From 1810 to 1822, when it returned to England and was constituted Lancers, it was continuously employed in minor operations against Burding, Anjar (in Cutch), the Pindarees, and Bheels. No regiment seems to have changed its uniform more.

In 1817 the dark blue coat and pale blue overalls with white facings was surmounted by a broad topped shako with a tall plume in front; the Lancer dress of 1824 had a red and white plume in the lance cap, aiguillettes, and epaulets on the coat; and in 1829 the general colour of the uniform was dark blue, with a white top to the lance cap, in the case of officers, and a black plume; in 1832 the coat was red, with epaulets, the trouser stripe was also red, and the plume still black. Now, with the uniform, both facings and plume are white. In the Crimea the regiment shared in the battle of the Alma, and still more in the glory of the Light cavalry charge at Balaklava, where they were in front line. Lieutenant-Colonel Morris led the regiment with nine troop leaders and subalterns, but when the guns were reached five of the subordinates had fallen, Winter and Thompson dead. the others desperately wounded. With the shattered remnants of the regiment, now broken up into groups, the wild charge continued.

Morris ran the leader of the Russian cavalry through, but unable to withdraw his sword from the body of his adversary, was severely wounded, and fell from his horse, to be wounded a second time by the Cossacks who surrounded him. The he surrendered; but as no one remained to make him prisoner, he attempted to retreat on a loose horse, which fell with him, crushing his leg. Extricating himself, he fell senseless by the side of his dead friend Nolan, to be rescued by Dr Mouatt of the Inniskillings, as already related by Sergeant-Major Wooden, both of whom won the Cross for Valour; the latter for "proceeding, under a heavy fire, to his assistance when he was lying very dangerously wounded in an exposed situation".

Two other men of the 17th won the same distinction in the campaign; the one, Troop Sergeant Major John Berryman, who, present at the Alma, was engaged in the pursuit at Mackenzie's farm, capturing three Russian prisoners; and in the Balaklava charge, where his horse was shot, he "stopped on the field with a wounded officer (Captain Webb of the 11th Hussars) amidst a shower of shot and shell, although repeatedly told by that officer to consult his own safety and leave him; but he refused to do so, and on Sergeant John Farrell coming by, with his assistance carried Captain Webb out of the range of the guns". For his share in this cool and gallant action Quartermaster-Sergant Farrell was also decorated, he having also had his horse killed under him in the charge. The 17th also bear on their appointments "Inkerman", where they suffered the loss of one officer and some men, forming at the time part of the Light Brigade, which the numbered only about 200 men!

They served next in "Central India" after the Mutiny was broken, and in 1879 proceeded to South Africa with the reinforcements ordered by Lord Chelmsford. They were brigaded with the Kin's Dragoon Guards, under General Marshall, and were present at the reconnaissance in the direction of the Erzungayan Hill, on the 5th June, where their adjutant, Lieutenant E. F. Cockayne-Frith, was killed; and later on at Ulundi were represented by two squadrons, commanded by Colonel Drury-Lowe. When, at 9.25am on that day, Lord Chelmsford gave the order "Go at them, Lowe, but don't pursue too far", they dispersed the broken fragments of the last Zulu attack to meet a close mass of the enemy concealed in a donga, under whose fire fell Captain Wyatt Edgell and several men. But the charge continued and broke these also, though, strangely enough, lances were slung, and the work done with the sword. One Victoria Cross, in addition to those already named, has been won by a former officer of the regiment, the Lieutenant H.

Evelyn Wood, now commanding the Aldershot division. For in 1858, during the action of Sindwaho, when in command of a troop of the 3rd Light Cavalry, he attacked with much gallantry, almost single handed, a body of rebels who had made a stand, and whom he routed; also for having subsequently, near Sindhora, gallantly advanced with a Duffadar and Sowar of Beaton's Horse, and rescued from a band of robbers a Potail; Chenum Singh, whom they had captured and carried off to the jungles, where they intended to hang him. Their several names are "The Death or Glory Boys", from their regimental badge and their origin; "Bingham's Dandies", from their colonel, who was punctiliously careful as to the fit of the men's uniforms; and, lastly, the title "Duke of Cambridge's Own" was conferred on them in 1876, in honour of the Commander-in-Chief, who once served in the regiment. Extract from "The British Army and Auxiliary Forces"Colonel C. Cooper King, R.M.A. , 1894 T.

LAWRENCE (Sergeant) 17th Lancers On august 7th 1900, Sergeant Lawrence was on patrol duty with Private Hayman, when they were attacked by about fourteen of the enemy. Private Hayman?s horse was hit, and in falling threw its rider, dislocating his shoulder. Lawrence went at once to his comrade?s help, dragged him from under the wounded anmal, set him on his own horse, telling him to ride towards the picket. He then took Hayman?s carbine, and with his own as well kept the enemy at a distance until the wounded man was safely out of range, when he commenced to retire on foot, followed by the Boers for two miles and keeping them off until he received assistance. H.M., so nobly earned presented the King in London the Victoria Cross, to Sergeant Lawrence on august 12th 1902. Photographs of the 17th lancers. during the reign of Queen Victoria.

The 17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers, started life as the 18th Light Dragoons raised in 1759, in 1876 they became the 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own ), the regimental motto is "Death Or Glory". Regimental Battle Honours. 1854 - 1855, Crimean War, Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, and Sebastopol. 1857 - 1858 Indian Mutiny, 1877 - 1879 Zulu and Basuto War.

1899 - 1902 Boer War 1914 - 1918 The Great war, Festubert 1914, Somme 1916,1918, Morval, Cambrai 1917, 1918 , St Quentin, Avre, Hazebrouck, Amiens Pursuit to Mons, Five members of the regiment have been awarded the Victoria Cross, 3 in the VC, Three in the Crimean war, 1 during the Indian Mutiny, and one during the Boer war. JOHN FARRELL (Quartermaster-Sergeant) 17th Lancers On October 25th 1854 after the charges at the battle of Balaklava, when Farrell?s horse was shot from under him, Captain Webb was severely wounded. Farrell and Berryman (V.C.) carried the officer as far as the pain of his wounds would allow, and, when a stretcher was obtained, he assisted Berryman and a Private of the 13th Dragoons (Malcone V.C.) to carry him from the field.

Farrell died at Secunderabad, India on August 4th 1865. JOHN BERRYMAN (Troop-Sergeant-Major, afterwards Major) 17th (The Duke of Cambridge?s Own) Lancer Sergeant-Major Berryman was once of the many heroes who fought right through the Crimean War. He was ?mentioned? for Alma, Balaklava, Inkerman, and Mackenzie?s Farm, and at the last place captured three Russian soldiers close up to their own guns. At Balaklava his horse was shot under him in the charge, yet he remained with a wounded and dying officer (Captain Webb), whom he carried out of immediate range of the cannon. For his bravery at Inkerman, on February 24th 1857, he was specially mentioned in the London Gazette. Born on July 28th 1825, he died on June 27th 1896.

CHARLES WOODEN (Sergeant-Major, afterwards Quarter-Master 104th Bengal Fusiliers) 17th Lancers On October 26th 1854, after the battle of Balaklava, Sergeant-Major Wooden went to the assistance of Lieut. ?Colonel Morris, C.B., and rescued him when lying exposed to a very heavy fire thereby saving his life. A Dismounted Lancer at Skirmishing Display (1896) Here we have a picture which will serve to remind many of the Military Displays at the Agricultural Hall, and to others will explain the kind of fighting which Dr Jameson's troopers made with the Boers at Krugerdorp. It is a pretty idea, teaching a cavalry horse to lie down and serve as a living screen, from behind which his rider can fire in safety, and moreover, has its use in warfare. In the present instance the dismounted horseman (Rough Rider Corporal Long, of the 17th Lancers) is one of a line of skirmishers ordered to use their carbines on foot, against an enemy whom they are unable to get at owing to the nature of the intervening obstacles.

A Long Service Veteran : The Drum Horse of the 17th Lamcers (1896) The 17th Lancer have justly a high regard for their drum-horse, who carries his sixteen (or as it has been reported, twenty) years, lightly enough. His rider, Private Austen, himself a soldier of eighteen years' service, is ever ready to champion the drum-horse of his regiment as the finest drum-horse in the Queen's Army, and to tell with what a display of conscious pride the old horse bears himself when marching at the head of the regiment. Private Austen has taught his charge moreover some curious tricks, at which the animal has proved himself an apt pupil. The old horse is believed to be of Hanoverian descent, and was taken over from the 11th Hussars in 1890, when the 17th Lancers arrived from India.

The Guard of the 17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers (1896) Here we have a turn out of the regimental guard of the 17th Lancers, taken one day on duty at Hounslow Barracks, where the famous "Death or Glory Boys" were quartered. The guard here shown consists of three troopers and a corporal, on the right of the party, with a trumpeter boy in undress. Hardly another regiment in the Queen's Service makes so effective a display on parade as do the 17th Lancers, with their blue uniforms and white facings - white plastron on the chest of the tunic, white plume and square top to the cap, double white trouser stripes, and bright white and red lance pennons. Saddlers of the 17th Lancers at Work (1896) How all important a position the saddlers' department - which deals with all that perains to keeping in order the horse-gear and riding equipment - occupies in a cavalry regiment, goes, of course, without saying.

A horse with a sore back is little more fit for work than one dead lame, and ill-fitting saddles, the cause of sore backs more than anything else, come primarily from badly stuffed saddles. Our photograph shows some of the saddlers of the 17th Lancers at work, the man on the right attending to an officer's saddle cloth under the instructions of a sergeant of the regiment. Most of the leather work connected with the men's equipment also comes to the saddlers for keeping in order. Officer - 17th Lancers Corporal and Private - 17th Lancers From left to right: 17th Lancers, 1st Life Guards, 2nd Dragoons Riding School Staff - 17th Lancers A Captain of the 17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers. (1896) There is quite an epitome of regimental and cavalry history in the uniform of the 17th Lancers, a Captain of which famous regiment, in review order uniform, is shown in our illustration.

The white facings recall in their colour the original facings of all British cavalry in days of our earliest light dragoons; their badge of a Death's Head and the motto "Or Glory", recall General Wolfe, soon after whose death the regiment was raised and in whose memory the badge and motto were first chosen. It was from Napoleon's Polish lancer that we adopted the lance into the Service, in the year after Waterloo, and with it the peculiar distinctive Polish schapka, or square flat-topped cap with its feather plume. [UK] - The 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own) - hat badge The 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own) hat badge [] - $49.95 : Australian Militaria Sales, Specialising in Australian Medals, Badges, Patches Description: The 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own) hat badge Maker's Name: N/A Condition: Very Good Comments: The 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own) hat badge complete with two lugs.

The 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, notable for its participation in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War. Various amalgamations have resulted in its absorption into the Queen's Royal Lancers (which also incorporates the 5th Lancers, 16th Lancers and 21st Lancers). In 1922 the 17th was amalgamated with the 21st Lancers (Empress of India's) to form the 17th/21st Lancers. This regiment was amalgamated with the 16th/5th Queen's Royal Lancers in 1993 to form the Queen's Royal Lancers. 17th/21st Lancers | Military Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Insignia The 17th/21st Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1922 to 1993.

It was formed in 1922 in England by the amalgamation of the 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own) and the 21st Lancers (Empress of India's) . From 1930 to 1939 it was deployed overseas; first in Egypt for two years, and then in India for seven. In 1938 the regiment was mechanised. On the outbreak of war, the regiment immediately transferred back to the UK. When it arrived it had no equipment apart from rifles and revolvers. Although it was designated as a Heavy Armoured Regiment it never received the equipment; initial training was with a few Medium tanks and some lorries. It was designated as a Divisional Cavalry Regiment in 1940 but given machine guns and vehicles to make it a Motor Machine-Gun Regiment. In this form it was part of the 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade (with the 16th/5th Lancers, 2nd Lothians and Border Horse) under 12 Corps defending south-east England. It then came under 26th Armoured Brigade in 6th Armoured Division later in the year.

A group of personnel from the regiment were detached in December to form the cadre of the 24th Lancers . In November 1942, the division was deployed to Tunisia after Operation Torch . Now equipped with Valentine Mk III and Crusader Mk III tanks, the regiment saw action for some time, including taking heavy losses defending Thala in the Battle of the Kasserine Pass in February 1943 during which all but twelve tanks were put out of action. After this the regiment was withdrawn, and refitted with M4A2 Sherman tanks. In April, an attempt to take the Fondouk Pass again put most of the regiment out of action. The 6th Armoured Division deployed to Italy in March 1944, and fought to breach the Gustav Line . The regiment advanced to the Gothic Line , and spent the winter there—at points, serving as infantry rather than as an armoured unit, due to the static nature of the trench warfare there. After the final breakthrough in 1945, the regiment ended the war in Austria. In 1946, the regiment was posted to Greece on internal security duties.

In 1947 it deployed to the Suez Canal Zone and re-equipped as an armoured car regiment, and then to Palestine in 1948. During the Cold War period, the regiment spent about half its time as an armoured unit in the British Army of the Rhine ; it was also deployed to various overseas locations including Hong Kong. The regiment also undertook deployments to Northern Ireland , both as an armoured car unit and as dismounted infantry. In the mid-1980s, following a depot tour at the RAC Centre Bovington, some of the wives, badged and serving with the WRAC, were permitted to continue their service within the QMs Department in Germany. In 1993, with the reductions in forces after the end of the Cold War, the regiment was amalgamated with the 16th/5th Lancers to form the Queen's Royal Lancers .

About: 17th Lancers About: 17th Lancers An Entity of Type : military unit , from Named Graph : , within Data Space : dbpedia.org The 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, notable for its participation in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War. Various amalgamations have resulted in its absorption into the Queen's Royal Lancers (which has also incorporated the 5th, the 16th and the 21st Lancers). Property abstract The 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, notable for its participation in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War. Various amalgamations have resulted in its absorption into the Queen's Royal Lancers (which has also incorporated the 5th, the 16th and the 21st Lancers). (en) El Regimiento n.º 17 de Lanceros fue una unidad de caballería del Ejército Británico, famoso por su participación en la Carga de la Brigada ligera durante la Guerra de Crimea.

Fue finalmente absorbido en los Lanceros de la Reina, al igual que los regimientos 5°, 16° y 21° de lanceros. (es) The Death or Glory Boys, The Horse Marines, The Tots, The White Lancers (en) Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig (en) Field Marshal Prince George, 2nd Duke of Cambridge (en) Lieutenant-General Sir Drury Curzon Drury-Lowe (en) Major General Thomas Arthur Cooke (en) Major General Thomas Pelham-Clinton, 3rd Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne (en) comment The 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, notable for its participation in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War. Various amalgamations have resulted in its absorption into the Queen's Royal Lancers (which has also incorporated the 5th, the 16th and the 21st Lancers).

(en) El Regimiento n.º 17 de Lanceros fue una unidad de caballería del Ejército Británico, famoso por su participación en la Carga de la Brigada ligera durante la Guerra de Crimea. Fue finalmente absorbido en los Lanceros de la Reina, al igual que los regimientos 5°, 16° y 21° de lanceros. (es)

Question: What was the nickname of the British army regiment called "The 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own)"?
Answer: The Death or Glory Boys