Light Dragoons

The term 'Light Dragoons' has a much earlier history. The British army experimented with light cavalry in the 1740s, prompted by the French creation of hussar regiments. However, it was not until the 1750s that the British converted some dragoon regiments into light cavalry, these regiments being officially designated 'Light Dragoons'. All British light cavalry regiments (numbered 7th and upwards) were titled Light Dragoons until 1806-1807, when four were re-classified as 'Hussars'. From 1816 more Light Dragoon regiments were reclassified as lancers or hussars, a tendency that continued throughout the 19th century.[1]

The 13th Light Dragoons at the Battle of Waterloo

The Light Dragoons receiving the Freedom of the Borough of Barnsley

The regiment was formed in 1992 at Haig Barracks in Hohne from the amalgamation of two regiments, the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) and the 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars. All of the antecedent regiments had been regiments of "light dragoons" during the 18th and 19th centuries, including the Napoleonic Wars.[2]

B Squadron (The Guards) was the first squadron of the newly formed regiment to do a tour of duty; sent to Bosnia and Herzegovina in May 1993 on peacekeeping duties. They were followed by C Squadron (The Legion) in November 1993 and later by A and D squadrons in 1994. For all of those initial tours the Light Dragoons deployed on Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance Tracked (CVRT).[3] The Light Dragoons also sent units to Iraq on Operation Telic 2 in July 2003 and Operation Telic 6 in May 2005.[4]

Elements of the regiment were deployed on a tour of duty in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on Operation Herrick 5 with 3 Commando Brigade in October 2006 and then with 12 Mechanised Brigade on Operation Herrick 6 in April 2007.[5] The regiment deployed as a battle group on Operation Herrick 10 in April 2009 and took part in Operation Panther's Claw in the summer of 2009.[4] The regiment's last deployment to Afghanistan was on Operation Herrick 16 in April 2012.[5] It subordinated to 4th Infantry Brigade and moved to a new home at Gaza Barracks in Catterick Garrison in 2015.[5]

The regiment's role includes scouting for information about the enemy, engaging enemy targets and guiding fast jets. The regiment converted to the Jackal armoured fighting vehicles under Army 2020.[6][7] The Light Dragoons recruit mainly in Northern England, from the counties of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham, South Yorkshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire and have strong connections with these areas. For this reason, the regiment is known as "England’s Northern Cavalry",[8]

The regiment is broken into the following 'squadrons': A Squadron, B Squadron, C Squadron, D Squadron, Support Squadron.[9]

The Newcastle Discovery Museum includes the regimental museum of the Light Dragoons and the Northumberland Hussars.[10]

Colonels-in-Chief were:

• The Princess of Wales (1992–1996)[11]
• The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon (1997–2002)[12]
• King Abdullah II of Jordan (2003–)[13][14]

Colonels of the Regiment were:[15]

• 1992–1995: Col. Robert John William ffrench Blake (ex 13th/18th Royal Hussars)
• 1995–2000: Brig. Charles Anthony Gilbert Wells, CBE
• 2000–c.2010: Lt-Gen. Sir Roderick Alexander Cordy-Simpson, KBE, CB
• c.2010-2013: Maj-Gen. Andrew Stewart
• 2013– Maj-Gen. David Rutherford-Jones CB

Commanding Officers have included:[16]

• 1992–1993: Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Richard Evelyn De Cardonnel Stewart
• 1993–1996: Lt Col Robert I. Webb-Bowen
• 1996–1997: Lt Col Timothy J. Checketts
• 1997–1999: Lt Col David John Rutherford-Jones
• 1999–2002: Lt Col Simon R. Levey
• 2002–2004: Lt Col David R. Amos
• 2004–2006: Lt Col Robin C. Matthews
• 2006–2009: Lt Col H. Angus Watson
• 2009–2011: Lt Col Angus G. C. Fair
• 2011–2013: Lt Col Samuel J. Plant
• 2013–2016: Lt Col James M. Senior
• 2016–2019: Lt Col Benjamin M. J. Cossens
• 2019–Present: Lt Col Thomas R. M. Robinson

•  Canada – The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)
•  Canada – The South Alberta Light Horse
•  Australia – 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers
•  India – 1st Horse (Skinner's Horse)
•  Pakistan – 6th Lancers
•  Pakistan – 19th Lancers
•  Malaysia – 2nd Royal Armoured Regiment
•  Royal Navy – HMS Northumberland
•  France – 4e Chasseurs d'Afrique and nowadays 4e régiment de chasseurs / 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade

• Light Dragoons: The Making of a Regiment By Allan Mallinson . Pen and Sword books . 362 pages . 2006. ISBN 1-84415-448-3

• Official website
• The Light Dragoons Regimental Association
• British Army Locations from 1945