4th Queen's Own Hussars
Encyclopedia
The 4th Queen's Own Hussars was a cavalry regiment
in the British Army
, first raised in 1685. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars in 1958.
The regiment was first raised as The Princess Anne of Denmark's Regiment of Dragoons in 1685, by the regimenting of various independent troops, and ranked as the 4th Dragoons. In 1751, it was formally titled as the 4th Regiment of Dragoons, and in 1788 named for Queen Charlotte
as the 4th (Queen's Own) Regiment of Dragoons.
The regiment was designated light dragoons in 1818, becoming the 4th (The Queen's Own) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons, and as hussars in 1861 as the 4th (Queen's Own) Hussars. After service in the First World War, the regiment retitled as 4th Queen's Own Hussars in 1921.
The regiment mechanised in 1936 and was transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps
in 1939. The regiment survived the immediate post-war reduction in forces, but was slated for reduction in the 1957 Defence White Paper
, and was amalgamated with the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars
, to form the The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars the following year.
's Peninsula Campaign
and gained distinction in the Afghan War. They participated in one of the most glorious actions of the British Cavalry when they charged with the Light Brigade
at Balaclava alongside the 8th Hussars. Private Samuel Parkes
was awarded the Victoria Cross during the charge for saving the life of a Trumpeter, Hugh Crawford. The regiment served in France for the duration of the First World War, winning 21 Battle honours and nearly 100 awards for gallantry. They mechanised in 1936, transferring from their traditional place as Cavalry of the Line to the Royal Armoured Corps
and saw extensive action during the Second World War in Greece, the Western Desert (El Alamein) and Italy.
. Badly mauled during the battles around Gazala
and having lost almost an entire squadron (which was attached to the County of London Yeomanry
) the regiment was temporarily amalgamated with one squadron from the (similarly depleted) 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars
to form the 4th/8th Hussars . A portent of things to come perhaps as this partnership, along with their previous association with the 8th in the Charge of the Light Brigade
made them both ideal candidates for the amalgamation which would follow in 1958.
The regiment fought with distinction in the Italian campaign during the allied advance into the Axis territories.
Sir Winston Churchill
, 'the Greatest Hussar of them all' was commissioned as a Cornet
into the 4th Hussars in January 1895. He later became the Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment from 1941 until amalgamation and was then Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment of the new Queen's Royal Irish Hussars until his death in 1965.
Regimental Association http://www.qrh.org.uk/. As the regiment has amalgamated again since 1958 the current association is that of the Queen's Royal Hussars.
4th Light Dragoons http://www.genes.plus.com/ARMYLIST/Dragoons.htm. Private website researching the regiment between 1824 and 1860.
Cavalry regiments of the British Army
There are currently nine regular cavalry regiments of the British Army, with two tank regiments provided by the Royal Tank Regiment, traditionally classed alongside the cavalry, for a total of eleven regiments. Of these, five serve as armoured regiments, and five as formation reconnaissance...
in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, first raised in 1685. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars in 1958.
The regiment was first raised as The Princess Anne of Denmark's Regiment of Dragoons in 1685, by the regimenting of various independent troops, and ranked as the 4th Dragoons. In 1751, it was formally titled as the 4th Regiment of Dragoons, and in 1788 named for Queen Charlotte
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was the Queen consort of the United Kingdom as the wife of King George III...
as the 4th (Queen's Own) Regiment of Dragoons.
The regiment was designated light dragoons in 1818, becoming the 4th (The Queen's Own) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons, and as hussars in 1861 as the 4th (Queen's Own) Hussars. After service in the First World War, the regiment retitled as 4th Queen's Own Hussars in 1921.
The regiment mechanised in 1936 and was transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Armoured Corps
The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
in 1939. The regiment survived the immediate post-war reduction in forces, but was slated for reduction in the 1957 Defence White Paper
1957 Defence White Paper
The 1957 White Paper on Defence was a British white paper setting forth the perceived future of the British military. It had profound effects on all aspects of the defence industry but probably the most affected was the British aircraft industry...
, and was amalgamated with the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars
8th King's Royal Irish Hussars
The 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1693. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars in 1958....
, to form the The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars the following year.
History
The 4th Hussars fought throughout WellingtonArthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
's Peninsula Campaign
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
and gained distinction in the Afghan War. They participated in one of the most glorious actions of the British Cavalry when they charged with the Light Brigade
Charge of the Light Brigade
The Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. The charge was the result of a miscommunication in such a way that the brigade attempted a much more difficult objective...
at Balaclava alongside the 8th Hussars. Private Samuel Parkes
Samuel Parkes (VC)
Samuel Parkes VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
was awarded the Victoria Cross during the charge for saving the life of a Trumpeter, Hugh Crawford. The regiment served in France for the duration of the First World War, winning 21 Battle honours and nearly 100 awards for gallantry. They mechanised in 1936, transferring from their traditional place as Cavalry of the Line to the Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Armoured Corps
The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
and saw extensive action during the Second World War in Greece, the Western Desert (El Alamein) and Italy.
Second World War
The regiment was posted to The Middle East, arriving on 31 December 1940 . As part of the 1st Armoured Brigade they were attached to the 6th Australian Infantry Division and fought in the Greek Campaign. Fighting as the rearguard in the Corinth Canal Bridge action the regiment was overrun and surrendered losing all senior officers and over 400 men as prisoners of war. In June 1941 the regiment was reconstituted in Cairo and rejoined the 1st Armoured Brigade as part of the 8th ArmyEighth Army (United Kingdom)
The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations of the British Army during World War II, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns....
. Badly mauled during the battles around Gazala
Gazala
Gazala, or Ain el Gazala , is a small Libyan village near the coast in the northeastern portion of the country. It is located west of Tobruk....
and having lost almost an entire squadron (which was attached to the County of London Yeomanry
County of London Yeomanry
Several British Army regiments have born the title County of London Yeomanry . Most have been mounted, then armoured regiments.-1st County of London Yeomanry:...
) the regiment was temporarily amalgamated with one squadron from the (similarly depleted) 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars
8th King's Royal Irish Hussars
The 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1693. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars in 1958....
to form the 4th/8th Hussars . A portent of things to come perhaps as this partnership, along with their previous association with the 8th in the Charge of the Light Brigade
Charge of the Light Brigade
The Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. The charge was the result of a miscommunication in such a way that the brigade attempted a much more difficult objective...
made them both ideal candidates for the amalgamation which would follow in 1958.
The regiment fought with distinction in the Italian campaign during the allied advance into the Axis territories.
The Postwar Period
At the end of World War II, the 4th Hussars served in the Malayan Campaign before deploying to Germany and amalgamating with the 8th Hussars at Hohne in 1958.Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, 'the Greatest Hussar of them all' was commissioned as a Cornet
Cornet (military rank)
Cornet was originally the third and lowest grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry troop, after captain and lieutenant. A cornet is a new and junior officer.- Traditional duties :The cornet carried the troop standard, also known as a "cornet"....
into the 4th Hussars in January 1895. He later became the Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment from 1941 until amalgamation and was then Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment of the new Queen's Royal Irish Hussars until his death in 1965.
External links
- British Army Locations from 1945 British Army Locations from 1945
Regimental Association http://www.qrh.org.uk/. As the regiment has amalgamated again since 1958 the current association is that of the Queen's Royal Hussars.
4th Light Dragoons http://www.genes.plus.com/ARMYLIST/Dragoons.htm. Private website researching the regiment between 1824 and 1860.