7th Light Cavalry
Encyclopedia
The 7th Light Cavalry, was a regular army cavalry regiment in the British Indian Army
which first came into British service with the East India Company and went on to serve on the North West Frontier and in World War I
and World War II
.
They soon changed their title to the 3rd Madras Native Cavalry and it was under that title that they were first in action during the Third Mysore War in 1790 against Tipu Sultan
.
They were next in action during the Fourth Mysore War in 1799 and fought with distinction at the Battle of Seringapatam
and at the Battle of Mahidpur
in the Pindari War of 1817, after which they became known as the 3rd Madras Light Cavalry.
For these actions they were awarded the battle honors Mysore, Seringapatam and Mahidipore.
Apart from some minor operations against the southern Mahrattas from 1844 to 1855 and sending some troops to join the Decan force during the Mutiny of 1857, the regiment would not see any action for the next hundred years.
In 1891 they were converted to lancers becoming the 3rd Regiment of Madras Lancers and in the reorganisation of the Indian Army in 1903, their title was changed to the 28th Light Cavalry.
, the Regiment was stationed in Quetta
being part of the 4th (Quetta) Division
.
In 1915 two squadrons were sent to Persia where they were mounted on camels they were tasked with stopping German agents from traveling across Persia to Afghanistan
.
The Regiments success in Persia was demonstrated when they captured a German officer, Lieutenant Winkleman, who was attempting to reach the Amir of Afghanistan to convince him to rebel or start a Jihad
, against the British in India.
forces to fight the Bolsheviks.
The regiment received the battle honors Merv and Persia 1915 for their services in the Great War.
part of the 4th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade they were brigaded with the:
The regiment was mechanized in 1942 and attached to the 254th Indian Tank Brigade
, equipped with the M4 Sherman
. The Brigade under the command of Brigadier Reginald Scoones consisted of the:
The Brigade fought with the 5th Indian Division and the 7th Indian Infantry Divisions in Burma and was involved in the Battle of Imphal
, Battle of Kyaukmaung Bridgehead, Battle of Meiktila, and the Rangoon Road
.
Place of Action: east of Peizieres, France attached to the 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse)
Citation:Lance Dafadar Gobind Singh of Indian Cavalry was awarded the Victoria Cross "for most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the 1st February 1917, east of Pozieres, France, in thrice volunteering to carry messages between the regiment and Brigade Headquarters, a distance of 1½ miles over open ground which was under the observation and heavy fire of the enemy. He succeeded each time in delivering the message, although on each occasion his horse was shot and he was compelled to finish his journey on foot."
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
which first came into British service with the East India Company and went on to serve on the North West Frontier and in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Formation
The history of this regiment can be traced to 1784 when they had been hired from the Nawab of Arcot by the East India Company, when these regiments mutinied for lack of pay John Company was forced to quell the mutiny. The regiments involved were disbanded and from the remnants, volunteers formed the 2nd Madras Cavalry which would eventually become the 7th Light Cavalry.They soon changed their title to the 3rd Madras Native Cavalry and it was under that title that they were first in action during the Third Mysore War in 1790 against Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan , also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He was the son of Hyder Ali, at that time an officer in the Mysorean army, and his second wife, Fatima or Fakhr-un-Nissa...
.
They were next in action during the Fourth Mysore War in 1799 and fought with distinction at the Battle of Seringapatam
Battle of Seringapatam
The Siege of Seringapatam was the final confrontation of the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War between the British East India Company and the Kingdom of Mysore. The British achieved a decisive victory after breaching the walls of the fortress at Seringapatam and storming the citadel. Tippu Sultan, Mysore's...
and at the Battle of Mahidpur
Battle of Mahidpur
The Battle of Mahidpur was fought during the Third Anglo-Maratha War between the Marathas and the British led by Sir Thomas Hislop at Mahidpur, a town in the Malwa region, on 20 December 1817....
in the Pindari War of 1817, after which they became known as the 3rd Madras Light Cavalry.
For these actions they were awarded the battle honors Mysore, Seringapatam and Mahidipore.
Apart from some minor operations against the southern Mahrattas from 1844 to 1855 and sending some troops to join the Decan force during the Mutiny of 1857, the regiment would not see any action for the next hundred years.
In 1891 they were converted to lancers becoming the 3rd Regiment of Madras Lancers and in the reorganisation of the Indian Army in 1903, their title was changed to the 28th Light Cavalry.
World War I
At the start of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the Regiment was stationed in Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
being part of the 4th (Quetta) Division
4th (Quetta) Division
The 4th Division was an infantry division of the British Indian Army. It was formed by General Kitchener while he was Commander-in-chief of India. During World War I the division remained in India...
.
In 1915 two squadrons were sent to Persia where they were mounted on camels they were tasked with stopping German agents from traveling across Persia to Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
The Regiments success in Persia was demonstrated when they captured a German officer, Lieutenant Winkleman, who was attempting to reach the Amir of Afghanistan to convince him to rebel or start a Jihad
Jihad
Jihad , an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. In Arabic, the word jihād translates as a noun meaning "struggle". Jihad appears 41 times in the Quran and frequently in the idiomatic expression "striving in the way of God ". A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahid; the plural is...
, against the British in India.
Russia
Following the Russian Revolution the Regiment was sent to Russia in 1917 to assist the White RussianWhite movement
The White movement and its military arm the White Army - known as the White Guard or the Whites - was a loose confederation of Anti-Communist forces.The movement comprised one of the politico-military Russian forces who fought...
forces to fight the Bolsheviks.
The regiment received the battle honors Merv and Persia 1915 for their services in the Great War.
Between the Wars
In 1922 another reorganization saw the regiment renamed as The 7th Light Cavalry and a year later as the ‘Indianization’ of the Indian Army officer corps began, the squadron officers were replaced by those of Indian origin, known as Viceroy’s Commissioned Officers (VCOs).World War II
At the start of the Second World War the Regiment was stationed in BolarumBolarum
Bolarum also spelled as Bolaram, Bollarum, and Bollaram is one of the major suburbs of Hyderabad, India. Geographically, a part of Bolarum is in Hyderabad district while another is in Ranga Reddy District...
part of the 4th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade they were brigaded with the:
- 14th/20th Hussars
- Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force)The 11th Cavalry also known as PAVO Cavalry, is an armoured regiment of the Pakistan Army. It was previously known as the 11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry and was a regular cavalry regiment of the old British Indian Army...
- 3rd Field Regiment, Royal ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
- 4th Cavalry Brigade Signal Troop.
The regiment was mechanized in 1942 and attached to the 254th Indian Tank Brigade
254th Indian Tank Brigade
The 254th Indian Tank Brigade was an armoured brigade of the Indian Army during World War II, it was part of the Fourteenth Army and saw action in the Burma Campaign...
, equipped with the M4 Sherman
M4 Sherman
The M4 Sherman, formally Medium Tank, M4, was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. Thousands were also distributed to the Allies, including the British Commonwealth and Soviet armies, via lend-lease...
. The Brigade under the command of Brigadier Reginald Scoones consisted of the:
- 7th Light Cavalry
- 1st Sqn 3rd Carabiniers
- 3rd Btn 4th Bombay Grenadiers4th Bombay GrenadiersThe 4th Bombay Grenadiers were an infantry regiment of the pre-independence Indian Army, formed on 1 March 1922 as part of the reforms of the Indian Army that took place after the end of the First World War. Following this, the Regiment spent the next fifteen years serving in British Somaliland in...
- 11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force)11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force)The 11th Cavalry also known as PAVO Cavalry, is an armoured regiment of the Pakistan Army. It was previously known as the 11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry and was a regular cavalry regiment of the old British Indian Army...
- 150th Regt Royal Armoured Corps.
The Brigade fought with the 5th Indian Division and the 7th Indian Infantry Divisions in Burma and was involved in the Battle of Imphal
Battle of Imphal
The Battle of Imphal took place in the region around the city of Imphal, the capital of the state of Manipur in North-East India from March until July 1944. Japanese armies attempted to destroy the Allied forces at Imphal and invade India, but were driven back into Burma with heavy losses...
, Battle of Kyaukmaung Bridgehead, Battle of Meiktila, and the Rangoon Road
Operation Dracula
During World War II, Operation Dracula was the name given to an airborne and amphibious attack on Rangoon by British and Indian forces, part of the Burma Campaign. When it was launched, the Imperial Japanese Army had already abandoned the city.-Background:...
.
Regimental Titles
- 1784 – 2nd Regiment of Madras Native Cavalry
- 1786 – 1st Regiment of Madras Native Cavalry
- 1788 – 3rd Regiment of Madras Native Cavalry
- 1819 – 3rd Regiment of Madras Light Cavalry
- 1891 – 3rd Regiment of Madras Lancers
- 1903 – 28th Light Cavalry
- 1922 – 7th Light Cavalry
- 1947 - 7th Regiment of Light Cavalry, Army of India.
Victoria Cross
L/Daffadar Gobind Singh ,28th Light Cavalry February 1, 1917Place of Action: east of Peizieres, France attached to the 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse)
2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse)
The 2nd Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army raised in 1809. It served in the Nepal and First World Wars. During the reconstruction of the British Indian Army in 1922 it was amalgamated with the 4th Cavalry....
Citation:Lance Dafadar Gobind Singh of Indian Cavalry was awarded the Victoria Cross "for most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the 1st February 1917, east of Pozieres, France, in thrice volunteering to carry messages between the regiment and Brigade Headquarters, a distance of 1½ miles over open ground which was under the observation and heavy fire of the enemy. He succeeded each time in delivering the message, although on each occasion his horse was shot and he was compelled to finish his journey on foot."
Further reading
- Bowling A.H. Indian Cavalry Regiments 1880–1914 Almark Publishing 1971
- Carmen W.Y Indian Cavalry Uniforms Leonard Hill 1961
- Mollo B. The Indian Army Blandford Press 1981
External links
Follow this link to view the uniforms of the late 19th Century- http://www.members.tripod.com/~Glosters/IAcavalry1.htm