History 15th The King's Hussars

1 history

1.1 wars
1.2 napoleonic wars
1.3 peterloo
1.4 victorian era
1.5 first world war
1.6 post war

history

george augustus eliott, 1st baron heathfield, founder of regiment



louis nolan, officer of 15th hussars gained notoriety bearer of ill-fated order precipitating charge of light brigade


early wars

the regiment raised in london area george augustus eliott, 1st baron heathfield elliots light horse first of new regiments of light dragoons in 1759. renamed 15th regiment of (light) dragoons in 1760. regiment landed in bremen in june 1760 service in 7 years war. regiment largely responsible victory, suffering 125 of 186 allied casualties @ battle of emsdorf in july 1760. lieutenant colonel william erskine, commanding regiment, presented king george iii 16 colours captured regiment after battle. during battle french commander, major-general christian-sigismund von glaubitz, taken prisoner. regiment charged french rear guard twice @ battle of wilhelmsthal in june 1762 , returned home in july 1763. in 1766 renamed king george iii 1st (or king s royal) regiment of light dragoons, number being attempt create new numbering system light dragoon regiments. however, old system re-established, regiment returning 15th (the king s) regiment of (light) dragoons in 1769.

the regiment landed @ ostend in may 1793 service in flanders campaign , fought @ battle of famars in may 1793. formed part of besieging force @ siege of valenciennes in june 1793 , formed part of covering force @ siege of dunkirk in august 1793 , @ siege of landrecies in april 1794. undertook successful charges @ battle of villers-en-cauchies in april 1794 , @ battle of willems in may 1794 , present, not actively engaged, @ battle of tournay later in may 1794. regiment returned england in december 1795 , next in action @ battle of alkmaar in october 1799 during anglo-russian invasion of holland.

napoleonic wars

the regiment reconstituted hussar regiment in 1807 15th (the king s) regiment of (light) dragoons (hussars). landed @ corunna in november 1808 service in peninsular war , defeated 2 regiments of french cavalry @ battle of sahagún in december 1808. @ battle 2 french lieutenant colonels captured , french 1st provisional chasseurs à cheval, lost many men captured, ceased exist viable regiment. however, commanding officer of 15th hussars, colonel colquhoun grant, wounded in battle. regiment embarked @ corunna journey home in january 1809.

the regiment ordered support sir arthur wellesley s army on iberian peninsula , landed @ lisbon in february 1813. took part in battle of morales in june 1813 , battle of vitoria later in month. pursued french army france , supported infantry @ battle of orthez in february 1814 , @ battle of toulouse in april 1814. returned england in july 1814. regiment recalled hundred days , landed @ ostend in may 1815: took part in charge @ battle of waterloo in june 1815 , returned england in may 1816.

peterloo

the peterloo massacre, august 1819



officer of 15th king s hussars mounted on charger, c.1830

the regiment played pivotal role in notorious peterloo massacre in august 1819, when 60,000 strong crowd calling democratic reform charged yeomanry. panic crowd interpreted attack on yeomanry , hussars (led lieutenant colonel guy l estrange) ordered in. charge resulted in 15 fatalities , many 600 injured.

victorian era

the title of regiment simplified in 1861 15th (the king s) hussars. stationed in ireland between july 1824 , may 1827 , between april 1834 , may 1837. stationed in india between spring 1840 , 1854. regiment returned india in 1867 , moved on afghanistan in 1878 service in second anglo-afghan war before being deployed south africa in january 1881 service in first boer war.

first world war

the regiment, stationed @ longmoor @ start of first world war, landed @ rouen in france on 18 august 1914: squadrons attached different infantry divisions form divisional reconnaissance element: squadron attached 3rd division, b squadron attached 2nd division , c squadron attached 1st division. on 14 april 1915, squadrons returned regimental control , regiment placed under command of 9th cavalry brigade in 1st cavalry division. regiment remained on western front throughout war. participated in of major actions cavalry used mounted mobile force. used dismounted troops , served infantry. on 11 november 1918, orders received 1st cavalry division lead advance of second army germany, 6 december 1918, having passed through namur, division secured rhine bridgehead @ cologne.

post war

after service in first world war, regiment, retitled 15th king s hussars in 1921 amalgamated 19th royal hussars 15th/19th king s royal hussars in 1922.