Hodson's Horse

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Hodson's Horse is a cavalry regiment which originated as part of the British Indian Army. It was raised by Brevet Major William Stephen Raikes Hodson during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and exists today as the 4th Horse Regiment in the Indian Army.

The force was raised as an irregular cavalry regiment to assist with putting down the rebellion, and continued as part of the British Indian Army. The official designation has changed several times since the regiment's inception in 1857. In 1859, the regiment was split up into two regiments which survived broadly as the 9th and 10th Bengal Lancers. In 1878, the 10th Bengal Lancers came to be known as the "Duke of Cambridge's own." In 1921, the British decided to cut down on the number of cavalry regiments, and re-amalgamated the two as the 10th Duke of Cambridge's Own Lancers (Hodson's Horse). It officially became the 4th Horse in 1966, and is still known as Hodson's Horse unofficially.

The regiment fought at the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Cambrai in the First World War. It still recalls the latter as the regiment's most splendid battle, and celebrates Cambrai Day every year.

The regiment is now an armoured regiment.

[edit] Name changes

  • 1857 Hodson’s Horse
  • 1858 2nd Regiment of Hodson’s Horse
  • 1861 10th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry
  • 1864 10th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry (Lancers)
  • 1874 10th Regiment of Bengal Lancers
  • 1878 10th Bengal (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Lancers
  • 1901 10th (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Bengal Lancers (Hodson’s Horse)
  • 1903 10th Duke of Cambridge’s Own Lancers (Hodson’s Horse)

[edit] Notable officers

[edit] References

  • Kempton, Chris. A Register of Titles of the Units of the H.E.I.C. & Indian Armies 1666-1947. 
  • Gaylor, John. Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903- 1991.