| 19th Royal Hussars (Queen Alexandra's Own) | |
|---|---|
Badge of the 19th Royal Hussars |
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| Active | 1857–1922 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Cavalry |
| Role | Line Cavalry |
| Size | One Regiment |
The 19th Royal Hussars (Queen Alexandra's Own) was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, created in 1857 and amalgamated to form the 15th/19th Hussars in 1922.
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The regiment was originally raised in Bengal by the British East India Company in 1857 as the 1st Bengal European Light Cavalry, for service in the Indian Mutiny. During the Mutiny, a lieutenant of the regiment, Hugh Henry Gough, received the Victoria Cross.
As with all other "European" units of the Company, they were placed under the command of the Crown in 1858, and subsequently formally moved into the British Army in 1862 when they were designated as hussars as the 19th Hussars. At this time, the regiment was authorised to inherit the battle honours of the disbanded 19th Light Dragoons.[1] The 19th Hussars saw service in the 1882 Egyptian expedition, fighting at Tel el Kebir, and in the 1884-5 expedition to the Sudan at the Battle of Abu Klea. During the South African War they fought in the relief of Ladysmith. The regiment was titled 19th (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own) Hussars after Alexandra, Princess of Wales. In 1908, when Alexandra became Queen Consort, the name changed to 19th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars.[2]
With the outbreak of the First World War, the regiment was split up, with squadrons attached to the 4th, 5th and 6th Infantry Divisions as divisional cavalry squadrons;[3] all three divisions moved to France with the British Expeditionary Force, and saw action in the Battle of Le Cateau, the Retreat from Mons, the Battle of the Marne, the Battle of the Aisne and the Battle of Armentieres.[2]
The regiment was brought together again in April 1915, and attached to the 1st Cavalry Division, with whom it would serve for the remainder of the war.[3] It saw action at the Second Battle of Ypres, gaining battle honours for the Battle of St Julien and the Battle of Frezenberg. In 1916, the 19th fought at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, part of the Battle of the Somme. In 1917 it served at the Battle of Cambrai, and in 1918 at the Battle of Amiens and the Pursuit to Mons.[2]
The regiment was retitled 19th Royal Hussars (Queen Alexandra's Own) in 1921 and shortly thereafter disbanded as part of the post-War reduction in forces. A cadre was briefly resurrected in 1922 in order to amalgamate with the 15th The King's Hussars, to form the 15th/19th Hussars.[2]