| 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1809 - 1946 |
| Country | India |
| Allegiance | Great Britain |
| Branch | British Indian Army |
| Type | Cavalry |
| Size | Regiment |
| Part of | Indian Cavalry Corps |
| Nickname | Gardner's Horse |
| Engagements | Nepal War World War One Battle of the Somme Battle of Bazentin Battle of Flers Courcelette Hindenburg Line Battle of Cambrai World War II Battle of Gazala |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | King Edward VII (1904) |
The 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse) 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.
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The regiment was raised in 1809 by William Linnæus Gardner who had previously served with the 74th Highlanders; it first saw service in the Nepal War of 1815. Like all regiments of the Indian Army, the 2nd Lancers (Gardner’s Horse) underwent many name changes in various reorganisations. (They are listed below):
The regiment was sent to France in World War I as part of the Mhow Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Indian Cavalry Division. It was brigaded with the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons and the 38th King George's Own Central India Horse [1] Once in France its personnel were called upon to serve in the trenches as infantry. The high number of officer casualties suffered early on had an effect on performance. British officers who understood the language, customs and psychology of their men could not be quickly replaced, and the alien environment of the Western Front had some effect on the soldiers.[2] During their time on the Western Front the regiment was involved in the Battle of the Somme, Battle of Bazentin, Battle of Flers Courcelette, the Advance to the Hindenburg Line and the Battle of Cambrai.In February 1918 they left France for Egypt, joining the 4th Cavalry Division in the Desert Mounted Corps. From May 1918 the Regiment took part in General Allenby's campaign in Palestine. On 20th September 1918 during the Battle of Megiddo (Armageddon) during Allenby's advance on Jerusalem, the 2nd Lancers, commanded by Captain, temporary Major and Acting Lt. Colonel, Douglas Davison launched an improvised cavalry charge which broke the Turkish lines, destabilised the defence, and paved the way for victory instead of stalemate before Jerusalem. One squadron, on the initiative of its commander, moved on to capture the village of El Afuleh, along with around 100 German personnel, aircraft, trucks and railway stock. Capt. D.S. Davison was awarded the DSO for his part in this battle. The Regiment returned to India in December 1920.
The Regiments' only Victoria Cross was awarded during World War I to Gobind Singh (7 December 1887 - 9 December 1942) a Lance-Daffadar (corporal) in the 27th Light Cavalry attached to the 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse). On 12 December 1917, east of Peizieres, Singh volunteered three times to carry messages between the regiment and brigade headquarters, a distance of 1.5 miles (2.4 km) over open ground which was under heavy fire. He succeeded in delivering the messages, although on each occasion his horse was shot from under him and he was compelled to finish the journey on foot.
The Albert Medal is awarded for "daring and heroic actions performed by mariners and others in danger of perishing, by reason of wrecks and other perils of the sea". It was awarded on 15 March, 1919 to Trooper Mangal Sain, 2nd Indian Lancers (Gardner's Horse) at Beirut, Lebanon. Whilst guarding a party of Turkish POWs who were being allowed to swim, he saved a prisoner and a British soldier from drowning.[3]
The regiment served in the Western Desert Campaign during World War II as part of the 3rd Indian Motor Brigade, 7th Armoured Division. It was brigaded with the 18th King Edward's Own Cavalry and the 11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force). It also supplied men for the Indian Long Range Squadron.
In 1941 the 3rd Indian Motor Brigade, during the Battle of Gazala, formed the southernmost point of the Gazala Line near Bir Hacheim. On 27 May 1942, Italy’s Ariete Armoured Division overran the 3rd Indian Motor Brigade.[4]
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