| The Central India Horse (21st King George V's Own Horse) | |
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A havildar of the 1st Central India Horse in 1886 |
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| Active | 1857 - 1947 |
| Country | British India |
| Allegiance | British Crown |
| Branch | British Indian Army |
| Type | Cavalry |
| Size | Regiment |
| Part of | Indian Cavalry Corps |
| Engagements | Indian Mutiny Second Afghan War World War I World War II |
The Central India Horse (21st King George V's Own Horse) was a regular cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army. They were formed at the start of the Mutiny of 1857 and served in the Great War and World War II.
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The regiment was founded as two irregular cavalry regiments in 1857, at the outset of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 by Henry Otway Mayne, and was known initially as Mayne's Horse and the 2nd regiment which was known as Beatson's Horse
They were based at the town of Guna, in the state of Gwalior and Augar in central India. In 1860 Mayne's Horse was renamed the 1st Regiment Central India Horse, and Beatson's Horse was renamed the 2nd Regiment Central India Horse.
In 1860 the officer commanding the Central India Horse was made the British political officer for the small states of Raghugarh, Khaniadhana (after 1888), Paron, Garha, Umri, and Bhadaura, which were made a separate charge from that of the Resident of Gwalior. This arrangement was abolished in 1896, when these states were again placed under the resident, with the officer commanding at Guna continuing to act as ex-officio assistant to the Resident, with very limited powers. Both Regiments would serve together in the Second Afghan War.
During the Kitchener reorganisation of the Indian Army of 1903, the 1st Regiment became the 38th Regiment Central India Horse, and the 2nd regiment became the 39th Regiment Central India Horse. In 1906, the regiments were renamed the 38th and 39th Prince of Wales's Own Central India Horse, and in 1910 the 38th and 39th King George's Own Central Indian Horse.
During the Great War the 38th King George's Own Central India Horse was part of the 5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade in the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division the brigade consisted of the;
and the 39th King George's Own Cenral India Horse remained in India stationed in Poona.
In 1921, the two regiments were amalgamated into the 38th/39th Cavalry, which was renamed the 38th/39th King George's Own Light Cavalry (1922), The Central India Horse (21st King George's Own Horse) (1923), and The Central India Horse (21st King George V's Own Horse) (1937).
On March 20, 1942 Captain Arthur Sandeman of the Central India Horse leading a 60 man patrol of the Sikh sowars of the Frontier Force cavalry, against Japanese infantry near Toungoo airfield in central Burma charged in the old style with sabres and most (including Sandeman} were killed.
During World War II the Central India Horse was the divisional reconnaissance regiment for the 4th Indian Division there equipment consisted of Light Tanks and Indian Carriers. Attached to the 4th Indian they were involved in the Western Desert Campaign the East African Campaign the Tunisia Campaign and the Italian Campaign. It was during the Italian Campaign that two members of the Regiment would be posthumously awarded the George Cross Ditto Ram and St. John Graham Young attached from the Royal Tank Regiment
Notice of the award was published in the London Gazette on 20 July 1945.[2] Young had been leading a night patrol on 23 July 1944, when he and his men found themselves in any enemy minefield. He received the full force of a mine explosion, severely injuring both legs. Despite his wounds, his encouragement enabled the majority of his men to reach safety. One of them, Sowar Ditto Ram, was also posthumously awarded the GC for his actions in the same incident.[3]
Upon India's independence, the Central India Horse (21st King George V's Own Horse) was allocated to India, although a Muslim Punjabi squadron was transferred to the 19th King George V's Own Lancers in exchange for its Jat squadron. When India became a republic in 1950, the regiment was renamed The Central India Horse which is one of the decorated regiment of Indian Army. The Central India Horse is now a tank regiment of the Indian Army.
Follow this link to view the uniforms of the late 19th Century
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