_Forage cap_, Red. _Horse plume_, White. Leopard skin saddlecloth. _Collar badge_, the letters "Q.O." interlaced, within the Garter. Linked Regiment, 3rd (King's Own) Hussars. The only cavalry regiment in which the Officers are permitted to wear white strip collars with the frock coat. 7th (Queen's Own) HUSSARS The regiment was raised in 1689 and called "Cunningham's Regiment of Dragoons." It was, during the Peninsular War, jocularly nicknamed "The Old Saucy Seventh," also "The Lily White Seventh," from its pale blue uniform and white facings, and also "Young Eyes." It was at first a Scotch Regiment, and it is the custom of its band to play "The Garb of old Gaul" when marching past, and "Hieland Laddie" when trotting. Also called the "Black Horse." It was the senior of the Light Dragoon Regiments when first connected with Hussars. It distinguished itself during the Indian Mutiny, particularly at the passage of the Betwa, where it had a hand-to-hand fight with the enemy's cavalry in the bed of the river. The name of the "Old Straws," or "Strawboots," originated at Warburg, 1760. The boots of the troopers being worn out, straw-bands were substituted for them. [Illustration] (_Depot_, Dublin.) "Leswarree," "Hindoostan," "Alma," "Balaklava," "Inkerman," "Sevastopol," "Central India," "Afghanistan, 1879-80," "South Africa, 1900-02." Motto: "_Pristinæ virtutis memores_" (The memory of former valour). _Uniform_, Blue. _Collar badge_, The Harp and Crown. _Head-dress_, Busby, with red and white plume and scarlet busby bag. _Forage cap_, Red. Linked Regiment, 4th (Queen's Own) Hussars. Special arm badge for Sergeants, Harp and Crown. 8th (King's Royal Irish) HUSSARS The 8th Hussars was raised in Ireland in 1693 and has always been closely associated with the Emerald Isle. It was known as "St. George's" from its Colonel's name in 1740-55; also as the "Cross Belts" in 1768 from the circumstance that it was permitted to wear the sword belt over the right shoulder, in place of round the waist as usual in dragoon regiments, for its gallant conduct at the battle of Saragossa, where it captured the belts of the Spanish cavalry. The regimental motto "_Pristinæ virtutis memores_," was specially conferred on their corps in commemoration of its brilliant gallantry at the battle of Leswarree in India. During the Crimean War it formed one of the regiments in the famous charge of the Light Brigade at the battle of Balaklava. The 8th Hussars and 17th Lancers have seen much service together, and they call themselves from their numbers "The Twenty Fives." In the Indian Mutiny five Victoria Crosses were won by the regiment. [Illustration] (_Depot_, Woolwich.)