The Nineteenth and Their Times: Being an Account of the Four Cavalry Regiments in the British Army That Have Borne the Number Nineteen and of the Campaigns in Which They Served — John Shaqi
The Nineteenth and Their Times: Being an Account of the Four Cavalry Regiments in the British Army That Have Borne the Number Nineteen and of the Campaigns in Which They ServedBiddulph, J. (John)
History
The Nineteenth and Their Times: Being an Account of the Four Cavalry Regiments in the British Army That Have Borne the Number Nineteen and of the Campaigns in Which They Served
Biddulph, J. (John)
Great Britain. Army. Cavalry. 19th Light Dragoons, 1786-1821; Great Britain. Army. Cavalry. 19th Regiment, 1759-1763; Great Britain. Army. Cavalry. 19th Regiment, 1779-1783; Great Britain. Army. Cavalry. 23rd Light Dragoons, 1781-1786; Great Britain. Army. Royal Hussars, 19th (Queen Alexandra's Own)
The fourth regiment, the one that now bears the title of the
Nineteenth Princess of Wales’ Own Hussars, was originally raised
by the East India Company on the outbreak of the Mutiny of the
Bengal Army, and received its present number on the transfer of its
services to the Crown. In 1882, they formed part of the expedition
to Egypt under Lord Wolseley, to put down the rebellion of Arabi
Pasha. In 1884, they formed part of the expedition to Suakin under
Sir Gerald Graham, and fought at El-Teb and Tamai, suffering severe
losses in the first of the two actions. In 1885, they were selected
by Lord Wolseley to form part of the expedition to Khartoum; the
only horsemen that accompanied the force. The Head Quarters of the
regiment formed part of the Desert Column, under Sir Herbert Stewart,
and fought at Abu Klea and Abu Krou, while a squadron of the regiment
accompanied the River Column, under General Earle, and were present
at the action at Kirbekan. A third portion of the regiment was at the
same time employed at Suakin, where it experienced serious losses.
For its services in 1885 the regiment was granted the distinctive
title it now bears; a proof that it is no unworthy successor of the
regiment that helped to strengthen the foundations of our power in
India, under Cornwallis, Harris and Wellington, and whose honourable
badges it wears, in addition to those it has won for itself.
The history of a regiment of the British Army is part of the history
of the Empire at some of its most momentous epochs. To understand
it properly, requires a setting of general history that cannot be
dispensed with. In compiling these annals I have chiefly aimed at
providing a work that shall be of interest and use to those who have
served, or, in the future may serve, in the regiment. At the same
time there is much which will, I believe, be of interest to the
student of Indian Military History, and will not be unacceptable to
the general reader.
The bones of British soldiers lie scattered far and wide. In every
portion of the globe, their unmarked graves are strewed on mountain
and plain, by stream and forest, by swamp and desert; silent
witnesses of their devotion to their Sovereign and country. But they
have not died in vain, if the remembrance of their achievements
survives, to swell the hearts and nerve the arms of their successors,
and to remind their countrymen what they owe to their sufferings and
their valour.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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