Light Dragoons

History

The regiment was formed in 1992 at Haig Barracks in Hohne from the amalgamation of two regiments, the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) and the 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars. All of the antecedent regiments had been regiments of "light dragoons" during the 18th and 19th centuries, including the Napoleonic Wars.

B Squadron (The Guards) was the first squadron of the newly formed regiment to do a tour of duty, being sent to Bosnia and Herzegovina in May 1993 on peacekeeping duties. They were followed by C Squadron (The Legion) in November 1993 and later by the other two squadrons in 1994 with the Scimitar their vehicle of choice. The Light Dragoons also sent units to Iraq on Operation Telic 2 in July 2003 and Operation Telic 6 in May 2005.

Elements of the regiment were deployed on a tour of duty in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on Operation Herrick 5 with 3 Commando Brigade in October 2006 and then with 12 Mechanised Brigade on Operation Herrick 6 in April 2007. The regiment next deployed on Operation Herrick 10 in April 2009 and took part in Operation Panther's Claw in summer 2009. The regiment's last deployment to Afghanistan was on Operation Herrick 16 in April 2012. It subordinated to 4th Infantry Brigade and moved to a new home at Gaza Barracks in Catterick Garrison in 2015.

Role

The regiment's role includes scouting for information about the enemy, engaging enemy targets and guiding fast jets. The regiment recently converted to the Jackal armoured fighting vehicles under Army 2020. The Light Dragoons recruit principally in the North East of England (Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham) and in South Yorkshire and have strong connections with these areas. For this reason, the regiment is known as England’s Northern Cavalry although as it is now England's only Light Cavalry regiment it is also termed "England's Light Cavalry"

Colonels-in-chief

Colonels-in-Chief have included:

Alliances

Affiliated yeomanry