Queen's Royal Lancers

History

The regiment was formed in 1993 by the amalgamation of the 16th/5th Queen's Royal Lancers with the 17th/21st Lancers.

From its formation, the regiment served in the armoured role with first Challenger 1, then Challenger 2. However, in 2005, as part of the re-organisation of the army, the regiment started converting to the formation reconnaissance role, re-equipping with the Scimitar armoured reconnaissance vehicle.

As part of the Army 2020 reforms intended to reduce the size of the British Army in line with the Strategic Defence and Security Review, it was announced that the 9th/12th Royal Lancers would amalgamate with the Queen's Royal Lancers to form a single regiment, the Royal Lancers, on 2 May 2015.

Organisation

The regiment was organised into four squadrons, each of which perpetuates one of the antecedent regiments: the 16th Lancer Squadron, the 17th Lancer Squadron, the 21st Lancer Squadron and the 5th Lancer Squadron.

Traditions

The regiment's nickname, the 'Death or Glory Boys', came from their cap badge and was known as "the motto". This was the combined cap badges of the two antecedent regiments, and features a pair of crossed lances, from the 16th/5th Queen's Royal Lancers, together with a skull and crossbones, below which is a ribbon containing the words 'Or Glory'. This comes from the 17th/21st Lancers, and was the cap badge of the 17th Lancers (the original 'Death or Glory Boys').

Battle honours

The battle honours are:
16th/5th battle honours

Combined honours before amalgamation of 16th and 5th Lancers:

After amalgamation of 16th and 5th Lancers:

17th/21st battle honours

Combined honours before amalgamation of 17th and 21st Lancers:

After amalgamation of 17th and 21st Lancers:

Queen's Royal Lancers

After amalgamation of 16th/5th Lancers and the 17th/21st Lancers into the Queens' Royal Lancers:

Alliances

Affiliated Yeomanry

Colonel-in-Chief

Regimental Colonels

Colonels of the regiment were: