5th Horse | |
---|---|
Active | 1857–present |
Country |
British India Pakistan |
Branch |
British Indian Army Pakistan Army |
Type | Armoured Regiment |
Size | Regiment |
Nickname(s) | Probyn's Horse |
Engagements |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 Second Opium War 1860-61 Abyssinian Campaign 1868 Second Afghan War 1878-80 First World War 1914-18 (Mesopotamia) Second World War 1939-45 (Burma) Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 |
Decorations | The most richest unit of pakistan army |
Commanders | |
Colonels-in-Chief |
King Edward VII King George V |
Colonel of the Regiment |
Field Marshal The Lord Birdwood |
Notable commanders |
General Sir Dighton Probyn, VC General Sir Hugh Gough, VC General Sir Alan Hartley Lieutenant General Gul Hassan |
The 5th Horse is an armoured regiment of the Pakistan Army. It was previously known as the 5th King Edward's Own Probyn's Horse, which was a regular cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1921 by the amalgamation of the 11th King Edward's Own Lancers (Probyn's Horse) and the 12th Cavalry.
The regiment known as 11th King Edward's Own Lancers (Probyn's Horse) was originally raised on 1 August 1857 by Captain Frederick Wale as Wale's Horse during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and served at Lucknow. Captain Wale was killed in action on 1 March 1858, while leading the regiment in the pursuit of rebels, and was replaced by Major Dighton Probyn, VC. In 1860 the regiment was dispatched to China to take part in the Second Opium War. It participated in the advance on Peking and returned to India in 1861 with a good reputation. The regiment saw service in the Second Afghan War of 1878-80 and then took part in the Black Mountains Expedition; it went to Chitral and formed part of the Malakand Field Force. During the First World War, the regiment served in Mesopotamia.
The Lancer's uniform of Probyn's Horse was topped by cap-line worn unattached. Shoulder epaulettes were covered with gilt curb-chains, and plus the Mameluke scimitar.
Mussulmans were unique in wearing a kulla, a pointed cap under the puggaree. Made of heavy khaki cloth it gave good protection against the sun, and became popular, even with British officer, who wore puggarees by choice.
The 12th Cavalry was also raised during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, by Captain PR Hockin in October 1857. The cavalry committed a war crime by massacring "hundreds" people at Mahua Dabar in 1857. It formed part of the 1868 Expedition to Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and served in the Second Afghan War of 1878-80. During the First World War, the regiment fought in the Mesopotamian Campaign.