19th Lancers | |
---|---|
Active | 1858 – Present |
Country |
British India Pakistan |
Allegiance |
British Crown Pakistan |
Branch | Army |
Type | Armoured Regiment |
Anniversaries | Jassoran Day (19 September) |
Engagements |
Second Opium War 1860-62 Second Afghan War 1878-80 Tirah Campaign 1897 First World War 1914-18 Second World War 1939-45 Indo-Pakistan War 1965 Somalia 1993-95 |
Commanders | |
Colonel-in-Chief | King George V |
Notable commanders |
Charles Levinge Gregory |
The 19th Lancers is an armoured regiment of the Pakistan Army. Before 1956, it was known as 19th King George V's Own Lancers, which was a regular cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922, by the amalgamation of 18th King George's Own Lancers and 19th Lancers (Fane's Horse). On Partition of India in 1947, the regiment was allotted to Pakistan.
The regiment was raised at Gwalior during the upheaval of the Indian Mutiny in 1858, as the 2nd Regiment of Mahratta Horse. In December, it was joined by a small body of independent cavalry of Punjabi Rajput Muslims called the Tiwana Horse. In 1861, it was redesignated as the 18th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry, becoming Lancers in 1886. The regiment served in the Second Afghan War during 1879-80 and took part in the 1897 Tirah Campaign on the North West Frontier of India.
During World War I, the regiment was sent to France in 1914 with the Indian Cavalry Corps and participated in the Battles of the Somme and Cambrai. In 1918, it moved to Egypt joining the 13th Cavalry Brigade and took part in General Allenby's brilliant campaign in Palestine. The regiment fought in the Battle of Megiddo and the subsequent dash towards Damascus - riding 550 miles in 38 days.