3rd Bengal Light Cavalry

3rd Bengal Light Cavalry
Flag of the East India Company
Active	1797–1857
Country	British India
Allegiance	East India Company
Branch	Bengal Army
Type	Cavalry
Role	Light cavalry
Size	Regiment
Part of	Meerut Division
Garrison/HQ	Meerut
Distinguishing colours	Orange facings
Engagements	Second Anglo-Maratha War First Anglo-Afghan War First Anglo-Sikh War Indian rebellion of 1857
Battle honours	Delhi 1803 Leswarree Deig Bhurtpore Affghanistan 1839 Ghuznee 1839 Aliwal Sobraon

The 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry, also known as the 3rd Bengal Native Cavalry, was a locally recruited regiment of the East India Company's Bengal Army. Raised in 1797, the regiment took part in conflicts throughout British India, serving with distinction in the Second Anglo-Maratha War, the First Anglo-Afghan War and the First Anglo-Sikh War, earning various battle honours.

In April 1857, 85 men of the regiment refused to accept cartridges for their carbines and were tried by court-martial, convicted, and sentenced to up to 10 years' hard labour. After the men were imprisoned, the regiment freed their jailed comrades and headed to Delhi, where their arrival led to the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny. Following the events of the mutiny, all the Bengal Light Cavalry regiments were disbanded.

On 7 January 1796, the board of directors of the East India Company instructed the Governor-General to raise four 465-strong regiments of Native cavalry for its Bengal Army. Consequently, in 1797, the 3rd Bengal Native Cavalry was raised in Oude by Captain J. P. Pigot. At first, the terms "Bengal Native Cavalry" and "Bengal Light Cavalry" were used interchangeably, but by 1857 the regiment was referred to as the 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry in official paperwork.

The regiment served with distinction during the Second Anglo-Maratha War, taking part in the Battle of Delhi and the Battle of Laswari in 1803, as part of a force commanded by General Gerard Lake against the forces of Daulat Rao Sindhia; for their service during this campaign, the regiment was awarded an Honorary Standard bearing the inscription "Lake and Victory" and an extra Jemadar. The regiment earned the "Delhi 1803", "Leswarree" and "Deig" battle honours during this campaign.