The Light Dragoons

The Light Dragoons
Cap badge of the Light Dragoons
Active	1 December 1990–
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Line cavalry
Role	Light Cavalry
Size	One regiment
Part of	N/A
Garrison/HQ	RHQ – Newcastle upon Tyne Regiment – Catterick Garrison
Nickname(s)	"England's Northern Cavalry"
Motto(s)	Viret in aeternum (It Flourishes Forever) Merebimur (We shall be Worthy)
March	Quick – Balaklava Slow – Denmark
Engagements	1st Battle of Fallujah
Commanders
Colonel-in-Chief	HM The King of Jordan
Colonel of the Regiment	Major General David Rutherford-Jones
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash
Arm Badge	NCOs – Royal Crest From 15th/19th King's Royal Hussars ORs – South Africa flash From 13th/18th Royal Hussars
Abbreviation	LD

The Light Dragoons (LD) is a cavalry regiment in the British Army. The regiment is a light cavalry regiment with a history in the reconnaissance role which dates back to the early eighteenth century. It is currently based in Catterick Garrison North Yorkshire.

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.