2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse)


caption=
dates= 1809 - 1946
country=India
allegiance=Great Britain
branch=British Indian Army
type=Cavalry
role=
size= Regiment
command_structure= Indian Cavalry Corps
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=Gardner's Horse
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=Nepal War
World War One
Battle of the Somme
Battle of Bazentin
Battle of Flers Courcelette
Hindenburg Line
Battle of Cambrai
World War II
Battle of Gazala
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

The 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse) was a cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army raised in 1809. They served in the Nepal War and the First World War. During the reconstruction of the British Indian Army in 1922 they were amalgamated with the 4th Cavalry.

Early History

The Regiment was raised in 1809 by William Linneaus Gardener who had previously served with the Highland Light Infantry
74th Highlanders, they first saw service in the Nepal War of 1815Like all regiments of the Indian Army, the 2nd Lancers Gardener’s Horse underwent many name changes in the various reorganisations. (They name changes are listed below)

World War I

In the first world war the regiment was sent to France as part of the Mhow Cavalry Brigade ,2nd Indian Cavalry Division they were brigaded with the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons and the 38th King George's Own Central India Horse [cite web|title=cwgc.org|url=http://www.cwgc.org/ypres/content.asp?id=33&menu=subsub] Once in France they would when called upon serve in the trenches as infantry. The high number of officer casualties suffered early on had an effect on performance. British officers who understood the language, customs, and psychology of their men could not be quickly replaced, and the alien environment of the Western Front had some effect on the soldiers. [Haythornthwaite P.J. (1992). "The World War One Sourcebook", Arms and Armour Press.] During their time on the Western Front the regiment was involved in the, Battle of the Somme , Battle of Bazentin , Battle of Flers Courcelette , Advance to the Hindenburg Line and the Battle of Cambrai

Victoria Cross

The Regiments only Victoria Cross was awarded during World War I to Gobind Singh (7 December 1887 - 9 December 1942) a Lance-Daffadar in the 27th Light Cavalry, Indian Army, attached to the 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse) when on December 12 , 1917 east of Peizieres, France, Lance-Dafadar Gobind Singh three times volunteered to carry messages between the regiment and brigade headquarters, a distance of 1.5 miles (2.4 km) over open ground which was under heavy fire from the enemy. He succeeded each time in delivering the message, although on each occasion his horse was shot and he was compelled to finish the journey on foot.

Albet Medal

The Albert Medal is awarded for "daring and heroic actions performed by mariners and others in danger of perishing, by reason of wrecks and other perils of the sea".It was awarded on March 15 , 1919 to Trooper Mangal Sain, 2nd Indian Lancers (Gardner's Horse) at Beirut, Lebanon. Whilst guarding a party of Turkish POWs who were being allowed to swim, he saved a prisoner and a British soldier from drowning. [cite web|title=1914-1918|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/albert_medal.htm]

World War II

During World War II the regiment served in the Western Desert Campaign as part of the 3rd Indian Motor Brigade , 7th Armoured Division they were brigaded with the 18th King Edward's Own Cavalry and the 11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force). In 1941 the 3rd Indian Motor Brigade, during the Battle of Gazala, formed the southernmost point of the Gazala Line near Bir Hacheim. On 27 May 1942, Italy’s Ariete Armoured Division augmented by Rommel’s 21st Panzer division overran the 3rd Indian Motor Brigade. [Mitcham, W. S., Mitcham Jr., W. S. (2007). "Rommel’s Desert War: The Life and Death of the Afrika Korps". Stackpole Books. ISBN 0811734137]

Regiment's Name Changes

*1809 Gardener’s Horse
*1823 2nd (Gardener’s) Local horse
*1840 2nd Irregular Cavalry
*1861 2nd Regt. of Bengal Cavalry
*1890 2nd Regt. Of Bengal Lancers
*1901 2nd Bengal Lancer
*1903 2nd Lancers (Gardener’s Horse)

Further reading

*Kempton, C (1996). "A Register of Titles of the Units of the H.E.I.C. & Indian Armies 1666-1947." Bristol: British Empire & Commonwealth Museum. ISBN 978-0953017409
*Gaylor, J (1992). "Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903- 1991." Stroud: Spellmount Publishers Ltd. ISBN 978-0946771981

References

External links

Follow this link to view the uniforms of the late 19th Century
* http://www.members.tripod.com/~Glosters/IAcavalry1.htm