8th King's Royal Irish Hussars: Difference between revisions
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==Famous Actions== |
==Famous Actions== |
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The first of many |
The first of many famous battles the 8th Hussars were involved in was the [[Battle of Almenara]] during the [[War of the Spanish Succession]]. During this action they are reputed to have pursued a superior force of Spanish cavalry and after beating them, removed their [[Tent Hat]]s and Crossbelts as trophies. The regiment was awarded the priviledge of retaining these items as part of their uniform. |
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During the [[Crimean War]] the regiment formed part of the [[Light Brigade]] who charged into the Valley of Death at [[Balaklava]]. As part of the second wave of the brigade's attack they (the second line) unaware of the imminent presence of a Russian brigade of light cavalry, "slaughtered the Russian gunners and pushing forward were met by the remnants of the first line in retreat. Lord George Paget, commander of the second line, on being informed that Russian lancers were closing in behind them shouted, "Halt boys, halt front, if we don't halt now we're done!" <ref>http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/other/crimea.htm</ref> |
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==Battle Honours== |
==Battle Honours== |
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Revision as of 22:41, 15 May 2008
| 8th (King's Royal Irish)Hussars | |
|---|---|
| File:8th KRIH Crest.gif Crest of the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars and tie colours | |
| Active | 1693 - 1958 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Cavalry of the Line [1]/Royal Armoured Corps |
| Role | Light Cavalry |
| Size | 550 men |
| Nickname(s) | The Crossbelts |
| Motto(s) | Pristinae virtutis memores |
| March | The Galloping 8th Hussar (quick),The Scottish Archers (slow) |
| Anniversaries | Salamanca Day, Balaklava Day, St Patrick's Day |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | HRH Prince Phillip |
The 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1693. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars in 1958.
The regiment was first raised in Ireland as Henry Conyngham's Regiment of Dragoons in 1693, and ranked as the 8th Dragoons. It was briefly disbanded from 1714 to 1715, and 1716 to 1719, reforming each time without any loss of precedence. In 1751, it was formally titled as the 8th Regiment of Dragoons, and designated light dragoons in 1775 as the 8th Regiment of Light Dragoons.
The regiment was renamed in 1777 for George III as the 8th (The King's Royal Irish) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons, and became hussars in 1822, as the 8th (The King's Royal Irish) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons (Hussars). The title was simplified in 1861 to the 8th (The King's Royal Irish) Hussars. After service in the First World War, the regiment retitled as the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars in 1921, and was transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps in 1939. The regiment survived the immediate post-war reduction in forces, but was slated for reduction in the 1957 Defence White Paper, and was amalgamated with the 4th Queen's Own Hussars, to form the The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars the following year.
Famous Actions
The first of many famous battles the 8th Hussars were involved in was the Battle of Almenara during the War of the Spanish Succession. During this action they are reputed to have pursued a superior force of Spanish cavalry and after beating them, removed their Tent Hats and Crossbelts as trophies. The regiment was awarded the priviledge of retaining these items as part of their uniform.
During the Crimean War the regiment formed part of the Light Brigade who charged into the Valley of Death at Balaklava. As part of the second wave of the brigade's attack they (the second line) unaware of the imminent presence of a Russian brigade of light cavalry, "slaughtered the Russian gunners and pushing forward were met by the remnants of the first line in retreat. Lord George Paget, commander of the second line, on being informed that Russian lancers were closing in behind them shouted, "Halt boys, halt front, if we don't halt now we're done!" [2]
Battle Honours
- Emblazoned (upon the guidon)
Second Maratha and Pindaree War (1816-18): Leswaree. India (1802-22): Hindostan. Crimean War (1854-5): Alma; Balaklava; Inkerman; Sevastopol. Indian Mutiny (1857-8): Central India. Second Afghan War (1870-80): Afghanistan. South African War (1899-1902): South Africa 1900-02. Great War: Givenchy 1914; Somme 1916, 1918; Cambrai 1917, 1918; Bapaume 1918; Rosieres; amiens; Albert 1918; Beaurevoir; Pursuit to Mons; France and Flanders 1914-1918. Second World War: Villiers Bocage; Lower Maas; Rhine; North-West Europe 1944-5; Buq Buq; Sidi Rezegh 1941; Gazala; El alamein; North africa 1940-2. Korean war: (1950-3): Imjin; Korea 1950-1
- Accredited
Great War: Bazentin; Fleurs-Courcelette; St Quentin; Hindenburg Line: St Quentin Canal. Second World War: Mont Pincon; Dives Crossing; Nederinjin; Best; Egyptioan Frontier 1940; Sidi Barrani; Relief of Tobruk; Bir el Igela; Mersa Matruh; alem el Halfa.
Robert Richard Scanlan
References
- Mills, T.F. "8th King's Royal Irish Hussars". regiments.org.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) Includes chronological index of titles.
- ^ List of British Army regiments (1881)
- ^ http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/other/crimea.htm