9th Queen's Royal Lancers

9th Queen's Royal Lancers
9th Queen's Royal Lancers
	Regimental Badge
Active	1715-1960
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Cavalry of the Line/Royal Armoured Corps
Role	Main Battle Tank [1]
Size	550
Nickname(s)	The Dehli Spearmen
Motto(s)	Vestiga nulla retrorsum (Latin- we do not retreat)
Commanders
Current; commander	Defunct

The 9th Queen's Royal Lancers, or the Delhi Spearmen, were a cavalry regiment of the British Army. They are best known for their roles in the Indian mutiny of 1857 and for their part in the North African campaign of WW2 including spearheading the Eighth Army's armoured assault at El Alamein in 1942.

Early History

The 9th Queen's Royal Lancers were originally formed during the Jacobite Risings in 1715. They were formed by Major-General Wynne and were the second cavalry regiment in the British Army. Initially they were known as the '9th Dragoons'.

In 1783 they converted into Light Dragoons, becoming the 9th Light Dragoons, and served in the Irish Rebellion of 1798, Sir Samuel Auchmuty's expedition to the River Plate in 1803, the occupation of Montevideo and the Peninsula War between 1811 and 1813.

In 1816 they were constituted Lancers and in 1830 were given the distinguished title of "Queen's Royal", in honour of Queen Adelaide, consort of William IV, hence becoming the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers.

Indian Campaign

During the Indian mutiny of 1857, the 9th Lancers earned the name the Delhi Spearmen, a name which is believed to have been given to them by the mutineers themselves. 9th Lancers was present in all the three most notable events associated with the Indian mutiny, namely, the seizure of Delhi, the seizure of Lucknow and the relief of Lucknow.

Prominent officers of the 9th Lancers who lost their lives during the Indian rebellion of 1857 include [2]:

Captain Robert Abercrombie Yule (killed in action in Delhi on 19 June, 1857.
Captain Lucius John French, lost life in action at Agra on 10 October 1857, and
Captain Thomas Hutchinson, wounded in Lucknow on 19 March 1858 and died on 21 March.

Boer War

WW1

Intermediate War Years

WW2

Post War Years

The Regiment of the 9th Queens Royal Lancers was amalgamated with the 12th Lancers on 11 September, 1960, forming the 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's).

Regimental Postings

Scotland 1715
Ireland 1798
River Plate 1803
Montevideo
Peninsula 1808-14
Gwalior Campaign - Punniar 1843
First Sikh War - Sobraon 1845-6
Second Sikh War - Chillianwallah 1848-9
Second Sikh War - Goojerat
Second Sikh War - Punjaub
Indian Mutiny - Delhi 1857-8
Indian Mutiny - Lucknow
Second Afghan war - Charasiah
Second Afghan war - Kabul 1879
Second Afghan war - Kandahar 1880
Boer war - Modder River
Boer war - Relief of Kimberley
Boer war - Paardeberg

WW1

Mons
Le Cateau
Retreat from Mons
Marne 1914
Aisne 1914
La Bassee 1914
Messines 1914
Armentieres 1914
Ypres 1914,15
Gravenstafel
St. Julien
Frezenberg
Bellewarde
Somme 1916,18
Pozieres
Fleurs-Courcelotte
Arras 1917
Scarpe 1917
Cambrai 1917,18
St. Quentin
Rosieres
Avre
Amiens
Albert 1918
Hindenberg Line
Pursuit to Mons

WW2

France (B.E.F) - Somme 1940
France (B.E.F) - Evacuation from Dunkirk 1940
North Africa - The Gazala Line 1942
North Africa - Retreat to El Alamein 1942
North Africa - Ruweisat Ridge 1942
North Africa - The Battle of El Alamein 1942
North Africa - El Hamma 1943
Italy - San Savino - Coriano Ridge 1944
Italy - Defence of Lamone 1944
Italy - Bridgehead 1945
Italy - Argenta Gap in Italy 1945

Tanks Used during WW2

References

Ninth (Queen's Royal) Lancers 1715-1903 by Frank H. Reynard. Published William Blackwood 1904
The Ninth Queen's Royal Lancers 1936-1945 edited by Joan Bright. Published Gale & Bolden Ltd 1951

External links