The Light Dragoons formed on 1 December 1992 as an amalgamation of the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (QMO) and 15th/19th King's Hussars. The four original regiments - 13th, 15th, 18th and 19th Light Dragoons were raised in 1715, 1759 and 1781 respectively.
As the name suggests, light dragoons were light cavalry who were capable of dispositions, cutting enemy lines of communication and harassing the enemy in the pursuit.
All four regiments served in a wide variety of campaigns around the world including the Peninsula War, the Crimea, India and the Boer War in South Africa.
Many battle honours were won including the first battle honour ever awarded at Emsdorff in 1760 to the 15th. Others include Sahagun (1808) and Balaklava (1854). Both days are still celebrated by the regiment.
In 1922, the 13th and 18th and the 15th and 19th were amalgamated as part of the draw-down in the size of the army after the Great War. Both regiments fought with distinction during World War II. The most notable achievement was the use by the 13th/18th of the Duplex Drive Sherman tanks to swim ashore on D-Day (6 June 1944).
After the war both regiments were principally involved in the fighting of the Cold War in West Germany, but also took part in the campaigns in Malaya, Aden and Muscat. The ending of the Cold War and the collapse of the Warsaw Pact meant a further draw-down in the size of the army and so the Light Dragoons were formed.
The name of the new regiment represents a return to our roots and the cap badge is an amalgamation of the regiment which still retains the character of its forebears - speed, daring and an invaluable asset for the commander on the battlefield.
Light Dragoons with a Scimitar in Poland.
