The 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's) was formed at Tidworth in 1960 by the amalgamation of the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers and the,12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's). The two Regiments histories started in 1715 when they were raised as a result of the revolt by the supporters of the Stuarts against The Rule of King George I. The king had lately succeeded Queen Anne as the Protestant heir to the Throne of Great Britain. The Regiments were both later garrisoned in Ireland until the 1750s.
In the following two hundred years the Regiments won battle honours in Italy, Egypt, the Peninsular Wars, the Buenos Ayres campaign, France, India, the Afghan campaign, South Africa, and the two world Wars. It was during the Indian Mutiny in 1857 that the 9th won their title 'The Delhi Spearmen' bestowed by the native mutineers, who feared the Regiment's skill and courage.
The Regiment was awarded twelve Victoria Crosses in this campaign. Both Regiments served on the Western Front throughout the Great War 1914-18. The 9th/12th Royal Lancers now celebrate Mons/Moy Day annually, which commemorates the last occasions on which both Regiments charged with the Lance.
In 1928 while serving in Egypt the 12th gave up their horses and became a Cavalry Armoured Car Regiment. In 1936 the 9th did the same, becoming a Light Tank Regiment. After WWII both Regiments served in Malaya, Germany, Cyprus, N.Ireland and Aden.
Since amalgamation the Regiment has predominantly been in the armoured reconnaissance role. A Reconnaissance Regiment is the eyes and ears, of an Armoured Division. The Regiment is comprised of five squadrons. The largest is an administration and logistic squadron to ensure the four sabre squadrons can carry out their tasks successfully. The Regiment is currently equipped with vehicles from the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance Tracked (CVR(T) family.
Within a sabre squadron there are two Sultan command vehicles, twelve Scimitar armoured vehicles, four Striker Anti-Tank Guided Missile launchers and four Spartan armoured personnel carriers. It also has an armoured ambulance, its own supply trucks and a small repair and recovery section manned by the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
The Scimitar is the main work-horse of the Regiment. It has a 30mm Rarden cannon and a 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun. It weighs eight tonnes but has a very low ground pressure. The tracks have rubber pads to minimise damage to roads. For long journeys the vehicles travel in ISO containers. The crew of a Scimitar is a commander who also loads the gun, a gunner and a driver. The most important tasks for a reconnaissance regiment are scouting for information or forming screens many kilometres in front of our own forces to gather information while in static cover Observation posts. In the last ten years the Regiment has carried out this role in Germany and the UK.
At the same time it has had operational tours of duty with the United Nations in Cyprus and Bosnia; supported the Belize Defence Force; patrolled the streets of Belfast on foot and sent a reserve squadron to the Gulf War. Between 1994 and 1998 the 9th/12th Royal Lancers was based in Bovington, Dorset as the Royal Armoured Corps Centre Regiment in a training support role. The Regiment converted back to the Armoured Reconnaissance role in April 1998 in Swanton Morley, Norfolk.
The Regiment is approximately 450 men strong although this number is rarely in camp at any one time. The Regiment has approximately 200 families and recruits predominantly from Northamptonshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire which fosters a strong family atmosphere. In previous postings the 9th/12th Royal Lancers have integrated well with the local community, getting involved in sponsored events, recruiting, Military Aid to the civil Community and attending various fetes, schools and shows with a Scimitar or two.
Royal Lancers on Parade.
Regimental march - "God Bless the Prince of Wales".
