4th Queen's Own Hussars

4th Queen's Own Hussars
Unit name	4th Queen's Own Hussars
Dates	1685–1958
Country	Kingdom of England (1685–1707), Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1800), United Kingdom (1801–1958)
Branch	British Army
Type	Cavalry
Role	Line cavalry / Armoured regiment
Motto	Mente et Manu ("With Heart and Hand")
March	Quick: "The Queen's Own Hussars"
Battles	War of the Spanish Succession, Jacobite rising of 1715, Seven Years' War, Peninsular War, Battle of Waterloo, Crimean War, Second Boer War, First World War, Second World War
Notable commanders	John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey

4th Queen's Own Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army with a lineage dating to 1685. First raised in response to the Monmouth Rebellion, the regiment served for over 270 years, seeing action across Europe, Africa, and Asia. It was amalgamated in 1958 to form part of the Queen's Royal Irish Hussars.

History

The regiment was originally raised in 1685 by the Duke of Berwick as the "Princess Anne of Denmark's Regiment of Dragoons". It fought under John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough at major engagements of the War of the Spanish Succession, including the Battle of Blenheim and the Battle of Ramillies. During the Seven Years' War, it served in Germany and fought at the Battle of Warburg. Converted to light dragoons in 1818, the regiment earned distinction in the Peninsular War under the command of the Earl of Uxbridge, particularly at the Battle of Sahagún. It later fought at the Battle of Waterloo, where Uxbridge, commanding the British cavalry, famously lost a leg. The regiment served in India during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and later fought in the Second Boer War. During the First World War, it served on the Western Front as part of the 3rd Cavalry Division, participating in actions like the First Battle of Ypres and the Battle of Cambrai (1917). In the Second World War, it was mechanized and fought in the North African Campaign as part of the 7th Armoured Division, notably at the Second Battle of El Alamein, and later in the Italian Campaign.

Battle honours

The regiment's battle honours, displayed on its guidon, include many from its long service. Key honours from the early period include Blenheim, Ramillies, and Warburg. Napoleonic honours include Sahagún, Vittoria, and Waterloo. Later honours from the 19th century include Alma and Balaklava from the Crimean War, and South Africa 1900–02. First World War honours include Ypres 1914 '15, and Cambrai 1917. Second World War honours include El Alamein and North Africa 1942–43.

Regimental colonels

Colonels of the regiment have included many prominent military figures. The first colonel was the Duke of Berwick. Later colonels included John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey, who commanded at Waterloo. In the 20th century, colonels included Field Marshal Sir John French, who later commanded the British Expeditionary Force.

Uniform and insignia

As hussars, the regiment's uniform was characterized by a distinctive busby and a braided dolman jacket. The facing colour was originally blue, changing to the royal blue associated with "Queen's Own" regiments in the 19th century. The regimental badge featured the Royal Cypher within a Garter, surmounted by a crown. Officers' uniforms included elaborate gold lace and a pelisse worn over the shoulder.

Notable members

Beyond its colonels, the regiment counted several notable individuals among its ranks. The most famous was Sir Winston Churchill, who was commissioned into the regiment in 1895 and served with them in British India and during the Mahdist War at the Battle of Omdurman. Another was Robert B. Bradford, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions at the Battle of Almansa. The 17th Earl of Derby also served with the regiment early in his career.

Legacy and successor units

As part of post-war defence reforms, the 4th Queen's Own Hussars was amalgamated with the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars in 1958 to form the Queen's Royal Irish Hussars. This regiment later saw service in Aden, Northern Ireland, and the Gulf War. In 1993, as part of the Options for Change reforms, it was further amalgamated with the Queen's Own Hussars to form the Queen's Royal Hussars, which remains an active armoured cavalry regiment of the British Army today.

Category:Cavalry regiments of the British Army Category:Military units and formations established in 1685 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1958