21st Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force)

21st Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force) was a cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army that played a significant role in various military campaigns, including the Second Anglo-Afghan War and World War I, alongside other notable regiments such as the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays) and the 10th Royal Hussars. The regiment was formed in 1857 as the 1st Regiment of Cavalry of the Punjab Irregular Force, which was raised by Sir John Lawrence, the Chief Commissioner of the Punjab, with the assistance of Sir Herbert Edwardes and Sir Robert Montgomery. The regiment's early years were marked by its involvement in the Indian Rebellion of 1857, where it fought alongside the 60th Rifles and the Guides Cavalry.

● History

The regiment's history is closely tied to the British Raj and the North-West Frontier, where it was often deployed to counter the Tirah Campaign and other Afridi and Orakzai tribes. The regiment was renamed the 21st Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force) in 1901, in honor of Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, who had visited India in 1889 and was the Eldest son of the Prince of Wales. During World War I, the regiment saw action in the Mesopotamian campaign, where it fought alongside the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons and the 14th King's Hussars, and later in the Palestine Campaign, where it was part of the Desert Mounted Corps led by General Edmund Allenby. The regiment also had connections with other notable units, such as the Royal Scots Greys and the 17th Lancers.

● Organisation

The regiment was part of the Punjab Frontier Force, which was a corps of the British Indian Army responsible for maintaining order on the North-West Frontier. The regiment was composed of several squadrons, each with its own unique history and traditions, and was often led by officers who had served in other notable regiments, such as the Scots Guards and the Grenadier Guards. The regiment's organization was influenced by the Cardwell Reforms and the Childers Reforms, which aimed to modernize the British Army and improve its efficiency. The regiment was also affiliated with the Indian Army Cavalry Corps and the Royal Armoured Corps, and had connections with other cavalry regiments, such as the 7th Hussars and the 13th Hussars.

● Operations

The regiment was involved in numerous military operations throughout its history, including the Second Anglo-Afghan War, where it fought alongside the 9th Lancers and the 12th Royal Lancers, and the Tirah Campaign, where it was part of the Tirah Field Force led by General Sir William Lockhart. The regiment also saw action in World War I, where it was part of the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force and the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, and fought in several notable battles, including the Battle of Shaiba and the Battle of Beersheba. The regiment's operations were often supported by other units, such as the Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers, and it had connections with other notable military leaders, such as General Douglas Haig and General Allenby.

● Battle Honours

The regiment was awarded several battle honours for its service, including Charasiah, Kabul 1879, Kandahar 1880, and Mesopotamia 1916-18. The regiment's battle honours reflect its involvement in various military campaigns and its service alongside other notable regiments, such as the 1st King's Dragoon Guards and the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys). The regiment's battle honours are also a testament to the bravery and sacrifice of its soldiers, who fought in some of the most notable battles of the British Empire, including the Battle of Tel el-Kebir and the Battle of Omdurman.

● Notable Personnel

The regiment had several notable personnel throughout its history, including Sir James Abbott, who served as the regiment's commanding officer during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and Sir Charles MacGregor, who served as the Quartermaster-General of the British Indian Army. The regiment also had connections with other notable military leaders, such as Field Marshal Herbert Kitchener and General Archibald Wavell, and was often led by officers who had served in other notable regiments, such as the Coldstream Guards and the Irish Guards. The regiment's notable personnel reflect its rich history and its service to the British Crown, and include individuals such as Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn and Lord Kitchener.

Category:British Indian Army regiments