20th Hussars
The
20th Hussars were a regular
light cavalry regiment in the
British Army. In
1922 they were amalgamated with the
14th Hussars to comprise the 14th/20th Hussars, later the
14th/20th King's Hussars.
The last adaptation of the 20th Hussars was formed at
Muttra,
Bengal, by volunteers from the Honourable
East India Company's
2nd Bengal European Light Cavalry. Three regiments had previously borne the numerical title, and the honours borne are those won by the third of these regiments, and the present 20th Hussars. The regiment referred to was raised in 1791, and served in
Jamaica during the
Maroon War, 1795-6. It subsequently performed much varied and gallant service. Part of it was present at the capture of the
Cape of Good Hope in 1806 and was subsequently employed in
South America at
Montevideo and
Buenos Aires. A portion of the regiment also took part in the descent on Calabria, and was present at the battle of Maids. It went to
Portugal in 1808, and was much distinguished at
Vimiera, where its conduct elicited the warmest praise from
Sir Arthur Wellesley. It was also at the capture of
Genoa in 1814. Disbanded in 1818 and revived in the present 20th Hussars in 1861. It was present in the
Eusocf zie Campaign, 1863, and the
Hazara Campaign, 1867. Part of the regiment served in the
Nile Campaign, 1884-5, in the
Suakin Expedition, 1885, and subsequently did good service with the
Egyptian Frontier Force in 1885-6. During the
South African War it served in the
guerilla warfare of the latter part of the campaign.
First World War
In August of 1914 the 20th Hussars formed part of the British cavalry that covered the gap between the
British Expeditionary Force and the
French 5th Army. The Regiment became involved in actions that were typical of the role played by cavalry in the great war, the retreat from
Mons, the battles of
Marne and
Aisne and the first battle of
Ypres all saw the regiment involved and Infantry fighting from the trenches followed in the
Messines area. A battle at
Bourlon Wood was complemented with 5 officers and 218 other ranks from the 20th and the Regiment saw more dismounted action at
Gouzeaucourt in 1917. Foot actions to stem the enemy advance followed the German spring offensive of 1918. A return to horses saw the Regiment in support of infantry actions as the allied tide turned and the Germans started the return to Germany.
After the war and amalgamation
After the occupation the regiment returned to England for a short while before moving on to Egypt in 1919.
A nationalist uprising in Turkey caused the allies to send troops to
Constantinople, now
Istanbul, and the 20th Hussars found themselves on the
Izmit peninsula in 1920 as part of General Ironside's command. The regiment charged Turkish positions near the village of Gebze and successfully routed the enemy. Although mounted action did take place in
Syria during
World War II, this was probably the last regimental charge ever made by British cavalry.
The 20th were relieved by
3rd Hussars in October 1920 and knowing that amalgamation loomed transferred some 225 men to the 3rd. Another 118 men transferred to the
11th Hussars before the remainder of the regiment returned to
England to amalgamate with the
14th Hussars.
*
1759 – 20th Inniskilling Light Dragoons
*1765 – disbanded
*1778 – 20th Light Dragoons
*1783 – disbanded
*
1791 – 20th Jamaica Light Dragoons
*1802 – redesignated as 20th Light Dragoons
*1819 – disbanded
*
1858 – 2nd Bengal European Light Cavalry (East India Company)
*1861 – 20th Hussars
*
1922 – amalgamated with 14th King's Hussars to form 14th/20th Hussars
*1904 –
Brighton, England
*1906 –
Shorncliffe *1908 –
Curragh, Ireland:
*1911 –
Colchester, England
*August 1914 – France and Flanders 5 Cav Bde, 2 Cav Div, BEF
*A Squadron in the 14th/20th,
14th/20th King's Hussars and now the
King's Royal Hussars remains the 20th Hussar squadron.
*The Museum of the 20th Hussars is the 14th/20th King's Hussars Museum Collection, Lancashire County and Regimental Museum, Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom (Army Museums Ogilby Trust).
*The nickname of the 20th Hussars is "Nobody's Own".
*The cap badge of the 20th Hussars is formed of an XHX with a crown above the centre H.
*The 20th Hussars are often referred to as the XXth Hussars.
