The 14th/20th King's Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. It was created by the amalgamation of the 14th King's Hussars and the 20th Hussars in 1922 and, after service in the Second World War, it amalgamated with the Royal Hussars to become the King's Royal Hussars in 1992.
| 14th/20th King's Hussars | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1922–1992 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Line Cavalry |
| Size | One regiment |
| Part of | Royal Armoured Corps |
| March | Quick – Royal Sussex |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | Anne, Princess Royal |
History
editThe regiment, which was initially styled the 14th/20th Hussars, was created by the amalgamation of the 14th King's Hussars and the 20th Hussars in 1922.[1] It was re-titled the 14th/20th King's Hussars in December 1936.[1] The regiment, which was based in India at the start of the Second World War, dispatched a cadre of personnel to form the 26th Hussars in February 1941.[1] The remainder of the regiment was deployed to Iraq and Persia later that year to guard the oil fields.[2] It landed in Italy in 1944 and then took part in the capture of Medicina in April 1945.[3][4]
After the war the regiment remained in Germany until 1946 when it moved to Cambrai Lines at Catterick Garrison as RAC Training Regiment.[5] It moved to Haig Lines in Church Crookham in January 1951 and then deployed to Libya in November 1952.[5] The regiment joined 20th Armoured Brigade and moved to Portsmouth Barracks in Münster in March 1956 and then transferred to 11th Infantry Brigade and re-located to Haig Barracks in Hohne in November 1960.[5]
The regiment deployed to Wavell Barracks in Benghazi in 1962 from where it sent units to Cyprus in December 1963 and again in May 1965.[5] It returned home in January 1966 but joined 6th Infantry Brigade and moved to Barker Barracks in Paderborn in December 1966.[5] In June 1970 it returned home to join 5th Infantry Brigade with its base at Aliwal Barracks in Tidworth Camp from where it deployed units to Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles.[5] It returned to West Germany in a new role as a recce regiment based at Harewood Barracks in Herford in May 1973 from where it continued to deploy units to Northern Ireland.[5] It moved to Bovington Camp as RAC Centre Regiment in May 1976 and then joined 1st Armoured Division with its new base at Caen Barracks in Hohne in December 1977.[5]
The regiment re-roled as RAC Centre Regiment at Cambrai Barracks at Catterick Garrison in May 1985 and then returned to West Germany to join 4th Infantry Brigade based at York Barracks at Münster in March 1988.[5] It was amalgamated with the Royal Hussars to become the King's Royal Hussars on 4 December 1992.[1]
Regimental museum
editThe Museum of the 14th/20th King's Hussars was in the Museum of Lancashire in Preston until it closed in 2016.[6]
Battle honours
editThe combined battle honours of the 14th King's Hussars and the 20th Hussars, plus:
- Second World War: Bologna, Medicina, Italy 1945
- Later wars: Wadi al Batin, Gulf 1991
Commanding Officers
editThe Commanding Officers have been:[7]
- 1959–1961: Lt.-Col. Edward G.W.T. Walsh
- 1961–1964: Lt.-Col. Gilbert A.L.C. Talbot
- 1964–1966: Lt.-Col. Simon R.M. Frazer
- 1966–1969: Lt.-Col. Peter B. Cavendish
- 1969–1972: Lt.-Col. J. Michael Palmer
- 1972–1974: Lt.-Col. Thomas G. Williams
- 1974–1977: Lt.-Col. William J. Stockton
- 1977–1979: Lt.-Col. John A. Pharo-Tomlin
- 1979–1982: Lt.-Col. Daniel L. De Beaujeu
- 1982–1984: Lt.-Col. Peter Harman
- 1984–1987: Lt.-Col. John R. Smales
- 1987–1989: Lt.-Col. Christopher K. Price
- 1989–1992: Lt.-Col. Michael J.H. Vickery
- 1992: Lt.-Col. David J.B. Woodd
Colonel-in-Chief
edit- 1969: Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, KG, KT, GCVO
Regimental Colonels
editColonels of the Regiment were:[1]
- 1920–1930: (14th Hussars): Maj-Gen. Sir Henry West Hodgson, KCMG, CB, CVO
- 1920–1937: (20th Hussars): Gen. Sir George de Symons Barrow, GCB, KCMG
- 1937–1947: Brig. Frank Brereton Hurndall, MC
- 1947–1957: Gen. Sir Richard Loudon McCreery, GCB, KBE, DSO, MC
- 1957–1966: Col. Robert James Stephen, MBE
- 1966–1972: Col. Basil Bethune Neville Woodd
- 1972–1976: Lt.-Col. Ralph Percy David Fortescue Allen, MBE
- 1976–1981: Maj-Gen. Peter Boucher Cavendish, OBE
- 1981–1992: Maj-Gen. Sir Joseph Michael Palmer, KCVO.
- 1992: Regiment amalgamated with The Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own), to form The King's Royal Hussars
Former officers
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e "14th/20th King's Hussars". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 24 June 2007. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "14th/20th King's Hussars". National Army Museum. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Battle of Medicina". 6th Gurkhas. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Medicina: 40th Anniversary Extract" (PDF). Journal of the King's Royal Hussars. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "14th/20th King's Hussars". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Access Statement for the Museum of Lancashire" (PDF). Lancashire County Council. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
- ^ "Regiments and Commanding Officers, 1960 – Colin Mackie" (PDF). p. 26. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
Further reading
edit- Perrett, Bryan (1984). The Hawks: A short history of 14th/20th King's Hussars. Picton Publishing. ISBN 978-0902633940.
External links
edit- Noahs Arc – National Old & Ancient Hawks Annual Reunion Club The Club of the 14th/20th King's Hussars