21st Horse (Central India Horse)

The Central India Horse (formerly the 21st King George V's Own Horse, also known as Beatson's Horse) was a regular cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army and is presently part of the Indian Army Armoured Corps.

Central India Horse
A daffadar of the 1st Central India Horse in 1886
Active1857 – present
CountryIndia
Allegiance British India
 India
Branch British Indian Army
Indian Army
TypeCavalry
SizeRegiment
Part ofIndian Army Armoured Corps
Motto(s)भाग्य वीर पक्ष धर्म
Bhagya Veer Paksha Dharma (Fortune favours the brave)
EngagementsIndian Rebellion of 1857
Second Afghan War
Great War
Second World War
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Battle honoursKandahar, 1880
Afghanistan, 1879-80
Punjab Frontier
Somme, 1916
Morval
Cambrai, 1917
France and Flanders, 1914-18
Megiddo
Sharon
Damascus
Palestine, 1918
Keren-Asmara Road
Keren
Abyssinia, 1940-41
Relief of Tobruk, 1941
North Africa, 1940-43
Gothic Line
Italy, 1943-45
Greece, 1944-45
Rajaori
Jammu and Kashmir 1947-48
Burki
Punjab, 1965
Commanders
Colonel of
the Regiment		Lt Gen PS Minhas[1]
Insignia
AbbreviationC.I.H.

Formation

The regiment was raised as two irregular cavalry regiments at the outset of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The first regiment was formed by Captain Henry Otway Mayne on 15 December 1857 and was known initially as Mayne's Horse.[2][3] Captain Mayne who was from the 6th Madras Light Cavalry and a Brigade Major of the Hyderabad Contingent, raised his regiment with troops from Gwalior Contingent, Malwa Contingent Cavalry and Bhopal Contingent.[4][5]

The second regiment was known as Beatson's Horse. It was raised between February and September 1858 in Hyderabad by Lieutenant Colonel (later Major-General) William Fergusson Beatson, originally of the Bengal Native Infantry. The troops were from Hyderabad.[6]

They were based at the towns of Augur in Western Malwa and Goona in the state of Gwalior in central India.[7] In 1860, Mayne's Horse was renamed the 1st Regiment, Central India Horse, and Beatson's Horse was renamed the 2nd Regiment, Central India Horse.[8] Mayne's Horse and Beatson's Horse joined to form the Central India Horse in 1860. They were joined by 200 men of the Meade's Horse in 1861.[9][10][11]

The Commandant of the Central India Horse then held political charge of the Western Malwa Agency, which included the States of Jaora, Ratlam, Sitamau and Sailana, with the Malwa districts of Gwalior, Indore, Jhalawar, Dewas, and Tonk.[12] In December 1895, control of the Agency was transferred from the charge of the Commandant of the Central India Horse to that of an officer of the Indian Political Department, and the head-quarters of the Agency were removed from Agar to Neemuch.[13]

In 1860, the officer commanding the Central India Horse was made the British political officer for the small states of Raghugarh, Khaniadhana (after 1888), Paron, Garha, Umri and Bhadaura, which were made a separate charge from that of the Resident of Gwalior. This arrangement was abolished in 1896, when these states were again placed under the resident, with the officer commanding at Guna continuing to act as ex-officio assistant to the Resident, with very limited powers.[14]

Reorganisation

During the Kitchener reorganisation of the Indian Army of 1903, the 1st Regiment became the 38th Regiment Central India Horse, and the 2nd regiment became the 39th Regiment Central India Horse. In 1906, the regiments were renamed the 38th and 39th Prince of Wales's Own Central India Horse, and in 1910 the 38th and 39th King George's Own Central India Horse.[15] The composition of the regiment was Punjabi Musalmans, Sikhs and Jats.[16]

Operations
Indian Uprising of 1857

Both regiments which were raised as a consequence of the First War of Independence saw action in Central India in pursuit of Tantia Tope after the recapture of Gwalior.[5]

Second Anglo-Afghan War

The two regiments were part of the Kabul-Kandahar Field Force under its Commander-in-Chief, Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Roberts. It was part of the Cavalry Brigade led by Brigadier-general Hugh Gough. The regiment was awarded the battle honours ‘Kandahar,1880’ and ‘Afghanistan, 1879-80’.[5][17][18][19]

Punjab Frontier

In 1897, both regiments were involved in operations in the North West Indian Frontier with Afghanistan. The regiments were also deployed in Kurram Valley.[20]

Persia

In October 1911, the British Government sent a small force of troops to Persia consisting of three and half squadron of 39th King George's Own Central India Horse and sixty men of the 7th Rajputs to support and protect its trade in Bushire, Shiraz and Ispahan. The regiment lost one officer and several men in the many brushes with Kashguli tribesmen.[5] They left back for India in April 1913.[21][22]

World War I

During the Great War the 38th King George's Own Central India Horse was part of the 5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade in the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division.The brigade consisted of the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons, 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse), 38th King George's Own Central India Horse and Signal Troop.[23][24] The regiment lost many men in the Battle of Cambrai, but were noted for their bravery in extricating the 2nd Lancers.[5] Later in 1918 the 38th King George's Own Central India Horse joined the 10th Cavalry Brigade, in the 4th Cavalry Division for the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.[25] They returned to India in February 1921.[5]

The 39th King George's Own Central India Horse remained in India during the war, stationed in Poona.

Amalgamation

In 1921, the two regiments were amalgamated at Quetta into the 38th/39th Cavalry, which was renamed the 38th/39th King George's Own Light Cavalry in 1922, The Central India Horse (21st King George's Own Horse) in 1923, and The Central India Horse (21st King George V's Own Horse) in 1937. The horses were replaced by armoured fighting vehicles in 1939.[5]

Second World War
Central India Horse with captured German flag after re-occupation of Benghazi, December 1941.
Indian Pattern Carrier Mk IIA named 'Dhar IV' of the type used by the Central India Horse, North Africa, April 1942.

During the Second World War, the Central India Horse (equipped with Light Tanks and Indian Pattern Carriers) was the divisional reconnaissance regiment for the 4th Indian Division. While attached to the 4th Indian Division they were involved in the Western Desert Campaign, the East African Campaign, the Tunisia Campaign and the Italian Campaign.[26][27][28][29][30]

It was during the Italian Campaign that two members of the Regiment were posthumously awarded the George Cross: Ditto Ram and St. John Graham Young attached from the Royal Tank Regiment.[31] Young had been leading a night patrol on 23 July 1944, when he and his men found themselves in any enemy minefield. He received the full force of a mine explosion, severely injuring both legs. Despite his wounds, his encouragement enabled the majority of his men to reach safety. One of them, Sowar Ditto Ram, was also posthumously awarded the GC for his actions in the same incident.[32]

Bombay 'mutiny'

In 1940, the Central India Horse was posted to Egypt. While awaiting embarkation the train carrying the regiment was kept in a siding for about twenty-four hours. During this delay four members of a radical political organization – the Kirti Lehar were able to persuade two-thirds of the Sikh squadron of the regiment to refuse overseas service. The remainder of the regiment embarked for North Africa and Italy where it served with distinction. The 'mutineers' were court-martialed.[33][34][35]

Cavalry charge at Toungoo

On March 20, 1942 Captain Arthur Sandeman of the Central India Horse was on secondment to the Burma Frontier Force - leading a mounted infantry column. Near Toungoo airfield in central Burma the 60-man mounted patrol mistook Japanese troops for Chinese ones and closed with them before realizing their mistake. Most of the patrol (including Sandeman) were killed in what was probably the last cavalry charge by a force under the command of the British crown.[36][37]

Independence

Upon India's independence, the Central India Horse (21st King George V's Own Horse) was allocated to India, although a Muslim Punjabi squadron was transferred to the 19th King George V's Own Lancers in exchange for its Jat squadron.[38] When India became a republic in 1950, the regiment was renamed The Central India Horse, which is one of the decorated regiments of the Indian Army. The Central India Horse is now a tank regiment of the Indian Army's XXI Corps (Southern Command).

Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948

‘A’ Squadron of the Central India Horse took part in the March–April 1948 Indian offensive along with the three brigades (50th Parachute, 19th Infantry and 20th Infantry) and advanced along the Naoshera-Rajauri road and recaptured Janghar (March 17, 1948), then changed direction and occupied Rajauri (April 12, 1948). It also took part in the second attempt to capture Poonch in October–November 1948. A light tank squadron of Central India Horse along with the 5th and 19th Infantry Brigades carried out the main attack between November 8 and 19 1948 from the Rajauri area to capture Pooch.[39]

Indo-Pakistani War of 1965

The regiment was part of the 7 Infantry Division under XI Corps. It was tasked to advance along the Khalra-Burki axis and capture the adjacent bridge over the Ichhogil canal and Bedian. The attack was partially successful and following the Battle of Burki, Burki and Jahman villages were captured. The regiment lost 6 tanks during this operation. Lt Col SC Joshi, commanding officer of the regiment was killed while negotiating an enemy minefield.[40][41]

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

The regiment was part of 26 Infantry Division and equipped with T-55 tanks. A detachment of the regiment was part of 3 Independent Armoured Brigade. Both were under XV Corps.[42]

Awards and honours

Prominent winners of gallantry awards include:

Early years
Painting of Risaldar-Major Baha-Ud-Din Khan, Sirdar Bahadur, 1st Central India Horse by Rudolf Swoboda. Baha-Ud-Din Khan served on the North-West Frontier, in the Indian Rebellion and in the China and Afghan Wars. In 1884, he was appointed Risaldar-Major, the senior Indian officer and adviser to the British commander of his regiment. He was made Aide-de-Camp to the Viceroy in 1895.

[44]

Imperial Visit to India, 1911[46]

The following were honoured during the Imperial Visit of King George V to India

Persia
1917 Birthday Honours
  • Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire : Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Hierom Ogilvy Spence[49]
World War I
World War II
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Presentation of Guidon

The regiment was presented the a guidon by the then President of India, Giani Zail Singh on 8 January 1983.[80]

Notable personnel
Shoulder badge of the Central India Horse (21st King George V's Own Horse) before 1947: shoulder title letters CIH below the Welsh Ich Dien symbol with feathers and coronet

Uniforms and insignia

The original uniforms were modelled upon that of the Guides. The men wore khaki, the facings being maroon, a blue Ludhiana pagri, white breeches, scarlet lungi and black puttees.[5]

The Regimental insignia consists of crossed lances with pennons with the letters CIH inscribed between the crossing of the lances mounted with the crown. The crown was replaced with the Ashoka Lion Capital.

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