The 1st Horse (Skinner's Horse) is a regiment of the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army. It traces its origins as a cavalryregiment from the times of the East India Company, followed by its service in the British Indian Army and finally, after independence as the fourth oldest and one of the senior cavalry regiments of the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army.[5]
After the Anglo-Maratha War of 1803, James Skinner ("Sikander Sahib") was dismissed from service by Daulat Rao Sindhia and was recruited by Lord Lake, who asked him to raise a regiment of 'Irregular Cavalry'. On February 23, 1803 the regiment was raised at Hansi, Haryana in the service of the East India Company.[6] The initial contingent consisted of 800 men of Perron's Horse, who were under service of the Scindia,[7][8] all of whom were old Muslims comrades of James Skinner.[9] Skinner was one of a certain group of officers, such as Gardner and Hearsay, who had become British leaders of irregular cavalry that preserved the traditions of cavalry of the Mughal empire, which had a political purpose because it absorbed pockets of cavalrymen who might otherwise become disaffected plunderers.[10] Herber writes: "Altogether the dress, arms and appearance would lead any one versed in Indian history to believe Skinner's Horse to be the descendants of the conquering Moguls of Timour."[11]
A second regiment of Indian Cavalry was raised by Colonel James Skinner in 1814, which became the 3rd Skinner's Horse. On the reduction of the Indian Army in 1922, 1st and 3rd Regiments were amalgamated and became Skinner's Horse (1st Duke of York's Own Cavalry) and later the 1st Duke of York's Own Lancers (Skinner's Horse). The regiment took its present designation in 1950.
In 1864, it had three squadrons (six troops) and the composition was changed, so that there was one troop each of Muslim, Dogras, Sikhs, Jats, Rajputs and Brahmins. In 1885, a squadron (consisting of 2 troops) of Sikhs were added. In 1887, the regiment had one squadron each of Sikhs, Jats, Ranghars and half a squadron each of Rajputs and Hindustani Muslims. Later the composition was changed to one squadron each of Sikhs, Jats, Rajputs (from Eastern Punjab and Jodhpur) and Muslim Rajputs. By the end of the Great War, the regiment had four squadrons of Hindustani Muslims, one each of Moghuls, Ranghars (Muslim Rajputs), Syeds and localized Pathans recruited from Delhi, Haryana and Western United Provinces. The 3rd regiment had a similar composition. In 1927, following the amalgamation of the regiment, the troops were Jats, Rajputs and Ranghars mainly from Gurgaon, Rohtak and Hissar. Post partition, Hindustani Muslim and Ranghar squadrons of the Skinner's Horse were given to the Pakistan Armoured Corps in exchange of a Sikh Squadron from 19th King George V's own Lancers. The regiment presently recruits Jats, Sikhs and Rajputs.[12][13][15][14][16]
Lineage
Like many regiments of the Indian Army, the 1st Horse (Skinner's Horse) underwent a series of name changes in their history-[3][17]
It was the first Indian Army regiment sent overseas during the Boxer Rebellion and participated in the Battle of Peking. During this campaign the regiment clashed with Tartar cavalry and served alongside United States units – the first occasion where British Indian and US troops served together.[18]
Regiment formed in line, from the Book of Rules for the Manoeuvres of the Hindustani Musket Cavalry formed by Colonel James Skinner
Skinner's Horse party, in a folio from the Delhi Book, or 'Reminiscences of Imperial Delhi', an album by Sir Thomas Metcalfe, 1843
1st Regiment of Skinner's Horse returning from a General Review, 1828
Positions for the manoeuvre of the regiment from a column to a line, 1824
Colonel James Skinner holding a Regimental Durbar, 1827
Skinner's Horse at Exercise, 1840 (c)
Skinner's Horse, by Ensign Bethune Donald Grant
Officer in the 4th Irregular Cavalry
World War I
1st Bengal Lancers, Boxer's Rebellion, 1900
The 1st regiment remained at the North-West Frontier of British India throughout the war. The 3rd regiment had been stationed in Meerut when the war broke out. The regiment was a part of the 7th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Indian Cavalry Division. The brigade received orders to mobilise on 24 October 1914.[2] It sailed from Bombay and reached Marseilles port in France by 15 December 1914.[19]
The regiment was in France till August 1916. It saw extensive action in many parts of France. It was awarded the battle honours France and Flanders for its fine performance. It was sent to Mesopotamia as a part of the 7th Meerut Cavalry Brigade Headquarters. The regiment was then ordered back to India where it concentrated in Rawalpindi in August 1916 for operations in Afghanistan.[20] A detachment of the regiment was tasked to guard the post at Gumboz and held against the attack by the Marris on 17 February 1918.[2]
The regiment won the following gallantry awards –[21]
Order of British India: Risaldar Mardan Khan, Risaldar Nathe Khan, Risaldar Major Muhammad Akham Khan (1st regiment); Risaldar Major Balwant Singh (3rd regiment).
Indian Order of Merit: Risaldar Faiz Muhammad Khan, Jemadar Muhammad Umar Faruk Khan (1st regiment); Dafadar Lal Singh, Lance Dafadar Khem Singh, Jemadar Indar Singh, Dafadar Jawahir Singh (3rd regiment).
Indian Distinguished Service Medal: Sowar Nishan Ali, Jemadar Raknuddin, Trumpeter Abdul Majid Khan, Sowar Ghulam Muhammad Khan, Lance Dafadar Ali Hussain, Jemadar Muhammad Tagi Khan (1st regiment); Dafadar Gurdiyall Singh, Acting Lance Dafadar Pritam Singh, Sowar Chhaja Singh (3rd regiment).
Indian Meritorious Service Medal: Sowar Sabr Ali Khan, Sowar Abdul Shakoor Khan, Dafadar Hadiyar Khan, Dafadar Ashrafulla Khan (1st regiment); Dafadar Chhaja Singh, Sowar Pakbar Singh, Dafadar Nand Singh, Lance Dafadar Nahar Singh (3rd regiment).
After World War I, the cavalry of the British Indian Army was reduced from thirty-nine regiments to twenty-one. On 18 May 1921, the two regiments of Skinner's Horse were amalgamated at Sialkot with the new title of the 1st Duke of York's Own Skinner's Horse.[20] Each of the squadrons was equipped with one Hotchkiss gun and with .303 Short Magazine Lee–Enfield rifles. The machine gun troops of the Headquarters Squadron were equipped with the .303 Vickers machine gun. The traditional sillidar-system of most of the cavalry was abolished shortly after World War I and Indian troopers were now provided with government horses rather than having to provide the animals themselves in return for a higher rate of pay. The Skinner's Horse accordingly acquired the status of a fully regular regiment of the British Indian Army and received standard government-issue equipment for all purposes.[20][22]
World War II
At the beginning of World War II the regiment was still mounted, but was quickly converted to act as a mechanised reconnaissance regiment and was attached to the 5th Indian Division and when the division was sent to the Sudan, formed part of Gazelle Force.[23]
Indian Distinguished Service Medal: Risaldar Amar Singh, Lance Dafadar Dip Chand, Lance Dafadar Mohd Sharif Khan, Lance Dafadar Bhure Khan, Sowar Munshi Singh, Sowar Raj Singh, Sowar Sardar Singh.
Mentioned in dispatches: Lieutenant Colonel IF Hossack, Lieutenant Colonel T Scott, Captain HT Addams Williams, Lieutenant RE Coaker, Risaldar Major Bhanu Singh, Risaldar Mohammed Yunus Khan, Lance Dafadar Bhure Khan, Lance Dafadar Abdul Hakim, Lance Dafadar Munshi Khan, Lance Dafadar Feroze Khan, Lance Dafadar Ikram-ud-din, Sowar Raj Singh.
Post War
1978 postage stamp on the 175th anniversary
The regiment was switched to tanks in 1946, receiving the Stuart tank, and a year later Churchills. In 1947 with the Indian independence, the regiment became part of the Indian Army Armoured Corps. The first Indian commander was Lieutenant Colonel RM Bilimoria, and the regiment was stationed at Ahmednagar.
The COAS General VK Singh, being presented a sword on being appointed Honorary Colonel of the Regiment of the Skinner's Horse, in Meerut on 1 October 2010
The regiment took part in the annexation of Hyderabad in 1948, following which it stopped the use of Stuart tanks.[26][27] The Churchill tank remained in use until 1957, after which the regiment was equipped with Sherman Mk IV's.
In 1965, equipped with Sherman tanks, the unit's B Squadron supported 50th Parachute Brigade near Dograi and 2 troops helped 3 Jat in the epic battle of Dograi.[7] Eight years later, in 1965 the regiment converted to the T-54 and then to the T-55.
The regiment with its T-55 tanks was part of the 2 Independent Armoured Brigade under 39 Infantry Division.[28] It took part in operations initially in Samba and then in Shakargarh sector and was awarded the battle honour Harar Kalan.[29][7][30]
Mentioned in dispatches: 2nd Lieutenant Virender Kumar Jetley, 2nd Lieutenant A Khullar, 2nd Lieutenant Bhupinder Singh Mandare, Risaldar Bhan Singh[33]
In 1979, the regiment converted to the T-72 tanks. In 2003, a special service was held at the St. James' Church, Delhi, which was built by James Skinner, to commemorate the bicentenary of the regiment.[34]
Uniforms
The old 1st Lancers wore yellow uniforms (uniquely in the British Empire) and the old 3rd wore dark blue. The "yellow" was actually close to mustard in shade and led to the regiment being nicknamed "Canaries" or "Yellow Boys" from its formation.[35] Each regiment had the full-dress (mounted) long 'Kurta' worn with a turban and cummerbund for all ranks, also a full-dress (dismounted) or levee, dress for British officers only. These were not in general use after 1914 but could still be worn by officers on special assignments (e.g. as an aide-de-camp) or while attending court functions. The merged Skinner's Horse was assigned a dark blue full dress with yellow facings in 1922 but by 1931 the historic yellow and black had been restored. The yellow mess jacket and black waistcoat of the old 1st Bengal Lancers was adopted by the 1922 regiment of Skinner's Horse and was the cold weather mess dress until 1939. All six of these various uniforms are in the collection of the National Army Museum.
The cap badge of the regiment prior to independence consisted of a central rose over crossed lances, with a crown between the lance-heads. A scroll below bears the inscription, 'Himmat-I-Mardan Madad-I-Khuda'. The present cap badge replaced the crown by a horse mounted by a cavalryman.[36]
Battle and Theatre Honours
Bhurtpore, Ghuznee 1839, Khelat, Afghanistan 1839, Candhahar 1842, Maharajpore, Moodkee, Ferozeshah, Aliwal, Kandahar 1880, Afghanistan 1879-1880, Punjab Frontier, Pekin 1900, France and Flanders 1914-16, North West Frontier India 1915, Baluchistan 1918, Afghanistan 1919, Agordat, Keren, Amba Alagai, Abyssinia 1940-41, Senio Floodbank, Italy 1943-46, Harar Kalan, Punjab 1971.[3][7]
The regiment was awarded with the 'Guidon' on 31 March 1971 at Babina by the then President V. V. Giri.
↑ Gill, JH (2003). An Atlas Of 1971 India Pakistan War - Creation of Bangladesh. National Defense University, Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies. p.86.
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References
Kempton, Chris. The Register of Titles of the Units of the HEIC and Indian Armies 1666 to 1947. British Empire & Commonwealth Museum. ISBN978-0953017409
Fraser, J. Baillie (editor): Military Memoir of Lieut. Col. James Skinner. Cambridge University Press. ISBN978-1108046664
Holman, Dennis (1961). Sikander Sahib; the life of Colonel James Skinner, 1778–1841. Heinemann, London.
Rothero, Christopher (1979). Skinner's Horse. Almark Publishing Co. Ltd. ISBN978-0855243104
Skinner, Lt-Col M A R (1985). Sworn to Die. Lancer, India ISBN978-1851270651
Roberts, Major H. A Short History of the 1st Duke of York's Own Lancers (Skinner's Horse),(1803–1908)
Mason, Philip (1980). Skinner's Horse. Harper Collins. ISBN0-06-013036-9.
Skinner, James (2006). The Recollections of Skinner Of Skinner's Horse - James Skinner And His 'Yellow Boys' - Irregular Cavalry In The Wars of India between the British, Mahratta, Rajput, Mogul, Sikh & Pindarree Forces. Leonaur. ISBN978-1846770616.
Daniels, Major A. M. (1925). Skinner's Horse: The History of the 1st Duke of Yorks Own Lancers. N&M Press. ISBN978-1845743154.
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