20th Light Dragoons

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20th Light Dragoons
Active1792–1818
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Branch Flag of the British Army.svg British Army
TypeCavalry
RoleLine Cavalry
SizeOne Regiment

The 20th Regiment of Light Dragoons was a cavalry regiment of the British Army.

Contents

History

The regiment was raised as the 20th (Jamaica) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons in 1792; [1] it was deployed to Jamaica in 1795 during the Second Maroon War. [2] The regiment saw action at the Battle of Blaauwberg in January 1806 during the second invasion of the Cape Colony, [3] and later at the Battle of Montevideo in February 1807 during the British invasions of the River Plate. [4] The 3rd Squadron was the sole cavalry detachment present in the Alexandria expedition later that year. [5] It also fought at the Battle of Rolica and at the Battle of Vimeiro in August 1808 during the Peninsular War. [1] In 1805 its title was simplified again to the 20th Regiment of (Light) Dragoons; it was disbanded in 1818. [1]

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General Sir Thomas Hawker KCH was a British Army cavalry officer. Hawker began his career in the 11th Light Dragoons in 1795 and fought with them during the 1799 Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland. In 1804, he purchased the rank of major with the 20th Light Dragoons and served with them in Spain during the Peninsular War. He was promoted to command of the regiment in 1808. Hawker served in the force sent to occupy the Republic of Genoa in 1814 and shortly after was promoted to colonel and given command of a light cavalry brigade. Spending some time on half pay after the end of the Napoleonic Wars he returned to active service as lieutenant-colonel of the 13th Light Dragoons. Hawker was in the East Indies between 1822--26 and 1830-36 and was promoted to major-general in 1825. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Guelphic Order in 1837 and colonel of the 6th Regiment of Dragoon Guards in 1839. Hawker was promoted to the brevet rank of general in 1854.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "20th Regiment of (Light) Dragoons". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  2. "The United Service Magazine". H. Hurst. 1846. p. 489. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  3. "South African Military History Society - Journal - Artillery Buildings in Algoa Bay". samilitaryhistory.org. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  4. Marley, p.370
  5. The United Service Magazine. Henry Colburn. 1837. p.  183 . Retrieved 8 September 2016. 20th Dragoons Alexandria Expedition 1807.

Sources