2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse): Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}

The regiment was raised in 1809 at [[Farukhabad]] and [[Mainpuri]] by [[William Linnæus Gardner]], who had previously served with the [[Highland Light Infantry|74th Highlanders]] and later the [[Maratha Empire|Maratha]] ruler of [[Indore]]. He then joined the [[East India Company|Company's]] forces under [[Gerard Lake, 1st Viscount Lake|Lord Lake]] and raised the regiment. The regiment was initially deployed for police duties in the newly occupied territories around [[Agra]]. It was almost exclusively composed of [[Islam in Uttar Pradesh|Hindustani Mahomedans]],<ref>{{cite book |url= https://www.google.ca/books/edition/A_History_of_the_2nd_Lancers_Gardner_s_H/-uA6igQRBJ4C?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=alkhalak+kizil+bash&dq=alkhalak+kizil+bash&printsec=frontcover |title= A History of the 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse): From 1809 to 1922 |date= 1924 |author= D. E. Whitworth |publisher= University of Minnesota |page= 3}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url= https://www.google.ca/books/edition/A_History_of_the_British_Cavalry_1816_18/eBnHDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=gardner%27s+horse+mahomedans&pg=PA8&printsec=frontcover |title= A History of the British Cavalry, 1816–1850, Volume 1 |author= The Marquess of Anglesey |date= 1993 }}</ref> with a small minority of Rajputs and Brahmins. Gardner was one among several British officers such as Skinner and Hearsey, who had become leaders of irregular cavalry that preserved the traditions of Mughal cavalry. This had a political purpose because it absorbed pockets of cavalrymen who might otherwise become disaffected plunderers.<ref>{{ cite book |url= https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Empire_and_Information/8bqEzPPp8xIC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=irregular+cavalry+syud&pg=PA159&printsec=frontcover |title= Empire and Information: Intelligence Gathering and Social Communication in India, 1780-1870 |author= Christopher Alan Bayly, C. A. Bayly |date= 1996 |publisher= Cambridge University Press }}</ref> It first saw service in the [[Nepal War]] of 1815, a war rendered necessary by the frequent inroads by the [[Kingdom of Nepal|Gurkhas]] into Indian territory.  The corps showed meritorious service against the [[Pindari]]s between 1817-19. In late 1819, it was employed on the Eastern frontier invading [[Arakan]]. The regiment fought on horses and after losing most of their mounts, fought on foot. They were the only regiment to win the honour ‘Arracan’.<ref name="Jackson">{{cite book|last=Jackson|first=Donovan|title= India's Army|date=1940|publisher= Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd|pages=35–40}}</ref><ref name="RTR">{{cite web |url=https://www.royaltankregiment.com/en-GB/2ndlancers.aspx |title=2nd Lancers|date=2011 |publisher=The Royal Tank Regiment Association |access-date=9 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404024127/https://www.royaltankregiment.com/en-GB/2ndlancers.aspx|archive-date=4 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="Saroop">{{cite book|last=Saroop|first=Narindar|title=Gardner of Gardner's Horse, 2nd Lancers, Indian Army|date=1983|publisher=Palit & Palit Publishers}}</ref>

The 2nd Lancers was sent to [[France]] in the [[World War I|First World War]] as part of the [[5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade]], [[2nd Indian Cavalry Division]]. It was brigaded with the [[6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons]] and the [[38th King George's Own Central India Horse]].<ref>{{cite web|title=cwgc.org |url=http://www.cwgc.org/ypres/content.asp?id=33&menu=subsub |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914181116/http://www.cwgc.org/ypres/content.asp?id=33&menu=subsub |archive-date=14 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/bbm%3A978-1-349-27283-9%2F1.pdf|title= Appendix I: Order of Battle of The Indian Army Corps in France, 1914-15|date=|access-date=2021-04-22}}</ref> Once in France, its personnel were called upon to serve in the trenches as infantry. The high number of officer casualties suffered early on had an effect on performance. British officers who understood the language, customs and psychology of their men could not be quickly replaced, and the alien environment of the Western Front had some effect on the soldiers.<ref>Haythornthwaite P.J. (1992). ''The World War One Sourcebook'', Arms and Armour Press.</ref> During their time on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]], the regiment was involved in the [[Battle of the Somme]], [[Battle of Bazentin]], [[Battle of Flers–Courcelette]], the [[Hindenburg Line|Advance to the Hindenburg Line]] and the [[Battle of Cambrai (1918)|Battle of Cambrai]].