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In the year 1903, the three distinct presidency armies were united to form the combined British Indian Army. The 16th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry was also known as the 16th Bengal Lancers and 16th Cavalry regiment. History of 16th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry The cavalry regiment was raised in the year 1857 at Haldwani as the Rohilcund Horse regiment. Initially the army unit was posted at Rohilkhand. Later in the year 1864, it became a part of the Bhutan Field Force and was stationed in Bhutan. The battalion was dissolved in 1882 in order to provide additional cavalry for other regiments. Later in the year 1885, the 16th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry was re-established at Ambala with an authorized increment in strength of the regiment. The cavalry unit was sent to serve in China during the Boxer Rebellion, to facilitate the international legations in Peking (Beijing) in 1900. The British Indian Army unit served in the campaign to Mesopotamia during the First World War. Later it took part in the Third Afghan War in the year 1919. After the First World War, the British Indian army reduced the count of cavalry regiments from 39 to 21 units, by combining several military regiments together in pairs, rather than just dissolving the surplus regiments. As an effect, the entire line of cavalry units was renumbered and renamed. The 16th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry was amalgamated with the 13th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry (13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers Watson's Horse) regiment on 1 June 1921 at Meerut. Both the military units were amalgamated to raise the 13th/16th Cavalry regiment, which eventually was known as the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse). This regiment was renamed as the 6 Lancers in 1956. The official uniform of this army unit was blue with scarlet facings and the badge included crossed lances with the number '6' on the point of intersection and a scroll below, showing 'The Duke of Connaught's Own'. The class constitution of the 6 Lancers regiment was one squadron each of Dogras, Sikhs and Punjabi Muslims. Designations of 16th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry The 12th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry of the Army of Bengal Province held a number of designations. These are mentioned as follows- * Rohilcund Horse - 1857 * 16th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry - 1861 * 16th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry (Lancers) - 1864 * 16th Regiment of Bengal Lancers - 1874 * Dissolved - 1882 * 16th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry (re-established) 1885 * 16th Bengal Lancers - 1901 * 16th Cavalry - 1903 * 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers Watson's Horse (with 13th Regiment of Bengal Lancers) - 1921 |
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