HISTORICAL SUMMARIES

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1er Chasseurs

The Regiment was raised in1651 by Mis. DHumières, but was renamed in 1733 as the Conti Chasseurs. On 25^th March 1776 the it became a Regiment of Dragoons and on 17^th March 1788 was renamed the Régiment de Chasseurs d'Alsace. In 1791 it finally became the 1^er Régiment de Chasseurs.

1805 saw the Regiment in 1^st Corps of the Grand Armée at Ulm, Amstetten, Mariazell and Austerlitz. In 1806 in 3^rd Corps at Auerstädt, and in 1808 at Lowicz and Nasielsk. For the 1809 campaign they were part of the Armée d'Allemagne fighting at Abensberg, Raab and Wagram.

The Invasion of Russia in 1812 they were again with 1^st Corps fighting at Mohilev, Smolensk and Borodino, and in 1814 took part in the defence of Maubeuge.

Following the restoration of the King the Regiment was renamed the Régiment de Chasseurs du Roi. However they fought for Napoleon in the hundred days campaign at Quatre Bras and Rocquencourt.

The Regiment was disbanded later in 1815.

18^th Light Dragoons (Hussars)

The Regiment was formed in 1759 by the 6^th Earl of Drogheda in Ireland as the 19^th Light Dragoons for the seven Years war. Three years later it was reformed as the 18^th Light Dragoons. The Hon. Arthur Wellesley, (later the Duke of Wellington), was gazetted to the Regiment in 1791 and in 1808 it was one of four Light Dragoon Regiments converted to Hussars. They served with distinction in the retreat to Corunna and later returned to the Peninsular in 1813.

Although the Regiment gained a reputation for looting and drinking they were no better or worse than the other cavalry regiments of Wellington’s army. A squadron of the 18^th disgraced itself at Vittoria by looting the baggage rather than pursuing the French, but the Regiment did well in the invasion of France, earning the Dukes Commendation. On the 16^th June 1815 the 18^th fought at Quatre Bras, and on the 18^th June at Waterloo they were in Major General Vivians' Brigade initially on the left flank, and then in the centre to take part in the charge which drove the French army from the field.

The Regiment was disbanded in 1821 but reformed in 1858, fighting throughout the remainder of Queen Victoria’s Reign and in the First World War. In 1922 the 18^th Hussars were amalgamated with the 13^th Hussars to become the 13^th/18^th Hussars with Her Majesty Queen Mary Becoming Colonel-in-Chief and Lieutenant General Lord Baden Powell (Late 13H) as Colonel of the regiment. H.R.H the Prince of Wales was appointed Colonel in Chief on the 21^st April 1989.

The Regiment remained on horseback until mechanisation just prior to World War II. Since the Second World War the Regiment has served in North Africa, the Middle East, Malaya, Cyprus, Northern Ireland and Germany.

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