Quick Links

Unit History: Light Dragoons

The Light Dragoons (LD) is a cavalry regiment in the British Army.

It was formed in 1992 from the amalgamation of two regiments, becoming the first dragoon regiment in the British Army for over twenty years:

* 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary’s Own)
* 15th/19th The King’s Royal Hussars
The Light Dragoons are a Formation reconnaissance regiment with a history in the reconnaissance role which dates back to the early 18th Century. Currently based in Swanton Morley, Norfolk, they are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Angus Watson MBE.

They are highly experienced operationally with 14 tours of the Balkans during the 1990’s. They have deployed twice to Iraq on Operation TELIC in 2003 and 2005.

C Squadron Deployed on a 6 month operational tour of duty in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on Operation HERRICK 5 with 3 Commando Brigade , Royal Marines.

In April 2007 the majority of the Regiment including elements of HQ Squadron, B Squadron complete and specialists from D Squadron were deployed for a six month tour in Afghanistan with 12 Mechanised Brigade on Operation HERRICK 6.

The Light Dragoons recruit principally in the North East of England (Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham) and in South Yorkshire and have strong connections with these areas. For this important reason, the Regiment is known as England’s Northern Cavalry.

Forces Reunited Forum Posts Involving Light Dragoons

"a youngun! ex 15/19 The King’s Royal Hussars and Light Dragoons. 1986 - 2001 my fatha was 15/19KRH ’59 - ’64 Barnard Castle/Munster if ye know anyone who might remember him! "
Click For More

"...have nothing to lose but your sanity. Re your request for gen on 13th light regiment, if you can give me more info ie light of foot/horse/artillery I may be able to be of more help. As it is the only 13th light I can find in my books is the 13th Light Dragoons. The 13th Light Dragoons were initially heavy dragoons known as Richard Munden’s Regiment of Dragoons. By 1751 the regiment title was simplified to the 13th Regiment of Dragoons and by 1783 they had been converted to the light role. In..."
Click For More

"...regiments had been annihilated or so badly mauled that some were disbanded the remaining ones were numbered from 1 to 21. On occasion quite arbitrarily. The only ones permitted to wear the Scarlet tunic were the 16th who also started out as Light Dragoons. The remainder wore Blue tunics. The 5th Royal Irish were also a dragoon regiment and yes, I do know that originally dragoons rode up to battles, walked up to a firing position and then beggared off out of the way to reload. Sounds..."
Click For More

"...the Clothes to be worn by the troops of the respective States and regiments." General Washington issued a general order October 1779 "prescribing blue coats with differing facings for the various state troops, artillery, artillery artificers and light dragoons. The Adjutant & Inspector General’s Office, March 27, 1821 established "Dark blue is the National colour. When a different one is not expressly prescribed, all uniform coats, whether for officers or enlisted men, will be of that colour."..."
Click For More