Second World War on
D-Day in the
Hermanville-sur-Mer sector of Normandy, France. The dead man's comrades stand in silent tribute at the graveside. The regiment was created, as part of the reduction in cavalry in the aftermath of the
First World War, by the amalgamation of the
13th Hussars and the
18th Royal Hussars on 9 November 1922. It was renamed as the '''13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)''' after
Queen Mary, who was Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment, in December 1935. It then served with the
27th Armoured Brigade. Having been equipped with
Sherman DD tanks, it took part in the
D-Day Landings at
Sword Beach, and fought during
Operation Overlord, taking part in the landings at
Sword Beach, and continuing fighting with the 27th Armoured Brigade until late July 1944 when it transferred to the
8th Armoured Brigade. It was deployed to
Libya in February 1948, to
Egypt in April 1950 and to
Malaya, for service as an
armoured car regiment during the
Malayan Emergency, in June 1950. It returned to Wolfenbüttel in November 1953 and then moved to McLeod Barracks at
Neumünster in April 1956 from where it deployed a squadron to
Aden. It returned to Malaya and was posted to Ramillies Camp at
Ipoh in July 1958. The regiment joined
7th Armoured Brigade Group and moved to Wessex Barracks at
Bad Fallingbostel in February 1961. It transferred to
4th Guards Brigade Group and relocated to Barker Barracks at
Paderborn in February 1964 and then returned to the United Kingdom in a tank role at Cachy Barracks at
Perham Down in December 1966; from there it continued to deploy troops to Aden. It returned to
West Germany where it joined
4th Armoured Brigade and located to Swinton Barracks in
Munster in January 1968. It became the garrisoned regiment at
Long Kesh in January 1972, following the introduction of
internment of
Provisional Irish Republican Army suspects. After this tour, the regiment moved to
Bovington Camp as RAC Centre Regiment in August 1972 and then returned to West Germany where it rejoined 7th Armoured Brigade with its base at Caen Barracks in
Hohne in August 1974. It was deployed to
Lisanelly Camp in
Omagh in November 1977 and then moved to
Carver Barracks in
Wimbish in May 1979; from there it deployed units to
Cyprus on peace keeping duties. The regiment was re-equipped with the
Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) range of vehicles, together with the
Swingfire Wire-guided missile, and relocated to Harewood Barracks in
Herford becoming part of
1st British Corps in November 1982. From there it deployed a squadron on guarding duties at the
Maze Prison in September 1985. The regiment returned to the United Kingdom and joined
1st Armoured Infantry Brigade with its new base at Assaye Barracks in
Tidworth Camp in November 1986 from where it again deployed squadrons to Cyprus. It went back to Northampton Barracks in Wolfenbüttel as recce regiment for
1st Armoured Division in May 1991. The regiment amalgamated with the
15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars to form the
Light Dragoons on 1 December 1992. ==Regimental museum==