The Ninth (Queen's Royal) Lancers, 1715 - 1903. By Frank H. Reynard.
(W. Blackwood and Sons. 42s.)—The regiment was first raised, along with sixteen other regiments of horse and thirteen of foot, in 1715. Six of the former still remain (the Tenth, Eleventh, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Hussars, and the Ninth and Twelfth Lancers) ; all the latter were finally dis- banded in 1717. The regiment, at that time styled Dragoons, served in the attack on Preston (dismounted), suffering a loss of six killed and twenty-four wounded. In 1783 it was changed to "Light Dragoons," and in the following year the uniform was altered from scarlet to blue. It took a part in suppressing the Irish rebellion of 1798, and in 1803 embarked for England, after a stay in Ireland of eighty years. As during that time it had never been united, it was hardly up to the best form. It was sent in 1807 to South America, and took part in the unlucky affair of Buenos Ayres. In 1811 it embarked for the Peninsula, where it served for two years, but without the good fortune of sharing in any famous battle. In 1816 it changed its title. "The experience of the war having most fully proved the importance of cavalry armed with the lance," it, along with three other Light Dragoon regi- ments, was armed and equipped as Lancers ; in 1830 it was honoured with the title of "Queen's Royal." In 1842 the Ninth Lancers embarked for India. It served at Funnier (1843) and Sobraon (1846). Part of it was involved in a very unlucky debacle at Chillianwallah, an affair which Hope Grant thought would "ruin his prospects in life." But brave men and well- conducted regiments get over these mishaps. In the Mutiny two squadrons served with the First Umballa Brigade, and two with the Second. They saw plenty of fighting in various ways, some at one time serving as artillerymen. They were present at Delhi—hence their name of " Delhis "—and the Relief and the Siege of Lucknow. The regiment more than redeemed its credit. It was in India again in 1875-1885, and distinguished itself at Kandahar and elsewhere. Finally it went out to South Africa (from India), and served throughout the war, traversing distances which aggregate eight thousand five hundred and fifty miles. The clasps it won were "Belmont," " Modder River," "Belief of Kimberley," "Paardeberg," " Johannesburg," " Diamond Hill," and" Wittenberg." The long inaction of the early days has been fully counterbalanced by the activity of the later.
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