Dates: 1922 - 1992
The 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary’s Own) was a cavalry regiment of the British Army.
On 9 September 1922, the 13th/18th Hussars was formed by amalgamation of the 13th Hussars and the 18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary’s Own). In December 1935, it became known as the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary’s Own). It transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps in April 1939.
During the Second World War, it served as the reconnaissance regiment of the 1st Infantry Division in the Battle of France, and with 27th Armoured Brigade (later transferred to 8th Armoured Brigade) in the Battle of Normandy, where it was equipped with Sherman DD tanks.
The regiment were the garrisoned regiment at Long Kesh at the introduction of Internment in 1971 by the then British Government, which saw the internment of IRA suspects without trial. The remnants of the "Kesh" were still existent at the site of HMP Maze until its demise.
The regiment were the first to introduce Armoured Fighting Vehicles proper to Northern Ireland, with the introduction of the CVR(W) Fox armoured car in 1977.
After this tour, the regiment was stationed at Wimbish (Saffron Walden) equipped with the Fox until 1982, when they were stationed in the North-West German town of Herford, becoming part of 1st British Corps (1BR). Here they were equipped with CVR(T), Scimitar, Spartan, and Sultan and in 1983 were re-equipped with the LRATGW system, Swingfire which was vehicle mounted on CVR(T) Striker. During this period, in 1985, the regiment posted a composite squadron (B Squadron) back at HMP Maze as part of the roulement tours of the time.
In December 1986, the regiment returned to the United Kingdom, to the Hampshire garrison of Tidworth, where they formed part of the AMF(L) force. From here the regiment also posted three squadrons on UN peace-keeping tours to Cyprus in 1987, 1989 and 1990.
The regiment’s final posting was as the Corps Reconnaissance Regiment, again as part of 1(BR) Corps in the German Town of Wolfenbuttel, close to what used to be the inner-German border with East Germany.
With collapse of the Eastern-Bloc, the threat from Eastern Europe diminished in the eyes of the politicians and in the early 1990s, the then British government introduced a measure designed to streamline the armed forces, called "Options For Change". This programme saw many leave the forces on a mass "redundancy" package, and this in turn led to the amalgamation of several units within the British army.
On 1 December 1992, the regiment amalgamated with the 15th/19th The King’s Royal Hussars to form The Light Dragoons.
Their motto remains "Viret et aertenum" - May Their Name Flourish Forever, and "Pro rege, Pro lege, Pro patria conamour" - For King, For Justice, for Country we fight.
Memories of 13/18 Royal Hussars
13/18 Royal Hussars in 2010Written by
"September 12, 1914
A LUCKY DRIFFIELD MAN.
Mr E Stephenson, of Garden Cottage, Scarborough Road, Driffield, has received a letter from his son Archie, who is serving with the 18th
Hussars, at the front, in the district of Mons:
He says: - We had a fight last Saturday and Monday with the Germans. After we
charged them the Regiment got split up into two parties, one went one way and the other another. I went with one of them and stayed
until Tuesday afternoon, when we had orders to go and join the other party and take a message to them so that we could reform the
Regiment as strong as possible.
A Sergeant and eight of us had a tough job to get through to the remainder, but managed to join up
by six o’clock on Saturday morning, and we have just had a despatch rider landed to tell us that the party I left had lost nearly all the
men in a skirmish, so I think I am extremely lucky.
I don’t know that you have cause to worry now as the worse will be over in about
another three weeks, as the Germans are getting very short of supplies and ammunition, and losing thousands of men."
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving 13/18 Royal Hussars
"anyone know mike flippence ex 13/18 royal hussars1956-58"
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" This is my first go on these posts, so be gentle to me! I may be a bit unusual in that I served in the Army & the Royal Navy. I always wanted to be a pilot but on my 17th birthday I blew my flying medical for the navy. So rather than wait for national service, I signed on for 3 years in April 1955 ..."
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" Quoting: nigel osborn This is my first go on these posts, so be gentle to me! I may be a bit unusual in that I served in the Army & the Royal Navy. I always wanted to be a pilot but on my 17th birthday I blew my flying medical for the navy. So rather than wait for national service, I signed ..."
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" Hi everyone, i am looking for my old army pal bernie mcgann who served in 13/18 royal hussars q.m.o 1971-1975 his nickname was r.m.p salvage man from harry daysley ’hazzie’ "
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"Happy New Year to all 13/18 Royal Hussars and wish
you all well in 2012."
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