JOVFinlay2 at 07:41, 16 January 2026

2026-01-16T07:41:48Z

New page

{{Short description|Indian Army regiment}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name = 18th Cavalry
|native_name =
|abbreviation =
|image = 
|image_size =
|alt =
|caption =
|start_date = {{Start date and age|1842|df=y}} {{Start date and age|1921|df=y}} (as 18th Cavalry)
|end_date = present
|country = [[India]]
|allegiance = {{Flag|British India}} (1921-1947) {{Flag|Dominion of India}} (1947-1950) {{Flag|India}} (1950-)
|branch = {{Army|British India|23px}} (1921-1947) [[File:Flag of Indian Army.svg|24px|alt=]] [[Indian Army]] (1947-)
|type = [[Cavalry]]
|role =
|size = [[Regiment]]
|command_structure = [[Indian Army Armoured Corps]]
|garrison =
|garrison_label =
|nickname =
|patron =
|motto = साहस और सम्मान Saahas Aur Samman (Courage and honour)
|colours =
|colours_label =
|march =
|mascot =
|anniversaries =
|equipment = [[T-72]]
|equipment_label = Main battle tank
|battles = [[Gwalior campaign]] [[First Anglo-Sikh War]] [[Anglo-Burmese Wars|Third Ango-Burmese War]] [[1882 Anglo-Egyptian War]] [[World War I|First World War]] [[Second Mohmand Campaign]] [[World War II|Second World War]] [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]] [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
|battles_label =
|decorations =
|battle_honours = [[Punniar]] [[Moodkee]] [[Battle of Ferozeshah|Ferozeshah]] [[Sobraon]] [[Egypt]] 1882 [[Tel-El-Kebir]] Punjab Frontier
|battle_honours_label =
|website =

|current_commander =
|commander1_label =
|commander1 =
|ceremonial_chief =
|colonel_of_the_regiment= Lieutenant General Mohit Malhotra<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/in.gazette.central.w.2025-12-27.268912/|title=Gazette of India, No 52|date=2025-12-27|access-date=2026-01-16}}</ref>
|notable_commanders =

|identification_symbol =
|identification_symbol_label=
|identification_symbol_2=
|identification_symbol_2_label=
}}
The '''18th Cavalry''' is an [[armoured regiment]] of the [[Indian Army Armoured Corps|armoured corps]] of the [[Indian Army]]. The [[regiment]] was created in 1921 through the [[Mergers and acquisitions|amalgamation]] of the [[7th Hariana Lancers]] and [[6th King Edward's Own Cavalry]].<ref name=Sainiksamachar>{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Parvesh|date=16 March 2016|title=The COAS Presents Standard to 18 Cavalry|url=http://www.sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2016/mar16-16/h4.htm|website=Sainiksamachar.nic.in|access-date=12 January 2021|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403112459/http://www.sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2016/mar16-16/h4.htm|archive-date=3 April 2019}}</ref>

==Formation==
The regiment was formed in [[1921 in India|1921]] by the amalgamation of the [[6th King Edward's Own Cavalry]] and the [[7th Hariana Lancers]] to form the 6th/7th Cavalry. This designation was quickly changed in 1922 to 18th King Edward's Own Cavalry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=2013-10-20-19-45|title=Cap badge, officer, 18th King Edward's Own Cavalry, 1930-1947|website=NAM.ac.uk|publisher=[[National Army Museum]]|date=20 October 2013|access-date=5 June 2023}}</ref>

These two regiments themselves had undergone many changes:{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}
*'''6th King Edward's Own Cavalry''' : '''1842''' – raised at [[Fatehgarh]] as 8th Regiment of Bengal Irregular Cavalry, '''1861''' – 6th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry, '''1883''' – 6th (The [[Prince of Wales|Prince of Wales's]]) Regiment of Bengal Cavalry, '''1901''' – 6th (Prince of Wales's) Bengal Cavalry, '''1903''' – 6th Prince of Wales's Cavalry, '''1906''' – 6th [[Edward VII|King Edward's]] Own Cavalry.
* '''7th Hariana Lancers''' : '''1846''' – raised at [[Kanpur|Cawnpore]] and [[Meerut]] as 16th Regiment of Bengal Irregular Cavalry, '''1847''' – 17th Regiment Bengal Irregular Cavalry, '''1861''' – 7th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry, '''1900''' – 7th Regiment of Bengal Lancers, '''1901''' – 7th Bengal Lancers, '''1903''' – 7th Lancers, '''1904''' – 7th Hariana Lancers.

The composition of the regiment after the amalgamation in 1921 consisted of [[Qaimkhani|Kaimkhanis]], [[Rajputana]] [[Rajput]]s, and [[Jat people|Jats]].<ref>{{Cite book|last= |first= |title=The Indian Army List, July -1940|date=1940|publisher=Defence Department, Government of India|page=675|isbn= }}</ref> The present class composition is of Jats from [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Haryana]] and [[Rajasthan]]; Rajputs from Uttar Pradesh, [[Madhya Pradesh]], and Rajasthan and Hindustani Mussalmans from all over India, but mainly from Uttar Pradesh and [[West Bengal]].
[[File:7th Bengal Cavalry (24779467150).jpg|thumb|250px|7th Bengal Cavalry (from DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University)|alt=]]

In [[1936 in India|1936]], the unit was renamed 18th King Edward VII's Own Cavalry when [[Edward VIII]] was expected to ascended the throne to make clear it was named for [[King Edward VII]]. In 1940 it became the second to last cavalry regiment to be mechanised, leaving only the [[17th Horse (Poona Horse)|17th Queen Victoria's Own Poona Horse]] still [[Working animal#Riding animals or mounts|mounted on horses]] (though it too would be mechanised a month later).{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}

==Military operations between 1921 and 1939==
The regiment, while still mounted [[cavalry]], took part in the August to September 1933 [[Mohmand]] and [[Bajaur District|Bajaur]] operations and the July to October [[1935 in India|1935]] Loe-Agra and [[Mohmand campaign of 1935|Mohmand operations]]. The 1935 operations was to suppress the Mohmands, north of the [[Khyber Pass]], after their raiding on the plains and attacks on road construction parties. The campaign witnessed a night operation to capture the heights around the [[Nahakki Pass]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sandhu|first=Gurcharan Singh|date=1991|title=I serve (Ich dien): saga of the Eighteenth Cavalry|location= |publisher=Lancer International, (original from the University of California) digitised 4 Sep 2008|isbn=81-7062-104-6}}, {{ISBN|978-81-7062-104-1}}</ref>

===Second World War===
[[File:IWM-E-10355-ACV-IP-19420410.jpg|thumb|305px|An Indian Pattern Carrier Mk IIA named 'Dhar IV', North Africa, 10 April 1942 of the type used by 3rd Indian Motor Brigade.|alt=]]
In December [[1940 in India|1940]], during the [[World War II|Second World War]], the [[regiment]] was [[mechanised]]. It formed part of the [[3rd Indian Motor Brigade]], which was initially part of the [[31st Indian Armoured Division|1st Indian Armoured Division]].<ref name=mod.nic>{{Cite web|title=mod.nic|url=http://mod.nic.in/samachar/dec15-20/html/ch9.htm|access-date=6 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404103304/http://mod.nic.in/samachar/dec15-20/html/ch9.htm|archive-date=4 April 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[brigade]] was detached from the [[Division (military)|division]], and dispatched to [[Egypt]] in late January 1941, along with its units including the 18th King Edward's Own Cavalry. The regiment then served in the [[Western Desert campaign]]. The regiment, and the brigade, were attached to a number of different formations that included the [[2nd Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|2nd Armoured Division]], the [[7th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|7th Armoured Division]], and the [[9th Australian Division]] who they were with during the [[Siege of Tobruk]].<ref name=mod.nic/> The regiment also supplied men for the [[Indian Long Range Squadron]]. The brigade was later overrun by the Italians during the [[Battle of Gazala]], and took some days to reform. After the brigade re-formed, the regiment was equipped as follows: Cavalry Carrier - 2 x Reconnaissance Squadron, 1 x AT Squadron.<ref name="CM71">Mackenzie (1951), p. 71</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Axisforam|url=http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=104408&start=0|website=forum.AxisHistory.com|access-date=6 July 2008}}{{Unreliable source?|sure=y|reason=Internet forums are never reliable sources|date=June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Rothwell|url=http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/NA310341.htm|website=Rothwell.force9.co.uk|date= |access-date=6 July 2008}}</ref>

On 30 June, the brigade was ordered to hand over 50 per cent of its vehicles to the Eighth Army, and was dispersed; the regiment was allotted to the defence of the [[Nile Delta]] and guard duties. In August, the brigade re-formed and was allocated the regiment. It travelled overland to [[Sahneh]], in [[Persia]] via [[Baghdad]], and was placed under the command of the 31st Indian Armoured Division (formally the 1st Indian Armoured Division). In late November it then moved to [[Shaibah]], {{Convert|7|mi|abbr=off}} from [[Basra]]. From here the regiment returned to India in January 1943, and the brigade was reconstituted as the [[43rd Independent Gurkha Infantry Brigade|43rd Indian Infantry Brigade (Lorried)]] at Shaibah at the end of January 1943. In the middle of the year, the regiment moved to [[Rawalpindi]] and commenced conversion to a light cruiser regiment, which was successfully completed by the end of the year.<ref name=istampgallery.com>{{Cite web|url=https://www.istampgallery.com/18-cavalry/|title=18th Cavalry 150 years commemorative stamp|website=istampgallery.com|date= |access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref> The regiment was split up after that, and elements were serving in different parts of India when the Japanese surrender came in August 1945.

18th King Edward's Own Cavalry won the following gallantry awards during the Second World War:<ref>{{Cite book|last= |first= |title=The Tiger Strikes|date=1942|publisher=Director of Public Relations, India Command, Government of India|page=148}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last= |first= |title=The Tiger Kills|date=1944|publisher=Director of Public Relations, India Command, Government of India|pages=311–312}}</ref>
*[[Order of the British Empire]] — Major L.M. Murphy
*[[Distinguished Service Order]] — Major H.O.W. Fowler
*[[Military Cross]] — Captain J.M. Barlow, Captain J.W. Prentice, Second Lieutenant G Annesley Cooke
*[[Indian Order of Merit]] — Jemadar Jage Ram, Jemadar Aman Singh
*[[Indian Distinguished Service Medal]] — Risaldar Hasham Ali Khan, Squadron Daffadar Major Kanshi Ram, Lance Daffadar Bajid Khan, Sowar Jit Ram, Sowar Abhe Ram, Sowar Abdi Khan, Sowar Alim Khan
*[[Mentioned in despatches]] — 5

==Post Independence changes==
When India was partitioned in 1947 and the Indian Army split between the new created states of India and Pakistan, the 18th King Edward's Own Cavalry was allocated to India.

When India became a republic in 1950, the regiment's title was changed to that of 18th Cavalry.

==Operations in independent India==
[[File:1965 Indo-Pak War DestroyedShermanTank.jpg|thumb|The then Commandant, Lieutenant Colonel Hari Singh Deora with a destroyed Pakistani Sherman tank during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War.|alt=]]
===Indo-Pakistani War of 1965===
During the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]], the regiment fought a series of isolated armour battles as part of the [[1st Armoured Division (India)|1st Armoured Division]] in the approaches to [[Sialkot]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://openthemagazine.com/voices/1965-war-a-tale-of-war-and-three-brothers/|title=1965 War: A Tale of War and Three Brothers|website=OpenTheMagazine.com|date=25 August 2015|access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref> They left behind 29 destroyed enemy tanks, and Naib Risaldar [[Mohd. Ayub Khan]] was awarded the [[Vir Chakra]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/3162|title=Nb Ris Mohammed Ayyub Khan VrC|website=GallantryAwards.gov.in|publisher= |date= |access-date=5 February 2022}}</ref> Seven were [[mentioned in despatches]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/1966/O-1665-1966-0045-75922.pdf|title=Gazette of India, No 45|website=eGazette.gov.in|publisher= |date=5 November 1966|access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref>

===Indo-Pakistani War of 1971===
During the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], the regiment saw action in the [[Fazilka]] sector. Naib Risaldar Noor Mohammed Khan was awarded the [[Vir Chakra]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/1546|title= Nb Ris Noor Mohammad Khan, VrC|website=GallantryAwards.gov.in|publisher= |date= |access-date=5 February 2022}}</ref>

===Other operations===
The regiment has participated in [[Kargil War|Operation Vijay]], [[2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff|Operation Parakram]], and undertaken [[counter-insurgency]] operations in [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], where it was awarded the [[Northern Command (India)|GOC-in-C (Northern Command)]] Unit Citation.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}

==Battle honours==
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2023}}
[[File:Stamp of India - 1991 - Colnect 164212 - Mounted Sowar - Tanks.jpeg|thumb|305px|1991 postage stamp|alt=]]
The regiment was awarded the following [[battle honours]]:<ref name=Mills18KEOC>{{Cite web|last=Mills|first=T.F.|date= |url=http://regiments.org/regiments/southasia/cav/1921-18.htm|title=18th King Edward VII's Own Cavalry|website=Regiments.org|access-date=16 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070420083053/http://regiments.org/regiments/southasia/cav/1921-18.htm|archive-date=20 April 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last= |first= |title=The Indian Army List, July 1940|date=1940|publisher=Defence Department, Government of India|page=675|isbn= }}</ref>
;Awarded to 6th King Edward's Own Cavalry
[[Punniar]], [[Battle of Mudki|Moodkee]], [[Battle of Ferozeshah|Ferozeshah]], [[Battle of Sobraon|Sobraon]], [[Egypt 1882]], [[Battle of Tel el-Kebir|Tel-el-Kebir]], Punjab Frontier<ref name=Mills6KEOC>{{Cite web|last=Mills|first=T.F.|date= |url=http://regiments.org/regiments/southasia/cav/1903-06.htm|title=6th King Edward's Own Cavalry|website=Regiments.org|access-date=16 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816203300/http://regiments.org/regiments/southasia/cav/1903-06.htm|archive-date=16 August 2007}}</ref>
;Awarded to 7th Hariana Lancers
[[Second Anglo-Sikh War|Punjaub]], [[Burma 1885–87]]<ref name=Mills7HL>{{Cite web|last=Mills|first=T.F.|date= |url=http://regiments.org/regiments/southasia/cav/1903-07.htm|title=7th Hariana Lancers|website=Regiments.org|access-date=16 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418015726/http://regiments.org/regiments/southasia/cav/1903-07.htm|archive-date=18 April 2007}}</ref>
;First World War
''Awarded in 1926 for services of predecessor regiments'' 
[[Somme 1916]], [[Battle of Morval|Morval]], [[Cambrai 1917]], [[France and Flanders 1914–18]], [[Battle of Megiddo (1918)|Megiddo]], [[Battle of Sharon|Sharon]], [[Capture of Damascus (1918)|Damascus]], [[Palestine 1918]], [[Battle of Shaiba|Shaiba]], [[Battle of Es Sinn|Kut-al-Amara 1915]], [[Battle of Ctesiphon (1915)|Ctesiphon]], [[Tigris 1916]], [[Mesopotamia 1915–16]]
;Second World War
[[Mechili#World War II|El Mechili]], [[Siege of Tobruk|Defence of Tobruk]], [[First Battle of El Alamein#Retreat from Gazala|The Kennels]], [[North Africa 1940–43]]
;Independent India
[[Battle and theatre honours of the Indian Army#Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|Jammu and Kashmir 1965]], [[Battle and theatre honours of the Indian Army#Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|Tilkapur-Muhadipur]], [[Battle and theatre honours of the Indian Army#Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|Punjab 1965]].

==President’s Standards==
[[File:The Chief of Army Staff, General Dalbir Singh presenting the President’s ‘Standard’ to 18 Cavalry, in Amritsar on March 07, 2016.jpg|thumb|The Chief of Army Staff, General Dalbir Singh presenting the President's 'Standard' to 18 Cavalry, in Amritsar on 7 March 2016|alt=]]
The [[President of India]], [[Neelam Sanjiva Reddy]] presented a [[Guidon (Commonwealth)|guidon]] to the regiment at [[Amritsar]] on 26 March 1980.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}

On 7 March 2016, the regiment was presented the [[President's Colour Award|President's Standards]] at Amritsar by General [[Dalbir Singh Suhag|Dalbir Singh]], [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)|Chief of the Army Staff]], on behalf of the President of India, Mr [[Pranab Mukherjee]].<ref name=Sainiksamachar/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/army-chief-presents-president-s-standard-to-18-cavalry-in-amritsar/story-VslwnoAaZvSdxQp9AihtzI.html|title=Army chief presents President's Standard to 18 Cavalry in Amritsar|website=HindustanTimes.com|publisher=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=8 March 2016|access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref>

==Equipment==
The regiment shed its horses and was converted to a motorised cavalry regiment equipped with anti-tank guns in 1940. This gave way to tanks in 1943 with the introduction of the [[M3 Stuart|Stuart tanks]]. They were succeeded by the [[M4 Sherman|Sherman tanks]] in 1946, the [[T-54/T-55|T-54]]s in 1966, and finally the [[T-72]]s in 1983.<ref name=istampgallery.com/>

==Regimental insignia==
The current regimental [[insignia]] consists of crossed [[lance]]s with [[pennon]]s. Each of the pennons have scrolls with the words सत्यमेव (''Satyameva'') and जयते (''Jayate''). ''Satyameva Jayate'' translates to 'Truth alone triumphs'. The crossed lances are overlaid with the numeral '18' mounted by the [[State Emblem of India|Ashoka Lion Capital]] and a scroll at the base with the words 'Cavalry'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/ARMY/Galleries/Veterans/Hari/Deora+15.jpg.html|title=18 Cavalry regimental insignia|website=Bharat-Rakshak.com|publisher= |date= |access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref>

The [[motto]] of the regiment is साहस और सम्मान (''Saahas Aur Samman''), which translates to 'Courage and honour'.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}

==Notable personnel==
*Lieutenant General Gurdev Singh Kler<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/1966/O-1665-1966-0045-75922.pdf|title=Gazette of India, No 45|website=eGazette.gov.in|publisher= |date=5 November 1966|access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref>
*Major General Jagatbir Singh<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/defence/india-china-standoff-gearing-up-for-ladkahs-winter-indian-army-gets-ready-to-meet-challenges-of-nature/2076737/|title=India-China Standoff: Gearing up for Ladkah's winter, Indian army gets ready to meet challenges of nature|website=FinancialExpress.com|publisher= |date=7 September 2020|access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref>
*Major General Gurcharan Singh Sandhu, PVSM<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Maj-Gen-Gurcharan-Singh-Sandhu-PVSM-Retd/articleshow/8099549.cms|title=Maj. Gen. Gurcharan Singh Sandhu, PVSM (Retd)|website=TimesOfIndia.IndiaTimes.com|publisher=[[The Times of India]]|date=27 April 2011|access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref>
*Brigadier Hari Singh Deora, AVSM<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/ARMY/Galleries/Veterans/Hari/|title=The 1965 Indo-Pak War: Brigadier Hari Singh Deora, AVSM|website=Bharat-Rakshak.com|publisher= |date= |access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref>
*[[Mohd. Ayub Khan|Risaldar Major (Hon. Captain) Mohammed Ayub Khan VrC]] served the regiment and was a two time member of the [[Lok Sabha]] and the Union minister of State for agriculture in the Government of India headed by [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/special/ayub-khan-the-war-hero-who-became-an-mp/20150928.htm|title=Ayub Khan, the war hero who became an MP|website=Rediff.com|publisher= |date=28 September 2015|access-date=13 January 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book|last=Kempton|first=C|date=1996|title=A Register of Titles of the Units of the H.E.I.C. & Indian Armies 1666–1947|location=[[Bristol]]|publisher=British Empire & Commonwealth Museum|isbn=978-0-9530174-0-9}}
*{{Cite book|last=Gaylor|first=J|date=1992|title=Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903–1991|location=[[Stroud]]|publisher=Spellmount Publishers Ltd|isbn=978-0-946771-98-1}}
*{{Cite book|last=Harris|first=R.G.|date= |title=Bengal Cavalry Regiments 1857–1914|location= |publisher=Christopher Warner|isbn=978-0-85045-308-9}}
*{{Cite book|last=Sandhu|first=Gurcharan Singh|date=1991|title=I serve (Ich dien): saga of the Eighteenth Cavalry|location= |publisher=Lancer International, (original from the University of California) digitised 4 Sep 2008|isbn=81-7062-104-6}}, {{ISBN|978-81-7062-104-1}}

==External links==
*[http://www.members.tripod.com/~Glosters/IAcavalry1.htm The uniforms of the late 19th Century]
*[https://hcvv.home.xs4all.nl/milweb/British-India/Cavalry/cav18.html Evolution of the 18th Cavalry]

{{British Indian Army Cavalry Regiments 1903 - 1946}}
{{Indian Army Armoured Corps}}
{{Portal bar|India|History}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:British Indian Army cavalry regiments]]
[[Category:Indian World War II regiments]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1921]]
[[Category:Armoured and cavalry regiments of the Indian Army from 1947]]
[[Category:1921 establishments in India]]

18th Cavalry India - Revision history

JOVFinlay2 at 07:41, 16 January 2026