- 10.00am - 5.30pm
- FREE
- Chelsea, London
- 10.00am - 5.30pm
- FREE
- Chelsea, London
Light Dragoons practise night firing with tracer rounds, 2016
Origins
The Light Dragoons was formed in 1992 by amalgamating the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary’s Own) and the 15th/19th The King’s Royal Hussars.
These regiments and their four predecessor units had all fought as light cavalry. The Light Dragoons continues to operate in this role, specialising in reconnaissance and using Jackal 2 high-mobility vehicles to cover ground quickly.
It recruits mainly in north-east England, the principal recruiting ground of its predecessors.
Cap badge, Light Dragoons, 1993
Light Dragoons train with US 2nd Cavalry in Germany before deployment to Poland, 2017
Deployments
Between 1993 and 2004, The Light Dragoons sent squadrons to serve in Bosnia as part of peacekeeping missions led by the United Nations and then Nato. The regiment also deployed to the conflicts in Iraq (in 2003 and 2006) and Afghanistan (in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2012). It returned to Bosnia in 2014.
More recently, it has taken part in peacekeeping and training operations in Poland, Afghanistan and Mali.
Light Dragoons rehearse a demo exercise in Norfolk ahead of a visit by their colonel-in-chief, King Abdullah of Jordan, 2004
Colonel-in-chief
Since 2003, King Abdullah II of Jordan has been the regiment’s colonel-in-chief. This connection dates back to 1981, when he was commissioned into the 13th/18th Royal Hussars, after a year at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
This makes The Light Dragoons one of the few British Army units to have an overseas monarch in this ceremonial role.
Regimental museums
The National Army Museum works with a network of Regimental and Corps Museums across the UK to help preserve and share the history and traditions of the Army and its soldiers.
Discover more about The Light Dragoons by visiting the Discovery Museum in Newcastle.
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