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Bullet extracted from Alfred Smith's lung in 1940

A Soldier's Life

The curious story of Alfred Smith

A chance discovery by a curator’s brother-in-law lifted the lid on a surprising story of service that now features in our refreshed Soldier gallery. A selection of unexceptional First World War medals proved the key to unlocking this series of extraordinary events.

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Cap badge, 12th (Prince of Wales’s Royal) Lancers, c1902

12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales’s)

This cavalry regiment was formed in 1715. It served in many British Army campaigns until 1960, when it was merged into the 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales’s).

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9th Queen’s Royal Lancers

This cavalry regiment was formed in 1715. It served in several campaigns until 1960, when it was merged into the 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales’s).

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9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales’s)

This armoured regiment was formed in 1960. It served with the British Army until 2015, when it was merged into The Royal Lancers.

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The Gordon Highlanders

This infantry regiment was formed in 1881 and recruited in north-eastern Scotland. It served in several British Army campaigns until 1994, when it was merged into The Highlanders.

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75th (Stirlingshire) Regiment of Foot

This Scottish infantry regiment was formed in 1787 and recruited in Stirlingshire. It served with the British Army in several campaigns until the 1881 reforms, when it was merged into The Gordon Highlanders.

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Glengarry badge, 92nd (Gordon Highlanders) Regiment, c1874

92nd (Gordon Highlanders) Regiment of Foot

This Scottish infantry regiment was formed in 1794 and recruited in Inverness-shire and Aberdeenshire. It served with the British Army in several campaigns until the 1881 reforms, when it was merged into The Gordon Highlanders.

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16th/5th The Queen’s Royal Lancers

This armoured regiment was formed in 1922 by merging two cavalry units. It fought in several campaigns until 1993, when it became part of The Queen’s Royal Lancers.

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5th (Royal Irish) Lancers

This cavalry regiment had an interrupted history. Raised in 1689, disbanded in 1799 and formed again in 1858, it served in several campaigns until 1922, when it was merged into the 16th/5th Lancers.

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Third Afghan War and the Revolt in Waziristan

In May 1919, conflict broke out between British India and Afghanistan. Although peace was quickly agreed, the violence spread to the North West Frontier, challenging British control of that region.

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16th (The Queen’s) Lancers

This cavalry regiment was raised in 1759. It served in many British Army campaigns around the world until 1922, when it was merged into the 16th/5th Lancers.

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Seven Years War

Fought between 1756 and 1763, this conflict can claim to be the original 'world war'. Franco-British fighting in North America and India became part of a general war in Europe with far-reaching consequences.

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17th/21st Lancers

This armoured regiment was raised in 1922. It served in several British Army campaigns until 1993, when it was merged into The Queen’s Royal Lancers.

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Remembrance

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