Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars is a historic English regiment with roots going back to 1795 in Gloucestershire. It began as local volunteer cavalry units raised by landowners and gentlemen to defend against civil unrest and invasion. In 1834 several Gloucestershire troops joined to form the Gloucestershire Yeomanry Cavalry, and in 1847 the regiment adopted the name Royal Gloucestershire Hussars and a blue hussar uniform. For many years its roles included policing and mounted duties, with its troops sometimes called out to support civil authorities.
In the late 19th century the yeomanry shifted its focus toward national defence as fears of invasion grew. The regiment fought in the Second Boer War (1899–1902) as part of the Imperial Yeomanry, earning its first battle honour, South Africa 1900–01.
When the Territorial Force was created (later the Territorial Army), the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars became part of the 1st South Midland Mounted Brigade. At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the regiment formed second- and third-line units to serve at home and abroad. The 1/1st Royal Gloucestershire Hussars fought as infantry at Gallipoli in 1915 and then served as cavalry in Egypt’s Sinai and Palestine Campaign from 1916 to 1918. They fought dismounted and mounted, taking part in key actions from the Suez Canal to Aleppo, and endured harsh conditions in the Palestine desert. The regiment suffered casualties but played a significant role in the campaign before the war ended and demobilisation began in 1919. A memorial at Gloucester Cathedral records the names of those who fell.
After the war, the Territorial Force was renamed the Territorial Army. In the 1920s the regiment became the 21st (Royal Gloucestershire Hussars) Armoured Car Company in the Royal Tank Corps. In 1939, with the approach of the Second World War, it regained its traditional title as the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars and formed a second unit to double its strength.
During the Second World War, the 1st Royal Gloucestershire Hussars stayed in the United Kingdom for training and home defence, later serving overseas only after the war as part of the army of occupation in Austria. The 2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars went to North Africa and fought with the 7th Armoured Division (the Desert Rats). They saw heavy action in the battles around Bir el Gubi, Sidi Rezegh and Gazala, suffering significant losses and receiving multiple decorations. The 2nd regiment was disbanded in 1943, while the 3rd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars served as a training and deception unit.
After the war, the regiment was re-raised in a reconnaissance role with light armoured cars. In the 1960s the Territorial Army was reorganised, and the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars became a squadron within larger formations. By the late 20th century, it was part of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry, serving in reconnaissance and training roles. In the 1990s, the squadron focused on providing replacement crews for Challenger 2 tanks.
Today the Gloucestershire lineage is carried on by C (Royal Gloucestershire Hussars) Squadron within the Royal Wessex Yeomanry, the British Army’s reserve armour force. The unit’s long history includes ceremonial duties, policing, and front-line engagements across major conflicts, reflecting its enduring connection to Gloucestershire and its role in defending the United Kingdom.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 16:30 (CET).