National Army Museum
1st Reserve Regiment of Cavalry in training, 1914

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Cavalry on the Western Front

In the First World War, the cavalry could no longer deliver the decisive charges it had performed in the past. But it continued to carry out a variety of useful roles that contributed to British success.

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Cap badge, Royal Armoured Corps, 1942

Royal Armoured Corps

Formed in 1939, this acts as the overall corps for the armoured units of the British Army. Equipped with tanks and other armoured vehicles, its formations have fought in many campaigns, including the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

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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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Other ranks' cap badge, 9th Queen's Royal Lancers, c1902

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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Cap badge, 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales’s), c1960

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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Officers' cap badge, 16th/5th The Queen’s Royal Lancers, c1980

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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Cap badge, 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers, c1903

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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Cap badge, 16th (The Queen’s) Lancers, c1900

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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Badge, 17th/21st Lancers, 1980 (c)

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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Cap badge, 17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers, c1900

17th (The Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers

This cavalry regiment was raised in 1759. It served in several British Army campaigns until 1922, when it was merged into the 17th/21st Lancers.

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Cap badge, 21st (Empress of India’s) Lancers, c1917

21st (Empress of India's) Lancers

This cavalry regiment was raised in 1858 for the East India Company. It soon transferred to the British Army, fighting in several campaigns until 1922, when it was merged into the 17th/21st Lancers.

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Other ranks’ cap badge, 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards, c1900

4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards

This cavalry regiment was raised in 1685. It fought in many British Army campaigns until 1922, when it was merged into the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards.

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Cap badge, 7th (Princess Royal's) Dragoon Guards, c1900

7th (The Princess Royal's) Dragoon Guards

This cavalry regiment was raised in 1688. It fought in many British Army campaigns until 1922, when it was merged into the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards.

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