Waistbelt fitting, 13th Duke of Connaught's Lancers, 1903-1904

Brass badge with the regimental number, '13', over crossed lances, with a scroll below with the unit tite, 'The Duke of Connaughts'.

The 13th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry was formed from the 4th Regiment of Sikh Irregular Cavalry, a unit raised at the time of the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859) by Lieutenant H C Catley and Lieutenant J Watson. The regiment served in the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880) and the Egyptian War in 1882, gaining the battle honour, 'Tel-el-Kebir'. With Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, as an admirer and its new colonel-in-chief, the regiment became the 13th (Duke of Connaught's) Regiment of Bengal Lancers in 1884.

The unit became the 13th Duke of Connaught's Lancers (Watson's Horse) in 1904 and served in Mesopotamia during World War One (1914-1918). It returned to India and served in the 3rd Afghan War (1919) and in Waziristan. In 1922 it was amalgamated with the 16th Cavalry to become the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers in 1922.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.