The King's				Royal Hussars

The 10th Royal Hussars (The War Years) "The 10th Royal Hussars became very versatile during the years of the great war, if this fighting as infantry from trenches, then so be it".       The 10th Royal Hussars returned to England from India in 1914 an were promptly sent to Ostend as part of the 6th cavalry Brigade, 3rd cavalry Division in October of that year. As well as their role of cavalry each of the three cavalry Regiments in the Brigade provided one company to fight as infantry in the trenches. During the war the Regiment fought at the second battle of Ypres and Loos in 1915, the Somme offensive in 1916, as well as fighting at Collezy and the capture of the Drocourt-Queant line in 1918. During the period of the great war the Regiment lost 15 Officers and 199 other ranks. 41 Officers and 528 other ranks were injured and a grand total of 2 other ranks were taken prisoner. Considering the attrition rate in the great war this can only be seen as a small figure in comparison to some of the other Regiments of the line. The Regiment were back in Ireland again in 1920 after a brief spell in England following the occupancy of Germany at the end of the war. At the end of this tour in Ireland, on return to England the Regiment were officially retitled The 10th Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own). The Regiment revisited India from 1930-1936 and the following year saw the start of mechanisation with the Regiment receiving 15cwt trucks. Some older obsolete Mark IV light tanks and Bren gun carriers were also acquired and the transition fro horses to tanks was undertaken with some hardship.  In 1933 the 10th Royal Hussars became part of 2nd Armoured brigade serving as part of the newly formed Royal Armoured Corps (RAC). The Regiments Mark IV's were supplemented by one Squadron of Cruiser tanks when the second world war broke out in 1939 and even though newer equipment followed the Regiment deployed to Cherbourg with their outdated tanks. Whilst under French command the Regiment conducted many operations against far superior German armour, not least a fighting withdrawal in which they lost all of their tanks and a number of personnel. The Regiment finally made it back to England in mid June. Equipped with Honey light tanks and Crusader Mk VI Cruiser tanks the Regiment replaced the 7th armoured Division in the middle east and saw action at Saunnu depression soon afterwards. Grant tanks followed before the Regiment saw action at the battle of Knightsbridge followed by action at Alam Halfa at the end of August 1942. The Regiment were again re-equipped, this time with Sherman tanks after this action. 12 Scout cars were also issued for use by a reconnaissance troop. Action at El Alamein saw the Regiment inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy for the loss of only six tanks. The 2nd armoured Brigade saw more action in an attack on El Hamma before rejoining the advance during the last stages of the Tunisia campaign. In the wake of the second battle of El Alamein Captain A Grant-Singer in the reconnaissance Troop captured General von Thoma, the commander of the German forces in the Western desert in Rommel's absence    Action in Italy followed the middle east and again fought as infantry in the form of 3 dismounted Squadrons. The Regiment gained 9 battle honours during the 2nd world war and lost 29 Officers and 130 other ranks. Injured were counted at 44 Officers and 178 other ranks whilst 16 Officers and 77 other ranks had to endure German prisoner of war camps. 10th Royal Hussar WW1   10th Royal Hussar crew with M3 Lee tank in the Western Desert 1942