♞The 13th Royal Hussars♞
♞The History♞
The transition from the 13th Light Dragoons to the 13th Hussars is not a straightforward change that can be pinned down to a precise date. The last time that the regiment was officially referred to as the 13th Light Dragoons was in the monthly Army List for August 1861. In the September Army List they are called the 13th Hussars. The Regimental Record by Colonel Soame Jenyns, on which Barrett's history is based makes no mention of the change to hussars although Jenyns signs off the first volume of the records: 'Hounslow, August 11, 1864 - Soame G Jenyns, Lieut-Colonel, commanding 13th Hussars.' This is the first regimental dating of the new title. The 13th were in Lancashire at the time and the regimental history by C R B Barrett says:
'On April 19th 1862 hussar clothing was taken into wear, with the exception of busbies and shabraques: but the buff facings of the old uniform were retained by special authority. On April 26th rifled carbines of the Indian pattern were issued to the regiment. Two days later the regiment was inspected by Sir G A Wetherall KCB, commanding the Northern District. The records do not state whether the busbies and shabraques had yet been issued.'
The new busbies were issued and worn for the first time at a review held at Ascot on 27th July 1862. The hussar shabraques were never issued and as can be seen in Norie's painting of two officers in 1865, the regiment continued to wear the round-cornered light dragoon pattern shabraques until they were abolished on 10th June 1873 for other ranks, although officers continued to use them in review order. The issue of the carbines was short-lived because on 9th Sep 1866 'Westley-Richards breechloading carbines were issued in lieu of the Enfield carbines then in use.'
♞Ranks♞
Spoiler
Ranks
♞Commanding Officers♞
Captain (Cpt)
1st Lieutenat (1stLt)
Lieutenat (Lt)
♞Non-Commissioned Officers♞
Cornet (Cor)
Staff Corporal (SCpl)
Corporal Of Horse (CoH)
Lance Corporal of Horse (LCoH)
♞Enlisted♞
Horse Guard (HGrd)
Horse Man (Hsm)
Trooper (Trp)
Recruit (Rct)
♞Officers♞
