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Raising of the Regiment
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In 1776 the 1st and 2nd Regiments of Nawab Wazir of Oudh were raised, and in 1777 a third regiment was added. Then in May 1783 the first two were disbanded, and the third reduced to a troop, in 1786. A body of Pathans (Pakhtuns) known as Khandahar was raised in 1778. On 14 December 1787 both these units were increased to be regiments, and in June 1796 became the 1st and 2nd regiments of Bengal Native Cavalry.
The 1st regiment served in the 2nd Maharatta War and fought at Leswaree in 1803. They were in the 1st Cavalry Brigade with the 8th Light Dragoons and the 3rd Bengal Native Cavalry, all commanded by Lt-Col Vandeleur. They rode the length of the Maharatta line and attacked its left, by the fortified village of Mohaulpore, driving the enemy gunners from their positions and captured the guns before charging into the village. But lack of support forced them to retire.
The failed attempt to install Shah Soojah as ruler in Kabul brought about the 1st Afghan War. The 1st 2nd 3rd 5th and 10th regiments of Bengal Light Cavalry endured the rigours of that disastrous conflict. They were awarded the battle honour CABOOL on 4 Oct 1842.
The 1st BLC fought at both battles in the Gwalior campaign, and at Aliwal on 28 Jan 1846 in the Sikh Wars. They had the misfortune to be involved in the notorious ‘threes about’ incident at Chillianwallah on 13 January 1849. They were in the 2nd Cavalry Brigade with the 9th Lancers, 14th Light Dragoons and the 6th Bengal Light Cavalry, commanded by the unwell and incompetent Brigadier Alexander Pope. They were led to a position that masked the fire of the Horse Artillery and an infantry column. When they were threatened by enemy cavalry the brigadier foolishly ordered threes about and retire. The 1st and 6th Bengal Light Cavalry in the centre of the line obeyed the order but the enemy charged and their orderly retirement turned into a rout. They returned to camp but were rounded up by officers there and sent back to the battle. However, in 1853 they were awarded three battle hours for the campaign, PUNJAUB, CHILLIANWALLAH and GOOJERAT.
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The Mutiny, 1 July 1857
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A report written on 5 July 1857 by Captain John Hatfield Brooke, commander of the 3rd Troop at Mhow Fort gives details of the mutiny in the 1st Bengal Light Cavalry. The regiment was split up so that five Troops were stationed at Kherwarra, and the 4th and 6th Troops were at Neemuch. The right wing of the regiment was at Mhow. Brooke’s report stated that the Troops at Kherwarra had not mutinied, while the 4th and 6th Troops had mutinied at Neemuch on 3 June. After the news of this reached Mhow the men were unsettled, but closely watched, and were apparently calmed by Colonel Platt.
On 1 July news reached Mhow that the Indore Presidency had been attacked by troops of the Maharajah Holkar. This further unsettled the men as they feared that Mhow would also come under attack. Captain Brooke was sent out with his Troop to capture two of Holkar’s guns that were known to be nearby. Some of the men were reluctant to go, but when they came near the guns they attacked and captured two brass 9-pounders. There was understandable tension in the cantonment that night; the women and children were moved to the safety of the fort and the men were ordered to sleep with their carbines ready in case of a night attack by Holkar. At 10pm a bungalow was set alight and at 11pm the Adjutant, Lieutenant Martin was talking to the men on guard when suddenly there was a great yell and one of the troopers on guard fired two pistols at Martin.
The officers came out and were fired on by the guard. They ran to the fort, fired on the whole time, all reaching the safety of the fort except for the CO, Major Alfred Harris who was later found dead with his throat cut. The night was spent in fear with mutineers plundering the lines. The 23rd Bengal Native Infantry were also in the cantonment and followed the example set by the 1st BLC. Next morning the officers emerged from the fort to find the place ransacked and deserted. The only man who had not mutinied was a Christian trumpeter who had been stripped of his uniform and equipment. The officers acted as a cavalry guard for the support of the European battery commanded by Captain Hungerford. These officers, and those of the 3rd BLC later joined the 1st Bengal European Light Cavalry. This was one of four short-lived regiments authorized in November 1857. Men were recruited in Britain and shipped out to India but they were poorly trained and thrown into confusion when in November 1858 the East India Company ceased to exist. The so-called White Mutiny ensued but was quelled soon after. In 1861 the 1st Bengal European LC was transformed into the 19th Hussars in the regular British Army.
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