| Unit Name: | The Deccan Horse (9 Horse) |
| Dates: | 1790–present |
| Country: |  India |
| Branch: | Indian Army |
| Type: | Cavalry |
| Size: | Regiment |
| Command Structure: | Indian Armoured Corps |
| Nickname: | Deccan Horse |
| Motto: | संघे शक्ति (Sanghe Shakti) |
| Equipment: | Tanks |
| Battles: | Second Afghan War 1879–1880 Burma War 1886–1888 China 1900 |
| Battle Honours: | Central India Battle of Givenchy Battle of the Somme Battle of Bazentin Battle of Delville Wood Battle of Flers–Courcelette Battle of Cambrai France and Flanders 1914–18 Battle of Megiddo Battle of Sharon Capture of Damascus Palestine 1918 Battle of Meiktilla Rangoon Road Burma Campaign 1944–45 Asal Uttar Punjab 1965 |
| Notable Commanders: | Gen AS Vaidya, Padma Vibhushan, PVSM, MVC & Bar, AVSM Lt Gen RK Gulati, PVSM Lt Gen AS Sandhu, PVSM Lt Gen TS Shergill, PVSM Lt Gen Aditya Singh, PVSM, AVSM** Lt Gen RK Loomba |
| Colonel Of The Regiment: | Lt Gen AS Bhinder, AVSM, VSM |
The Deccan Horse or 9 Horse is one of the oldest and most decorated armoured regiments of the Indian Army. The Royal Deccan Horse (9th Horse), which was a regular cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army was formed from the amalgamation of two regiments after World War I. They saw service from the Mutiny of 1857 up to and including World War II.
The 9th Royal Deccan Horse can trace its formation to 1790 when it was called Asif Sah's Irregular Cavalry. Two regiments were raised for service under the Nizam of Hyderabad in Berar, who was allied with the British East India Company.
During the following years, the titles of these two Regiments went through many changes. They were known by the following titles over the years:
In 1903, during Kitchener's reform of the Indian Army, the 'Hyderabad Contingent' was incorporated into the regular British Indian Cavalry as the two regiments, the 20th Deccan Horse and 29th Lancers (Deccan Horse). In 1921, 20th Deccan Horse was given the title "Royal" for its distinguished service during World War I. In 1921, the two regiments were merged under the name "The 9th Royal Deccan Horse". In 1927, the designation was changed to "The Royal Deccan Horse (9th Horse)". The regimental class composition at the time of the Hyderabad Contingent was a squadron each of Sikhs, Deccani Mussalmans and Jats. In 1927, the composition was of Punjabi Muslims, Sikhs and Jats.[1] [3] [4] On India becoming a Republic in 1950, the regiment's name was finally changed to "The Deccan Horse (9th Horse)".
The Deccan Horse which remained a local corps in the Deccan, was frequently called for service during the 18th and 19th centuries. This included operations in the frontier to check the incursions of the Pindaris (1811), in Aurangabad against the Naiks in Central Berar (1817), the Third Anglo-Maratha War of 1817–18, sieges of Nowah and Umerkher in January 1819, in operations in the Raichur Doab (1819), against the Bhils in Kingaon, attack on the fort at Dandoti (1828), against Bhils in Lonar (1829), attack on the fort of Kaptak (1830), seizure of the fort in Nandgaon (1832), capture of the fort at Nanand (1833), against the Bhils at Jafferabad and Dhar, north of Jalna, against the Arabs near Afzalpur (1841), against the Rohillas at Warur and Bairugarh (1842), against the Rohillas near Nander and at the capture of the fort of Saorgaon (1842), against Bhils (1845–46), attack on the fort at Kandat (1847), in the quelling of a Rohilla rebellion and in the capture of the fort of Rai Mhow (1848), siege of Dharur (1851) and the siege of Sailur (1854).[5] Following the formation of the Hyderabad Contingent, the unit saw action in many locations around and after the Indian Rebellion of 1857 (Dhar, Jhansi, Piplia, Betwa River, Rawal, Banda, Mandesur, Kunch, Ratgarh, Kalpi, Madanpur, Bilawa, Chanderi, Gwalior and Garakota) winning a Victoria Cross (VC) in 1859 and was also awarded the battle honour, 'Central India' for its efforts in suppression of the mutiny in 1857–58.[6] [5]
Officers and troops from the regiment took part in the Second Afghan War, Tirah campaign, Kurram Valley Field Force (1879-1880), the Burma War (1886–1888), in Central Africa (1891-1892), in the North-West Frontier expedition (1897-1898), in China during the Boxer Rebellion (1900) and in the South African War (1900-1901).[3] [5]
The 20th Deccan Horse was sent to France for service on the Western Front. The regiment was stationed in Bolarum before the war. It sailed from Bombay on board the SS Ellora and HMT Egra on 15 September 1914 to Marseille.[7] It was part of the 9th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade of the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division.[8] The regiment remained in the vicinity or Marseille from 12 to 23 October 1914, following which it moved to Orléans. It moved to Vieille-Chapelle in November and saw fighting around Festubert in November and December 1914. It took part in the attack on Givenchy and took heavy casualties. The regiment remained behind the lines during most of 1915.
On 14 July 1916 during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge, part of the Battle of the Somme, the 20th Deccan with the 7th Dragoon Guards (the 9th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade) were called forward to support the first attack on High Wood. Catching some German infantry in the open, they charged with lance and sword, killing 16 and capturing 32 Germans for the cost of 6 killed 45 wounded, with 12 horses killed and 52 wounded, mainly after the regiment had dismounted to hold the captured ground. They were withdrawn on the following morning, but the charge was given a favourable mention in Sir Douglas Haig's dispatches and received much coverage from the British press, anxious for some news of success.[9]
The regiment landed in Egypt on 10 April 1918 and moved to Tell El Kebir, Kantara and finally to Belah on 27 April 1918 to join the 14th Cavalry Brigade of the 5th Cavalry Division. The regiment was involved in frequent encounters with the Turkish forces in July and August 1918. The regiment moved to Deiran (Palestine) and fought in the Battle of Megiddo.[10] [11]
The 29th Lancers were also sent to France they formed part of the 8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade of the 1st Indian Cavalry Division.[8] Both regiments would at times serve as Infantry in the trenches, before being withdrawn for service in Palestine.[1]
During the Second World War, the regiment converted to tanks and became part of the 255th Indian Tank Brigade.[12] The regiment along with 16th Light Cavalry, 5th King Edward's Own Probyn's Horse and 116th Royal Armoured Corps (Gordon Highlanders) reached Kanglatongbi in Assam in October 1944, where training and exercises took place. The regiment then proceeded east and took part in the re-conquest of Burma.[13] [14]
The unit was one of the most decorated regiments of the British Indian Army and has continued to show its valour under the Indian Army. Prominent winners of gallantry awards include:
For conspicuous bravery in charging the, Rebels into Chichumbah with only eight men of his Regiment (the 2nd Cavalry Hyderabad Contingent), compelling them to re-enter the Town, and finally to abandon their plunder. He was severely wounded himself, and lost seven out of the eight men who accompanied him.
Major H. D. Abbott, Lieutenant H.C. Dowker, 1st Cavalry, Hyderabad Contingent; Major A. W. Macintire, 2nd Cavalry, Hyderabad Contingent, Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel E. F. H. McSwiney, 1st Lancers, Hyderabad Contingent.
Risaldar Badlu Singh – He was part of the 14th Murray's Jat Lancers attached to the 29th Lancers (Deccan Horse). He was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for his gallant act of bravery on 23 September 1918 at Kh. Es Samariyeh, Jordan River, Palestine. His citation reads as follows -
On 23rd September 1918 on the west bank of the River Jordan, Palestine, when his squadron was charging a strong enemy position, Risaldar Badlu Singh realised that heavy casualties were being inflicted from a small hill occupied by machine-guns and 200 infantry. Without any hesitation he collected six other ranks and with entire disregard of danger he charged and captured the position. He was mortally wounded on the very top of the hill when capturing one of the machine-guns single handed, but all the guns and infantry had surrendered to him before he died.[25] [26]
23 September is commemorated as "Jordan Valley Day" every year in the Regiment.Other gallantry awards include:
Jemadar Jai Lal Singh, 29th Lancers (Deccan Horse) (Egypt)
Risaldar Prem Singh, Risaldar Major Nigahia Ram, Risaldar Konsal Singh (20th Deccan Horse) (France); Risaldar Major Ghulam Dastaghir Khan, Risaldar Major Chanda Singh, Risaldar Major Ahmad Khan, Risaldar Hayat Ali Beg, Ressaidar Daya Singh, Ressaidar Jaggar Singh (29th Lancers (Deccan Horse)) (France / Egypt / India).
Dafadar Sardar Singh, Dafadar Shankar Rao, Jemadar Mirza Ahmed Beg (20th Deccan Horse), Risaldar Hayat Ali Beg, Jemadar Abdul Rahim Khan, Sowar Indar Singh, Sowar Chandan Singh, Dafadar Puran Singh, Dafadar Jot Ram, Sowar Balwant Singh (29th Lancers (Deccan Horse)) (France / Egypt).
1 medal (20th Deccan Horse), 3 medals (29th Lancers (Deccan Horse)) (France)[27]
Captain David Herbert Mudie, Captain Robert Bruce Kennard, Temporary Captain Sheodan Singh, Second Lieutenant Richard Francis Sherwill, Jemadar Pritam Singh[31]
The insignia of the 9th Royal Deccan Horse consisted of crossed lances with letters 'R.D.H.' within the garter surmounted by the crown. The present Regimental insignia consists of crossed lances with pennons of Red over White mounted with the State Emblem of India and a scroll at the base with the words The Deccan Horse. The numeral "9" is inscribed on the crossing of the lances along with the motto of the Regiment in Devanagari script. The motto of the Regiment is संघे शक्ति (Sanghe Shakti) which means "In Association, there is Strength".