7th Light Cavalry - World War II

World War II

At the start of the Second World War the Regiment was stationed in Bolarum part of the 4th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade they were brigaded with the:

14th/20th Hussars

Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry

3rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

4th Cavalry Brigade Signal Troop.

The last mounted parade took place in 1940 but by early 1941 the only mechanical transport the regiment possessed were an Austin Car for the commandant and a few motorbikes for dispatch riders.. Vehicles trickled in and finally a full complement of 52 Stuart tanks was received by April 1943.

The regiment was attached to the 254th Indian Tank Brigade, in November 1941.

The major units of the Brigade, under the command of Brigadier Reginald Scoones, consisted, when it moved to Imphal in November and December 1943, of the:

7th Light Cavalry

3rd Carabiniers

3rd Btn 4th Bombay Grenadiers

The Brigade fought with the 5th Indian Division and the 7th Indian Infantry Divisions in Burma and was involved in the Battle of Imphal, Battle of Kyaukmaung Bridgehead, Battle of Meiktila, and the Rangoon Road.

In June 1945 the 7th Light Cavalry sailed from Rangoon to Madras and by July was at Ahmednagar.

In August 1945 it was selected to form part of the British Indian Division (BRINDIV) which was to form part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces (BCOF) as part of the Allied Occupation Forces in Japan. The move to Japan occurred in March/April 1946. They returned to India in August 1947.