TOPIC:

Can any Forummer tell me whether Dragoons or Hussars carried lances?
thanks!
Rob

Hi Rob,
I'm not 100% sure ,but I believe Dragoons did carry Lance's .
See enclosed info pertaining to Elandsglatte. Possible change in tactics after that.
Although I'm unsure if the Dragoon is talking about using a sword or a lance?
I would imagine that the lance was used in ceremonial duties but usage in combat is not very clear regarding Dragoons and Hussars.


The only real attempt at a “classic” cavalry charge came at Elandslaagte on 21st October 1899. Here the Boer’s were attempting a drive on Ladysmith and the British managed to force them out of their position by the skilful use, for once, of the dismounted Imperial Light Horse together with three battalions of regular British infantry. However the Boers were heavily outnumbered, and upon retiring the Dragoon Guards and the 10th Lancers struck them in the flank as darkness was setting in. They made three charges sabreing and skewering at will, but the troopers found that the fight had lost some of its exhilaration. One of them wrote, ‘We went along sticking our lances through men-it is a terrible thing, but we have to do it…’ and a Dragoon corporal reported, ‘We just gave them a good dig as they lay.’ 

Image from Ian Knights campaign series.
The chap mounted is a Dragoon and it does look like he may have a lance attached.

Hi Rob........Found another image of a Dragoon with lance.

From this website:

Cavalry
The Cavalry consisted of Staff, a Field troop of Engineers, two Brigades each of three cavalry regiments, and a Battery of Royal Horse Artillery. There were two 1st and 2nd Cavalry Brigades. One served under Major General French and the other under General Buller in Natal.

A cavalry regiment totalled 531 men with 536 mounts. With each regiment was a machine gun and carriage drawn by two horses, a convoy of 13 vehicles drawn by 48 draught horses and three pack horses. A total number of men was 467. They were armed with Lee Metford carbines with 30 rounds of ammunition. The officers were armed with a revolver and 12 rounds. The Lancers and some of the Dragoon regiments were supplied with lances.

The hierarchy of the Cavalry was as follows:

Cavalry Division. Commanded by a Lieutenant General.
› Cavalry Brigade. Commanded by a Major General.
› Cavalry Regiment. Commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel.
› Cavalry Squadron. Commanded by a Major.
› Cavalry Troop. Each with 4 sections, 8 men each.

The equipment carried by the Cavalry, but not all used by the same ranks or units, consisted of:

Let Metford carbine. .303 in calibre single lever action, 5 rounds per magazine.
Webley Mk IV revolver. .455 calibre.
Sword.
Lance.
There were two types of cavalry; 'Household Cavalry' and 'Cavalry of the Line'. The Household Cavalry consisted of the 1st Life Guards, the 2nd Life Guards and the Royal Horse Guards. The Cavalry of the Line consisted of seven regiments of Dragoon Guards, three regiments of Dragoons, twelve regiments of Hussars and six regiments of Lancers.

I have also seen images of Dragoon Regiments carrying Lance's, but sorry, I can't remember which. I don't know how we could find out which Regiments were equipped with Lance's and why.

I'm sure that all Hussars carried only sabres.

The image below shows that some of the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons are carrying lances in this photograph.