The Galloping 8th Hussar to today’s Queen’s Royal Hussar.
In 1906 whilst the Regiment was stationed in Aldershot, Corporals JR Thomas and Hitchcock composed the song ‘A Galloping 8th Hussar’ using the air of a song they had heard at the old Cavalry Brigade canteen in Aldershot. In those days the artists used to try out new songs and if they were popular then they were given in a variety of theatres all over the country, but they first had to pass the critical cavalry audience.
The original song was called The gallant Irish Tar, but received little appreciation in the canteen and was never sung again. However, the tune gave the two Corporals the idea of writing words appropriate to the Regiment. It was sung in the Corporals Mess of the 8th Hussars and on Thomas and Hitchcock’s promotion in the Sergeants Mess and became a popular song in India and on the Western Front during the 1st World War.
The following are the original words written by SSM JR Thomas:
A Galloping 8th Hussar
Good evening, my friends, I wish you good cheer,
I’ve been on the spree today.
I am a soldier as you can see,
and my horse stops over the way.
I’ve travelled some thousand miles or more,
Far from my native land,
and now I’ve come back to the girl I love,
So plainly you’ll understand.
(Chorus)
That I’m a soldier in the King’s Army,
I’m a Galloping Eighth Hussar,
I’ve sailed the ocean wide and blue,
I’m a chap that knows a thing or two,
Been in many a tight corner, had a tussle in the battles van,
I can ride a horse go on a spree,
Or sing a comic song,
Well, that denotes an Irishman.
Now when I went away to lands o’er the sea,
Of course, I had to part,
With many dear friends, also the girl,
The dear little girl of my heart.
She promised to be true, yes faithful and true,
True as the stars above,
And now I’ve come back with plenty of cash,
I’ll marry the girl I love.
(Chorus)
That I’m a soldier in the King’s Army,
I’m a Galloping Eighth Hussar,
I’ve sailed the ocean wide and blue,
I’m a chap that knows a thing or two,
Been in many a tight corner, had a tussle in the battles van,
I can ride a horse do on a spree,
Or sing a comic song,
Well, that denotes an Irishman.
The Regimental song has gone through a few transformations over the years with lyrics changing and now only the chorus being sung. As Irish Hussars the song was preceded by the Saint Patrick’s Day March and now as Queen’s Royal Hussars preceded with the Light Cavalry Overture, and with the following words now sung:
I’m a soldier in the Queen’s Army.
I’m a galloping Queen’s Hussar.
I’ve sailed the ocean wide and blue.
I’m a chap who knows a thing or two.
Been in many a tight corner.
Shown the enemy who we are.
I can ride a horse.
Go on a spree, or sing a comic song.
And that denotes a Queen’s Hussar.
