It would naturally take some time for the “Hussar craze” to contaminate the United Kingdom after sweeping over the Continent.
The dash of attire and behaviour displayed on the Napoleonic battlefields in the service of France certainly made the best impression, and in due time the British Army started changing her Light Dragoon Regiments into Hussars, in dress and in title.
Hussars had appeared in the British army around 1806 and there were four regiments at the end of the Napoleonic Wars.
These were the 7th, 10th, 15th and 18th (the latter disbanded in 1821). They were still not titled “Hussars” and retained the designation of Light Dragoons.
A fourth regiment (the 8th) was converted from light dragoons in 1822 and another (The 11th) in1840. A new regiment, the 18th, was raised in 1858 and in 1861 it was decided that the four remaining Light Dragoon regiments (the 3rd, 4th, 13th and 14th) would be converted to hussars.
Finally, in 1862 the three Bengal Light Cavalry regiments raised for the Indian Mutiny in 1857 would join the British establishment as the 19th, 20th and 21st Hussars.
In 1856 the British hussar regiments adopted a tunic similar to the “Attilla” introduced in the 1850s by Austria, Prussia and many other German states.
This was a dark blue single breasted garment edged all round with yellow cord (gold for officers) including the collar.
Across the chest there were six loops of cord with drop loops on the end and fastened by toggles.
Light Dragoons had taken a similar tunic in wear, but with five loops instead of six which disappeared (except in some yeomanry regiments) when the conversion to hussars took place.
Leather reinforced (booted) blue overalls were worn (except for the 11th Hussars who had crimson) with double stripes on the sides.
In 1858 a new busby replaced the old pre Crimean one which had a laced bag and twisted cord boss on the front.
In 1874 the skirts of the tunic were shortened and the overalls were replaced by breeches and knee boots. This was, in general, the uniform worn by all the hussar regiments in 1881.
A proud tradition was established, and British Hussars displayed their elegant uniforms both in Society and over the Battlefields of the world.
Some dramatic events made the stuff of legend. The Crimean War of 1853 – 1856 was a milestone, for the undying glory of the Light Brigade or the subsequent drastic changes in uniform.
Queen Victoria’s Army counted up to 13 Hussar Regiments until 1897 when the 21st Hussars were converted to Lancers.
Since then, the 12 Hussar Regiments have slowly been amalgamated over the years to form the remaining 2 Hussar Regiments of the Army, The Queen’s Royal Hussars and The King’s Royal Hussars
The antecedent Regiments
The 3rd (King’s Own) Hussars
Raised 1685 as Dragoons. Light Dragoons in 1818 and Hussars in 1861.
3rd (Kings Own) Hussars
prior to 1881
3rd (Kings Own) Hussars
post 1881
The 4th (Queen’s Own) Hussars
Raised 1685 as Dragoons. Light Dragoons in 1818 and Hussars in 1861.
4th (Queen’s Own) Hussars
prior to 1881
4th (Queen’s Own) Hussars
post 1881
The 7th (The Queen’s Own) Hussars
Raised 1689 as Dragoons. Light Dragoons in 1784 and Hussars in 1807.
7th (Queen’s Own) Hussars
prior to 1881
7th (Queen’s Own) Hussars
post 1881
The 8th (King’s Royal Irish) Hussars
Raised 1693 as Dragoons. Light Dragoons in 1775 and Hussars in 1822.
8th (Kings Royal Irish) Hussars
prior to 1881
8th (Kings Royal Irish) Hussars
post 1881
The non antecedent Regiments
The 10th (Prince of Wales’s Own) Hussars
Raised 1715 as Dragoons. Light Dragoons in 1783 and Hussars in 1806.
10th (Prince Of Wales Own) Hussars
prior to 1881
10th (Prince Of Wales Own) Hussars
post 1881
The 11th (Prince Albert’s Own) Hussars
Raised 1715 as Dragoons. Light Dragoons in 1783 and Hussars in 1840.
The 11th (Prince Albert’s Own) Hussars prior to 1881
The 11th (Prince Albert’s Own) Hussars post 1881
The 13th Hussars
Raised 1715 as Dragoons. Light Dragoons in 1783 and Hussars in 1861.
The 13th Hussars
prior to 1881
The 13th Hussars
post 1881
The 14th (King’s) Hussars
Raised 1715 as Dragoons. Light Dragoons in 1776 and Hussars in 1861.
14th Hussars
prior to 1881
14th Hussars
post 1881
The 15th (The King’s) Hussars
Raised 1759 as Light Dragoons and Hussars in 1807.
The 15th (The King’s) Hussars
prior to 1881
The 15th (The King’s) Hussars
post 1881
The 18th Hussars
Raised 1858 (Took traditions and battle honours of old 18th Hussars disbanded in 1821).
The 18th Hussars
prior to 1881
The 18th Hussars
post 1881
The 19th Hussars
Raised 1857 as 1st Bengal Light Cavalry. On British establishment as Hussars in 1862
The 19th Hussars
prior to 1881
The 19th Hussars
post 1881
The 20th Hussars
Raised 1857 as 2nd Bengal Light Cavalry. On British establishment as Hussars in 1862
The 20th Hussars
prior to 1881
The 20th Hussars
post 1881
The 21st Hussars
Raised 1857 as 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry. On British establishment as Hussars in 1862. Converted to Lancers in 1897
The 21st Hussars
prior to 1881
The 21st Lancers
post 1897
