Can anyone tell me more about the charge made by 21st Lancers at Shabkadar in May 1915, when Trooper Hull won his VC? In fact, any further details of the 21st Lancers in India during the Great War would be helpful. Their published history seems paper thin, and there is no war diary I can locate.

One more try.

If you have not already seen it then there is a useful article in the August 2009 edition of Medal News on the 21st Lancers by Robert N.Smith.

The article describes the action at Shabkadar (Bir es Gundai) on the North West Frontier 5 September 1915 and includes the Charge of the 21st Lancers at Omdurman some 17 years before on 2 September 1898.

The sources are quoted as The Vedette Vol.5, 1915 and Battles of the 20th Century - Vol 5.

There is a useful short chapter on Charles Hull, No 1053 Private (Shoeing Smith) 21st Lancers re the award of his VC for the action at Shabkadar in 'The Sideshows - the VCs of the First World War' by Gerald Gliddon. See London Gazette 3rd March 1916.

Thank you, Philip.

I'd also be grateful for any information concerning the regiment while in India after September 1915.

The 21st (Empress of India's) Lancers get a five line entry only in Brigadier James' British Cavalry and Yeomanry 1914-18:

Battle Honours N.W.Frontier of India, 1915, 1916.

4.8.14 Rawal Pindi. Remained in India throughout the War.
A Service Squadron formed part of the X1V Corps Cavalry Regiment in France from June 1916 to August 1917.

The History of the 17th/21st Lancers by R.L.V. ffrench Blake confirms the Service Squadron which fought in France on the Somme and elsewhere was formed mainly from reservists at Tidworth in June 1916 and was disbanded August 1917. The reason being given that infantry losses had become so great they required every possible man to serve in that arm.

Chapter 10 of 'The Last Charge - the 21st Lancers and the Battle of Omdurman' by Terry Brighton ISBN 1 86126 189 6 covers the action at Shabkadar in 1915 in some detail. It also provides an overview of the 21st Lancers involvement in France and Flanders. There are several exceptionally good photos of the 21st Lancers in India and France. The book is well worth reading.

Chris

A previous post: http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...mp;hl=Shabkadar

Dave

Well done, Dave - now why didn't that came up when I searched, I wonder?