Regimental Histories - Year 1960-1985 - Brockbank - Page 0019
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A Short History of the 9th/12M Lancer: the first VC of the Great War. He was killed in action in 1915. During the period between the Great War and the 2nd World War, the 9th and 12th served in the Rhineland and Ireland. Later the 9th served in Egypt, Palestine, India, Scotland and England, and the 12th in England and Egypt. In 1928 while serving in Egypt the 12th gave up their horses and became a Cavalry Armoured Car Regiment. In August 1929 they operated in their Rolls Royce Armoured Cars for the first time when “B” Squdron was sent to Palestine to deal with the religious disturbances. In October 1931 a section of armoured cars was sent to Cyprus to help restore order. In 1935 the 12th provided a composite squadron {or the International Force which policed the Saar during the period of the Plebiscite. During 1936 the 9th in their turn gave up their horses and the Regiment was converted to a Light Tank Regiment On the outbreak of War in 1939 the 12th, equipped with armoured cars, landed in France on the 16th October. The 9th, who had been mechanised in 1936, and were now an armoured regiment in the 2 Armoured Brigade of the 1 Armoured Division, landed in France on 20th May 1940. On the 10th May the 12th was the first regiment to cross the Belgian Frontier, During the retreat they covered the with- drawal of the BEF, at one time holding a front of forty miles between Ypres and Nieuport. In the despatches Lord Gort wrote “Without the Twelfth Lancers only a small part of the Army would have reached Dunkirk”. The 9th were in action in the Somme area and were later all but surrounded at St Valeryr Once the line ofthe Seine became untenable the 1 Armoured Division was ordered to withdraw and embark for England. Both Regiments sailed for Africa with the lst Armoured Division in September 1941. The 12th left behind a detachment which shortly after Dunkirk had been sent to act as a mobile guard for the Royal Family and members of the Cabinet. Both Regiments served with the 8th Army throughout the Desert and North African Campaigns, The 9th played a leading part in the Battle ofAlamein. Corporal Nicholls of“B” Squad- 18 |
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