Historical Record of the Third, Or the King's Own Regiment of Light Dragoons / Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1685, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1846.

by Richard Cannon

The Third Light Dragoons continued their advance on Peshawur, and a squadron of the regiment, under Lieutenant Unett, protected the column of attack under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, of Her Majesty's Ninth Regiment of Foot, which captured the heights on the right entrance to the Khyber Pass, on the 5th April, 1842. Major-General Pollock, in his despatch announcing the successful advance of the troops into the Khyber Pass, states: 'there were some of the enemy's horse in the vicinity of Ali Musjid, but I regret they did not wait for Brigadier White (Lieutenant-Colonel of the King's Own) and his brigade to make an example of them.'

The regiment arrived at Jellalabad in April, 1842, where it remained until the 14th August following, when it proceeded to Futteabad, detaching one squadron to Mammoo Khail on the 23rd of that month. The Third Light Dragoons left Futteabad on the 2nd September, and on arriving at Jugdulluck, the summits of the hills, which command the road through the pass, were perceived to be occupied by a considerable number of the enemy, who were assembled in bodies under different chieftains, each having a distinguishing standard; their position was one of singular strength and difficulty of approach. The heights occupied by the Ghilzies formed an amphitheatre, inclining towards the left of the road, on which the troops were halted, while the guns opened; and the enemy were thus enabled, on this point, to fire into the column, a deep ravine preventing the troops coming in contact with them.

The British troops, however, on attacking one of their hill-forts, gave an animated and enthusiastic cheer, which so dismayed the enemy, that they fled down the heights without waiting the collision, and were thus enabled to escape chastisement by the nature of the ground, which was so well calculated to favour their retreat. At this moment, Major Lockwood with the Third, King's Own Light Dragoons, galloped up, and nearly succeeded in overtaking the enemy's cavalry, who effected their safety by flight.[45]

The loss of the regiment at the storming of the heights of Jugdulluck on the 8th of September, 1842, was limited to two men wounded.

Major-General Pollock, in his despatch, speaks of the conduct of the troops employed in the following terms:—

'It gratifies me to be enabled to state, that we have thus signally defeated, with one division of the troops, the most powerful tribes, and the most inveterate of our enemies, the original and principal actors in those disturbances which entailed such disasters on our troops last winter.'

The regiment was also engaged with the enemy in the Tezeen valley, which is completely encircled by lofty hills; the pass of Tezeen affords great advantages to an enemy occupying the heights, and Mahomed Akbar-Khan neglected nothing to render its natural difficulties as formidable as possible; accordingly on the morning of the 13th September, the Affghans appeared in great force on every height which had not been occupied by the British army. Two squadrons of the Third Light Dragoons, a party of the first light cavalry, and of the third irregular cavalry, with two guns, were left to guard the mouth of the Tezeen pass. The enemy's horse appeared in the valley with the intention of falling upon the baggage; but the Light Dragoons and native cavalry made a most brilliant charge, and completely routed the whole body of the enemy's force, cutting down a great number of them. The fight continued during the greater part of the day, the Affghans appearing resolved to prevent our ascending the Huft Kotul; one spirit, however, pervaded all, and the determination to conquer overcame the obstinate resistance of the foe, who were at length forced from their numerous and strong positions, and the British troops mounted the Huft Kotul, giving three cheers on reaching the summit. Here Lieutenant Cunningham, with a party of sappers, pressed the enemy so hard, that they left in their precipitation a twenty-four pounder howitzer and limber, carrying off the draught bullocks. Information being received that another gun had been seen, a squadron of cavalry under Captain Tritton, of the Third Light Dragoons, and two horse artillery guns, under Major Delafosse, were detached in pursuit; the gun (a twelve-pounder howitzer) and bullocks sufficient for the two guns, were soon captured. The Light Dragoons again got among the enemy, and succeeded in destroying many of them. Captain Broadfoot, with the sappers, advanced, and with the dragoons happened to fall in with another party of Affghans, of whom upwards of twenty were killed. It was ascertained, that the enemy numbered sixteen thousand, a considerable portion being cavalry; and that Mahomed Akbar-Khan, with several other powerful chiefs, was present[46].

The British thus gained a complete victory, and the enemy must have suffered severely, several hundreds of them having been killed, and their guns, and three standards, captured from them. A detachment of the Third Light Dragoons formed part of the rear-guard of the army under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Richmond, of the 33rd Native Infantry, and it being resolved to anticipate the evident intention of the Affghans, by attacking them in the valley of Tezeen, on the 13th September, the guns were moved forward within range of the enemy, supported by the front squadron of the Third Light Dragoons under Captain Unett, with other corps, in order to charge the foe if the ground proved favourable, and an opportunity offered; this soon occurred, the guns having made good impression, and the other squadron of cavalry, under Major Lockwood, was hurried forward as a support, thus ensuring the success achieved by the spirited and gallant charge of their comrades in front, which completely dispersed the enemy, who left about fifty men on the field.[47]

Major-General Pollock, in his despatch of the action at Tezeen, expresses his satisfaction with the exertions of Lt.-Colonel White of the Third Light Dragoons, commanding the cavalry brigade, and also of Major Lockwood, who commanded the regiment. The Third Light Dragoons sustained but trifling loss in the Tezeen valley, and on the Huft Kotul, on the 12th and 13th September, having only one serjeant and four rank and file wounded; two horses killed, and eleven wounded.