1st Horse (Skinner's Horse)

Originally raised 1803 as Skinner’s Horse by James Skinner (Sikander Sahib) as an irregular cavalry regiment in the service of the Honourable East Indian Company (HEICS), the regiment became (and remains) the senior cavalry regiment of the Indian Army.

Like all regiments of the Indian Army, the 1st Duke of York’s Own Lancers (Skinner’s Horse) underwent many name changes in the various reorganisations.

They are listed below:

• 1823 1st (Skinner’s) Local Horse
• 1840 1st Irregular Cavalry (Skinner’s Horse)
• 1861 1st Regt. of Bengal Cavalry
• 1896 1st Regt. of Bengal Lancers
• 1899 1st (The Duke of York’s Own) Regiment of Bengal Lancers
• 1901 1st (Duke of York’s Own) Bengal Lancers (Skinner’s Horse)
• 1903 1st Duke of York’s Own Lancers (Skinner’s Horse).

ref: Chris Kempton. The Register of Titles of the Units of the HEIC and Indian Armies 1666 to 1947.

ref: J. Baillie Fraser(editor): Military Memoir of Lieut. Col. James Skinner.