The 13th Hussars

B-P ws educated at Charterhouse School in Surrey, at the end of his time there, he sat the examinations for entry into the army.  Generally, those who passed then went to Sandhurst for training, but B-P was in the top six in the Cavalry exam, and they went straight into the army.

On the September, 1876, the 19 year old B-P was commissioned as Sub-Lieutenant into the 13th Hussars, then stationed at Lucknow in India. He sailed from Portsmouth on 30th October on the troopship Serapis.

Although much of his carrer was on secondment from the Regiment, it remained "his" Regiment, and after his official retirement from the army he became its Honorary Colonel.

Alas! B-P's sketchbook got wet - what does it say?.

Baden-Powell served in the British Army from 1876 until 1910 in India and Africa. He began his military service In 1876 when he joined the 13th Hussars in India with the rank of lieutenant.

The 13th Hussars was known as the "Lily Whites" for the white stripes on their trousers. Later, they were amalgamated with the 18th Royal Hussars (in the Army "reforms" of 1922, after the Great War). In recent years, they have been joined with several other light cavalry regiments to form the "Light Dragoons" in 1992. Baden-Powell was honored with the ceremonial rank of "Colonel of the Regiment" of the 13th/18th Royal Hussars in 1922. He served until 1938, when he stepped down from that office at the age of 81.

28th February 1922                                                           

Here is the Regimental Quick March of the 13th Hussars, "Balaklava", which remains the Regimental Quick March of the totally "amalgamated" Regiment of Light Dragoons.

And here is the Slow March.                                   [Thank you, Lew Orans, for this]