Below is some genealogy information on the 8th Hussars and King's Royal Irish Hussars cavalry regiment of the British army that may help searches for military ancestors.

Theatres of War, Army Regiments, Naval Detachments, RAF

Description: Formed in 1693 as the Henry Conyngham's Regiment of Dragoons in Derry during fighting between King William and the counter-invasion of James II. They were ranked as the 8th Dragoons. In 1704 they saw action in the War of the Spanish Succession. In 1707 they were renamed Killigrew's Dragoons. In 1707 they were renamed Pepper's Dragoons. In the early 1700s they disbanded a couple of times. In 1751 they were renamed as the 8th Regiment of Dragoons. In 1775 they were renamed the 8th Regiment of Light Dragoons. In 1777 they were renamed the 8th (The King's Royal Irish) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons, named for King George III. In 1822 they were renamed the 8th (The King's Royal Irish) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons (Hussars). In 1854 they saw action in the Crimean War forming part of the Light Brigade. They fought the major battles there including the infamous charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava. They were transported there aboard the HMS Echinga, HMS Mary Ann, HMS Shooting Star, HMS Medora and the HMS Wilson Kennedy. In 1857 they helped to quell the Indian Mutiny. In 1861 they were renamed the 8th (The King's Royal Irish) Hussars. In 1900 they joined the Boer Wars in South Africa, fighting in numerous small actions. Stationed in India at the start of the First World War they were deployed in France in 1914 taking part in several majors battles in including Mons, the second battle of Ypres, the Somme and Cambrai. In 1921 they were renamed the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars. In 1939 they were transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps joining those who would be later known as the Desert Rats. During World War Two they operated in North Africa (battle of El Alamein) before involvement in the Normandy invasion, landing on Gold Beach. They continued in their efforts, helping to drive back the Germans to Berlin. In 1948 they saw action in the Korean War. In 1958 they were amalgamated with the 4th Queen's Own Hussars forming The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars. Their nickname is The Delhi Spearmen.

Military actions:

• Crimean war: Alma
• Crimean war: Balaclava
• Crimean: Siege of Sevastapol
• WWII: El Alamein
• WWII: Normandy Invasion (D-Day)

Reading materials:

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