Below is some genealogy information on the 2nd Dragoon Guards and Queen's Bays cavalry regiment of the British army that may help searches for military ancestors.

Theatres of War, Army Regiments, Naval Detachments, RAF

Description: Formed in 1685 as the Earl of Peterborough's Regiment of Horse (largely from the London area), ranking 3rd. Following William of Orange becoming King, they were renamed as Villier's Horse and fought against the counter-invasion led by James II, fighting at the infamous Battle of the Boyne. They fought in Europe from 1694-1698 during the Nine Years War. They were renamed Harvey's Horse whilst fighting in Portugal during the War of the Spanish Succession. Following fighting against the Jacobite rebellion the regiment was renamed The Princess of Wales's Own Regiment of Horse, named for Princess Caroline of Wales. In 1727, following George II's coronation, they were renamed The Queen's Own Regiment of Horse. In 1747 they were renamed the 2nd Queen's Regiment of Dragoon Guards. In 1760 they saw more action in Europe, fighting during the Seven Years War. In 1767 they were ordered to use only Bay horse and renamed 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays). They took part in the Napoleonic Wars, fighting on the Iberian Peninsula. They saw action during the Indian Mutiny during the 1850s. They fought in South Africa during the Boer Wars. During the First World War they fought several major battles including Mons, Le Cateau, Marne, Aisne, Messines, first battle of Ypres, the Somme, and Cambrai. In 1921 they were renamed The Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards). In 1935 they became a mechanised unit, transferring to the Royal Armoured Corps in 1939, In the Second World War they saw initial fighting in France before deploying in the Middle East and North Africa, taking part in the battle of El Alamein. They also took part in the invasion of Italy in 1944. In 1959 they amalgamated with the 1st King's Dragoon Guards forming 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards. Their nickname is The Bays or the Rusty Buckles.

Military actions:

• Napoleonic war: Peninsular Wars<</a>
• WWI: Mons
• WWI: Le Cateau
• WWI: Marne
• WWI: 1st battle of Ypres
• WWI: Cambrai
• WWI: Somme (1916)
• WWII: El Alamein
• WWII: Invasion of Italy

Reading materials:

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