After the 1920 reform, it became the 16th Light Cavalry in 1922.

On Partition of India in 1947, the regiment the regiment becomes part of the new Army of India, as an armored unit, maintaining its name.

Battle Honours: Sholingur, Carnatic, Mysore, Seringapatam and Burma (1885-87).

Composition: (1901) Muhammadans, Mahrattas.

This regiment was the oldest of all the regiments of British India Army, becoming, for this reason, the oldest armored regiment in India. Before becoming a Regiment at the service of the British East India Company in 1784, as 3rd. Madras Native Cavalry Regiment, existed as an irregular cavalry force in the service of the Nawab of Arcot (Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India) since 1776.

The clothing of the regiment followed that of the 26th regiment. On being converted  to lancers in 1886 the dress for officers was given as-for British officers- lancer tunic with buff sewn down lapels, buff collar and cuffs with silver lace, piped all round and on sleeve and back seams with buff welts, silver laced pouch belts, gold cap lines, overalls dark blue (the dark blue of the overalls worn by Madras regiments was much lighter than that worn in the British army) with double gold stripes, white gauntlets, white helmet with a dark blue, French grey and gold pagri and silver fittings, girdle silver and two French grey stripes. Indian officers wore the alkalakh with lace varying according to rank. British officers did not wear the alkalakh.

The figure represents a native officer with British uniform and ceremony horse saddlecloth, in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the regiment’s foundation. That same year -1934- an officer of this regiment had been part of the four native officers that constituted The King’s Indian Orderly officers (1)

In carrying out this function they carried the characteristic laces of the Assistant Officers on their right shoulders, which they detached when they returned to India again.

NOTE (1)

The King’s Indian Orderly officers.

In 1903, the Viceroy of India issued a General Order establishing the annual appointment of Indian Orderly Officers to act as the King’s honorary bodyguard in the UK. Each year four officers from the Indian Army were selected by the Commander in Chief to attend the King at Court, and at any reviews or ceremonies that the King attended during the London season. When in London, the Indian Orderly Officers (IOOs) were looked after by a British Officer, who would take them to be fitted for their ceremonial uniforms, show them around London, accompany them on their official engagements and generally see that they had everything they needed during their stay.