14th Horse (Scinde Horse)
The Scinde Horse is an armoured regiment in the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army. The regiment, known before independence as the 14th Prince of Wales's Own Scinde Horse was a regular cavalry regiment of the Bombay Army, and later the British Indian Army.
Scinde Horse is the only regiment known to honour its enemy till date and has not changed its badge since its raising. At one point, the regiment carried nine Standards while on parade, a unique privilege given to it for its valour. The regiment was the first cavalry unit of the British Indian Army to be mechanized. It was also the first cavalry regiment to get the President of India's Standard after independence.
Formation
The regiment can trace its formation back to The Scinde Irregular Horse raised at Hyderabad, Sindh on 8 August 1839. The regiment was raised at the recommendation of Colonel Henry Pottinger, the Resident at Scinde. The first commandant was Captain W. Ward of the 15th Regiment of the Bombay Native Infantry. It was named after the province of Sind, where it was raised to protect the trade route from the Bolan Pass to Sukkur on the Indus River and fight against the marauding Baluchi warriors.The nucleus was from the squadron of the Poona Auxiliary Horse serving in Cutch.
In 1846, the 2nd Scinde Horse was formed by splitting the regiment into two and completing the establishment by new recruits. In 1857, the 3rd Scinde Horse regiment was raised. This regiment saw action during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, during the British expedition to Abyssinia 1867, in the Second Anglo-Afghan War and in the Battle of Maiwand in 1880. The 3rd Scinde Horse was disbanded in 1882 upon general reductions in the cavalry.
These regiments were absorbed into the regular forces after the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and became the 5th and 6th Bombay Cavalry. They reverted to their old names three years later and in 1903 changes made them the 35th Scinde Horse and the 36th Jacob's Horse.
They saw active service in Northern and Central India, Persia, Afghanistan on the North West Frontier and, during World War I, where they served in France and Palestine. Both units underwent changes in their names over time –
35th Scinde Horse
- 1839 : Raised in Hyderabad by Captain W. Ward as Scinde Irregular Horse
- 1846 : Became the 1st Regiment, Scinde Irregular Horse
- 1860 : 1st Regiment, Scinde Horse
- 1861 : 8th Regiment, Scinde Silladar Cavalry
- 1885 : 5th Bombay Cavalry
- 1888 : 5th Bombay Cavalry
- 1903 : 35th Scinde Horse
- 1846 : Raised in Hyderabad by Captain John Jacob as 2nd Regiment, Scinde Irregular Horse
- 1860 : 2nd Regiment, Scinde Horse
- 1861 : 9th Regiment, Scinde Silladar Cavalry
- 1885 : 6th Bombay Cavalry
- 1888 : 6th Bombay Cavalry
- 1903 : 36th Jacob's Horse
History
The Scinde Horse was raised to protect the British Caravans traversing the Spice Route - from the Bolan Pass in Afghanistan, to the Indus at Sukkur and then via Fort Abbas to Bikaner, Hissar and Delhi. The route through the Thar Desert via Jaisalmer was too difficult and dangerous. Since this involved corridor protection along the route, laying in ambush and also accompanying the caravans, they travelled mostly in civilian dress with weapons hidden to look inconspicuous. As a result, they were popularly called "The Scinde Irregular Horse". The term Irregulars is carried with pride amongst Scinde horsemen to this day as they have consistently surprised the adversary both in times of war and in competitions during peace to gain an upper hand. The Irregulars have always thought "out of the box" and accomplished the seemingly impossible.;The Badge
The adversary during the early days, were the Baloochi marauders of the hill tribe of Jekhranis. On numerous occasions, the Irregulars raided their camps to recover the booty they had looted from the caravans. However, the Irregulars respected the Jekhranis for their skill and valour in combat, so they adopted a Badge, depicting a Baloochi warrior with his spear charging on a Stallion, to remind them of a brave and valiant enemy, who they repeatedly vanquished. The Scinde Horse, apart from its unique Badge, also is perhaps the only Regiment to have retained the same badge since inception. It adopted its Garrison Town, Khangur, West of Sukkur on the Indus, which came to be called as Jacobabad, after its first Commandant. This name still remains and Jacobabad is now a major Garrison Town and Airbase in Pakistan.
;John Jacob
Having been raised as a contingent from detachments of the Poona Horse and others under Captain William Ward, the Scinde Irregular Horse got its first Commandant, John Jacob, an engineer from the Bombay Artillery. John Jacob commanded and then remained a mentor of the Regiment from 1839 to 1856, in the process, achieving the Rank of Brigadier General, attained Knighthood and Governorship of the province of Scinde. Brigadier General Sir John Jacob was buried at Jacobabad, named after him. Being an engineer, during his illustrious career, he led the Regiment in the Famous Charge at Meeanee, invented a rifled gun which fired both shot and shell accurately up to 1200 yards and used a straight cavalry Sabre as a bayonet. This invention finds a place in the ‘Handbook of Ancient Firearms’. His Saddlery and Gun along with the Sabre are placed in the Officers' Mess in the Regiment. He also gave great thought to the location of his Grave and selected a spot in the flood plains of the Indus, wherein the flood waters would rise to the level of the foot of his grave and then recede due to overflow into the next area. This unique phenomenon resulted in the locals believing him to be a saint and his grave is worshipped to this day. In fact, in 1997, the Pakistani Government spent a few lakhs of rupees to renovate the Grave and invited John Jacob's decedents at the re-inauguration. After that, they visited India as honoured guests of the Regiment.
;The Regiment
John Jacob was also a very able administrator and that is why the Scinde Horse was so successful in its task and kept the region under control. There was a special bond between the Regiment and the "Bootgee" Tribe, which was formed out of mutual respect amongst the fiercest warriors in the entire Scinde and Balochistan Provinces. While keeping the caravans safe from marauders, the Regiment ensured a fair contribution to the tribals of the lands through which the caravans passed. In those days, recruitment and salaries were uniquely determined. The remuneration was as per service and rank. It was paid out of the earnings or bounty earned by the Regiment. Since the Scinde Horse was mostly on operational tasks and effected numerous recoveries, it earned a large amount of bounty and paid its officers and men handsomely. As a result, recruitment into the regiment also had a high price, which was a record in its own right – a soldier had to bring his own horse, Groom and also pay an enrolment fee as high as 800 rupees. Despite this, there was a rush to join the Regiment and soon the Regiment expanded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Scinde Horse. The Badge remained the same while the shoulder titles were distinctive.
;The Prince of Wales' Own
The Horsed Cavalry Regiments were named according to their operational role and weapons they carried. The Cavalry Regiments carried Sabres and were further divided into Light Cavalry and Cavalry. They were employed to outflank the enemy in the battlefield and charge through his ranks to cause destruction. Whereas the Cavalry carried a Sabre and Broadsword, the Light cavalry carried only sabres and relied on swiftness and surprise to vanquish the enemy. The Lancers Regiments, apart from Sabres, carried Lances to destroy enemy infantry hiding in trenches as well as using spears to protect themselves from the mounted troops. The Horse on the other hand, was a very versatile and heavily weaponised Regiment. It carried a Sabre, Broadsword and also a Rifle. It was capable of fighting both mounted and dismounted. The horses were huge, rising to 17 Hands and carried additional provisions and ammunition, giving the "Horse" Regiment a capability to undertake long marches and engage the enemy at a standoff or hold blocking positions to give the main force to organise itself. The only time The Scinde Horse carried Lances, was in a ceremonial role when it was chosen to escort His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, on his visit to Delhi for the Royal Durbar in 1921. The Pennants on the Lances were Primrose and Blue. His Royal Highness, consented to become the Honorary Colonel of the Regiment and thence forth, the Regiment was Known as "The Prince of Wales' Own Cavalry, The Scinde Horse".
;The Regimental Colours and Motto.
The Regimental Battle Flashes and colours of the flag are also significant in their meaning. The Light Green, Scarlet Red and Emerald Green signify From Green Fields, Through Blood, To the Meadows Beyond. The motto of the Regiment is therefore also significant and is: Man Dies but the Regiment Lives, In Hindi, it goes: Insaan Toh Mar Jaata Hai, Magar Regiment Hamesha Zinda Rehti Hai, thus putting the interest of the Regiment above all.
The Regimental War Cry: The Scinde Horse Spirit is epitomised in its unique War Cry which spurs the Scinde Horse soldiers to decimate the enemy – Jai Mata Ki! Jai Chhatrapati Ki! Har Har Mahadev! Bole So Nihal – Sat Sri Akal! Hat Ja ___ Here I Come!!!
The Regimental religious chant is Bole So Nihal – Sat Sri Akal! Bole So Abhay – Bol Sri Krishan Baldev Ki Jai! Jayakar Bajrang Bali – Har Har Mahadev! Wahe Guruji Ka Khalsa – Wahe GuruJi Ki Fateh!
;Battle of Meeanee
On the 17th of February 1843, as part of Sir Charles Napier's advance guard of his expeditionary force to conquer the province of Scinde, the Scinde Horse came across the forward elements of the combined forces of the Waziri tribals of Sind, led by Mir Nuseer Khan, entrenched in the Fulaillee Nala, near Meeanee, 23 miles ahead of Hyderabad, the capital town of Sind. Along with the Scinde Horse, there were amongst others, 5 Raj Rif, the Cheshire Regiment and the Poona Horse, bringing up the rear, with the Madras Engineers providing engineering support. Not to be deterred, the regiment reconnoitred the area and made an outflanking move through dense forest and broken country, most unsuitable for horses. In an unparalleled outflanking manoeuvre in which over 70 horses died of fatigue, the Scinde Horse surprised the enemy by appearing at their rear and routed them in a cavalry charge, capturing the principal standard of Mir Nuseer Khan in the process. Seeing their Standard captured, the enemy capitulated and Sind was conquered. Sir Charles Napier cryptically signalled back "Pecavi".
As a reward for this cavalry charge, unsurpassed in the annals of warfare, the regiment was presented eight cavalry standards and also allowed to retain Mir Nuseer Khan's principal standard, with the ‘Hand of Allah’ atop it, as its main Standard. This hand of Allah has played a major role in looking after the Regiment in times of need, ever since. The Scinde Horse has had the unique privilege of carrying Nine Standards on parade. Unlike the charge of the 600 who rode to their death in Crimea, showing foolhardy bravado, the 640 Scinde horsemen showed both unsurpassed courage and tactical acumen in routing the enemy and winning an entire campaign. Unfortunately, there was no Tennyson to write a ballad for this successful charge, instead of the one he wrote for the fatal Charge of the Light Brigade.
;The charge at Khushk-e-Nakhud
The Scinde Horse was tasked as the rear guard for the forces returning from the First Afghan Campaign. On 26 Feb 1878, it was at Khushk-e-Nakhud near the Afghan border that the regiment had taken an administrative halt and was carrying out saddlery inspection, that the early warning elements reported a large body of Afghan tribesmen approaching the camp. The men hastily gathered their weapons and mounted their horses, without saddles to engage the approaching enemy. The regiment, led by Maj Reynolds, charged the enemy before it could form up near the camp and routed them, killing many times their own numbers. Unfortunately, Maj Reynolds was martyred in this charge. Maj Douglas Giles, who was there, reduced an eyewitness account in a famous painting, 10' x 6', completing it in 1883. This painting was popularly displayed in the Louvre in Paris, from 1913 to 1921, till it found its final place in the Officers' Mess. It is unique in that it has every eye-catching detail. The colours used are from natural pigments and regain their brightness when exposed to the sun. In the Officers' Mess Ante Room, this painting is faced by a lone Horseman's Silver Trophy, representing Maj Reynolds. Ever after this Battle, The Scinde horseman never removes his sword from his person. "Taiyar-bar-Taiyar" they call it. That is why, in the Officer's Mess, now-a-days, where normally, the Belt is removed on entry, symbolising removal of the Sword, Scinde horsemen continue to wear their belt at all times.