Death or Glory Boys

The regiment's first overseas service came when a detachment of the unit was sent to Germany during the Seven Years War (1756-63). The whole regiment then deployed to the American War of Independence (1775-83), fighting at Bunker Hill (1775), Long Island (1776), White Plains (1776) and Crooked Billet (1778). Later, it was the only regular unit in Tarleton's Legion in the southern colonies, where it served at the Battle of Cowpens (1781) but was interned after being captured at Yorktown (1781).

The 17th served in Ireland, England and the West Indies during the French Revolutionary Wars (1793-1802), helping to take Santo Domingo (1796) in the Caribbean. In 1806, it was sent to assist an attempt to capture the Spanish colony of Buenos Aires, which proved unsuccessful. After moving to garrison Cape Colony, it then sailed to India in 1808. During its time there, it fought in the Third Maratha War (1817-18). The unit finally returned to Britain in 1823, finding out en route that the Army had converted it into a lancer regiment.

In 1854, it was sent to the Crimean War (1854-56), taking part in the Battle of Alma (1854), the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava (1854) and the Siege of Sevastopol (1854-55). Three years later, it was sent to India as reinforcements during the Mutiny (1857-59). It took part in the final operations of that campaign, before returning home in 1865. The Duke of Cambridge, one of Queen Victoria's cousins, became the regiment's colonel-in-chief in 1876. It also took on his name, becoming the 17th (The Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers. The regiment's next overseas service was at Ulundi in the The Duke of Cambridge, where it carried out a decisive charge against the retreating enemy. Following 20 years of imperial and home garrison duties, it moved to the Boer War (1899-1902) in 1900, fighting in several engagements including the Battle of Modderfontein (1901).