Wearing the skull and crossbones (The Motto) with pride
The Royal Lancers are an armoured cavalry regiment in 1st Deep Strike Reconnaissance Strike Brigade. Our famous skull and crossbones cap badge, referred to as The Motto, is one of the most recognisable in the British Army and represents our motto: ‘Death or Glory’.
Active from:
2 May 2015
Role:
Armoured Cavalry
Specialism:
Reconnaissance
Trained to operate ahead of lead combat units, and prepared to deploy early into combat, our soldiers are able to deliver up to date, accurate information and intelligence about the enemy in order to shape the commander's decision making process.
- A mounted manoeuvre expert
- Agile and determined
- Able to exploit communication and surveillance assets
- Able to operate independently and at reach
- Able to rely upon their cunning to survive and find
- Culturally attuned and inquisitive
A Royal Lancer is trained to be able to operate and maintain a wide variety of vehicles, weapons and communication systems, understand their commander’s intent and above all be able to think independently to achieve their aim.
The Royal Lancers are one of three Armoured Cavalry Regiments in 1st Deep Reconnaissance Strike Brigade.
The Regiment is based in Catterick, North Yorkshire.
Cambrai Lines, Munster Barracks, Catterick Garrison
Get DirectionsAs a reconnaissance regiment, The Royal Lancers are the 'eyes and ears' of the Army.
Our role is to provide a continuous stream of timely, accurate information to commanders via mounted and dismounted reconnaissance so they can make important tactical decisions. In the Deep Reconnaissance Strike Brigade, we act as a sensor for artillery, finding and striking high value targets.
Soldiers in The Royal Lancers are also trained to fight using a wide range of equipment, from drones to sniper rifles and anti-tank missiles.
They are mounted on the Ajax armoured fighting vehicle.
The Royal Lancers, it's about the soldier, not the platform.
Past to present
The history of The Royal Lancers dates back to 1689. The modern regiment was born out of the union of six original lancer regiments and is thus steeped in centuries of their history and traditions.
Hale's Light Horse adopts the motto 'Death or Glory' that is still worn today.
Both the 16th/5th Lancers and the 17th/21st Lancers are formed.
The 9th Queen's Royal Lancers and the 12th Royal Lancers join to form the 9th/12th Royal Lancers.
16th/5th The Queen's Royal Lancers and 17th/21st Lancers join to form the Queen's Royal Lancers.
The 9th/12th Royal Lancers and The Queen’s Royal Lancers join to form The Royal Lancers.
HM The Queen grants the Regiment the title ‘Queen Elizabeths' Own’ reflecting hers and her mother's long association with it.
List of equipment used
The AJAX variant will be the core of the British Army’s deployable all-weather intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability.
Ares is used to deliver and support specialist troops across the battlefield, including Anti -Tank Javelin Teams, Snipers and Support Troops.
Ares provides overwatch and dismounted support in the Deep Recce Strike and Armoured Brigade Combat Teams.
The general purpose machine gun (GPMG) can be used as a light weapon and in a sustained fire role.
The rifle fires a 7.62mm round and has enhanced accuracy of engagement during longer-range firefights.
SA80 is the designation for a revolutionary family of assault weapons. On its introduction, it proved so accurate that the Army marksmanship tests had to be redesigned.
The Royal Lancers use several drones of all sizes. From tiny first-person view drones that can reconnoitre a building to larger systems that scan ground kilometres away. Small Uncrewed Aerial Systems (sUAS), together with their pilots, are fundamental to everything the reconnaissance role of the Regiment.
Contact Us
Please feel free to contact us. We are keen to hear from individuals who have the skills to work with us.
Telephone: 01748 873235
Address: Cambrai Barracks, Ava Road, Catterick Garrison DL9 3PZ