NAPOLEONIC BRITISH LIGHT DRAGOONS

The basic light cavalry of the British army during the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815) were primarily light dragoons regiments, some of which in the period 1806-1807 were transformed into hussar regiments. At the beginning of these wars, Great Britain had 14 regiments of light dragoons, some of which (e.g. the 19th and 20th Regiment) were created specifically to serve in colonies, e.g. in India or Jamaica. The regular British light dragoons regiment consisted of 5 squadrons, one of which was treated as a rear. However, in the course of the 1815 campaign, regiments consisting of 2-3 squadrons started fighting. Theoretically, a single squadron had around 180 men, but during the campaign, this number dropped and, for example, during the Battle of Waterloo, the light dragoons squadron had an average of around 130-140 people. The primary melee weapon of the British light dragoons was the Model 1796 saber, and the most commonly used firearm was the Paget's cavalry rifle. It is worth adding that, like other British cavalry formations, the light dragoons were seen as having good individual training (both in riding and in wielding weapons), and they often showed courage. On the other hand, the tactics and executive discipline on the battlefield were quite disadvantages.