Hi all, I was wondering if there is a published history about the 4th Queen's Own Hussars, and does anyone have a copy? I have been forwarded a blurry photo of their Archers(!) from 1950. Written on the back is "C Sqdn 4 Hussars, Valentine SPs at Lowu[??? I can't make this out] prior to departing to Malaya" Naturally I am very curious about whether they actually took Archers to Malaya - probably not I would imagine - and where they were prior to that. Wikipedia suggests Lübeck.
Lowu Camp (Lo-Wu) is in the New Territories in Hong Kong where they were under 40 Inf Div. May have more at home. Edit: for 1951 I have: 4 HUSSARS were under command 3 COMMANDO BRIGADE in IPOH (less 2 squadrons). 1 Squadron was detached to 48 GURKHA INFANTRY BRIGADE in Kuala Lipis 1 Squadron was detached to LAND FORCES Hong Kong (in late 1949, this was C-Squadron).
Yes and yes. And it covers the period up to 1958. I will try to dodge the better half and find it this evening...
Wow, thanks Charley, that's brilliant: so there were a few Archers with C Squadron in Hong Kong! idler anything you can dig it up would be fantastic.
As the Comets in Hong Kong tended to be passed on from unit to unit, I wonder if the same happened to the Archers?
OK: their last location in Germany was Lubeck until Nov 1947. They then spent 9 months in Colchester before going to Malaya via Aden and Colombo. All it has to say about HK is: "For most of the three years one squadron was away in Hong Kong." I suspect their regimental journal will be the only way forward.
For more information on Hong Kong, it might be worth asking on this website: Gwulo: Old Hong Kong Gwulo: Old Hong Kong There seem to be a number of ex-servicemen posting on it.
Hmmm that would go with my question of "does the Sikorski Institute have the war diary of 7 Polish Anti-Tank Regiment?". :-/ Not getting to the IWM anytime soon!
The 7 Polish Anti-Tank Regiment's war diary is very likely to be in Polish, as I believe that was the default. I'll put the 4th Hussars Journal on the list for the next time I visit the IWM, although of course that is not likely to be soon.
Yes, absolutely - I would have to find a translator as well. Thank you! I'll see what I can do in the meantime.
The unit's CO's OBE citation says that they were acting as an armoured car regiment until at least June 1950.
It looks like this is the official history, but copies are pretty expensive. If anyone has/has access to a copy and could supply a few pages towards the end, please do let me know.
Schleswig-Holstein Sub Area command Hamburg District 1 Mar 47 – 4th Queen’s Own Hussars Royal Armoured Corps from Austria relieving 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards Regimental Headquarters: Furness Barracks formerly Pionier Kaserne, Stadtkreis Lübeck Responsibility for Landkreis Eutin – Herzogtum-Lauenburg – Landkreis Oldenburg in Holstein – Landkreis Stormarn – Stadtkreis Lübeck 1 Dec 47 – United Kingdom 21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine (under construction)
Probably not helpful, but New York Public Library in Manhattan has a a copy of: Daniell, D. Scott. The Story of the Fourth Queen’s Own Hussars 1685-1953. Aldershot: Gale and Polden, 1959. Saw it back in the 1990s.
Lets not forget our own Hussar. The unforgettable "Once as Hussar Always a Hussar" Ron Goldstein. BBC - WW2 People's War - Keeping a Diary in Wartime: 4th Queen's Own Hussars in Italy and the 49th LAA in Egypt
