Cap badge, Indian Long Range Desert Squadron, Indian Armoured Corps, 1941-1947 (brass)

Cap badge, Indian Long Range Desert Squadron, Indian Armoured Corps, 1941-1947. Brass badge with crossed lances with pennons and a rectangular tablet with ‘LR’ at the intersection. Formed in Syria at the end of 1941, the unit was modelled on the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG). Volunteers were drawn from the following units of the Indian Army: 2nd Royal Lancers (Gardner’s Horse), 11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force) and 18th King Edward’s Own Cavalry. Four patrols were formed, consisting of Jats (J Patrol), Muslims (M Patrol), Rajputs (R Patrol) and Sikhs (S Patrol). Like the LRDG, the unit specialised in reconnaissance and intelligence gathering behind enemy lines. In May 1942 two patrols were attached to the LRDG; in October 1942 the whole unit came under LRDG command. Following service in North Africa the unit was redeployed to Zahidan, Baluchistan and Persia. Disbanded in 1947 when India was partitioned, the Jats, Rajputs and Sikhs of ‘J’, ‘R’ and ‘S’ Patrols went to the 2nd Royal Lancers, 3rd Cavalry and 18th King Edward’s Own Cavalry, allotted to India. The Muslims of ‘M’ Patrol were absorbed into the Prince Albert Victor’s Own Cavalry (Frontier Force), in Pakistan. From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.