Sabretache, 15th (King’s) Hussars, 1895 circa

Sabretache, 15th (King’s) Hussars, 1895 circa. A sabretache is a type of satchel strapped to a cavalry or horse artillery officer’s belt. Although originally a container for orders and maps, by the mid-nineteenth century most sabretaches had a purely decorative role. The 15th was raised as a light dragoon regiment in 1759 and saw service in Europe during the Seven Years War (1756-1763) and the French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802). After a period of home service the regiment was reconstituted as a hussar regiment in 1807. It served in the Peninsular War (1808-1814) and fought at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. When stationed back in England the unit was involved in a number of operations to suppress civil unrest, including the notorious ‘Peterloo Massacre’ in Manchester in 1819. The 15th (The King's) Hussars went on to serve in Ireland and India and took part in the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880) and the Transvaal War (1880-1881). After service in World War One (1914-1918) the regiment was amalgamated with the 19th Royal Hussars in 1922.