The 15th Hussars was the first regiment of Light Dragoons raised for
permanent service in 1759 by Colonel Eliott, the gallant defender of
Gibraltar, afterwards Lord Heathfield. It was named after him "Eliott's
Light Horse." In 1767 the regiment was made "Royal" as a reward for its
services in Germany, and in 1768 styled the "King's Light Dragoons."
Its present title it received in 1806.
This regiment was authorized to bear on its helmets the following
inscription: "Five battalions of Foot defeated and taken by this
regiment, with their colours, and nine pieces of cannon, at Emsdorff,
16th July, 1760." In 1794, the 15th, at Villiers-en-Cauchies, charged
enormously superior numbers of all arms. It succeeded in its object at
a terrible sacrifice. In 1799, the troopers had given them the honour
of decking their helmets with scarlet feathers.