Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry

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Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry
Cap badge of the Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry (c. 1914)
Active1794 – 1802
1803 – 1814
1830 – 1967
1997 – present
Country Kingdom of Great Britain (1794–1800)
 United Kingdom (1801–present)
Branch British Army
RoleYeomanry (Second Boer War)
Yeomanry (First World War)
Artillery (Second World War)
SizeOne Company (Second Boer War)
Three Regiments (First World War)
Two Regiments (Second World War)
One Squadron (Current)
EngagementsFrench Revolutionary Wars

Napoleonic Wars

Second Boer War

First World War

Second World War

Commanders
Honorary ColonelLieutenant General Arundell D. Leakey, CMG, CVO, CBE[1]

The Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry was a

Napoleonic wars
. It gained its first royal association in 1833 as The Princess Victoria's Regiment of Dorset Yeomanry Cavalry, and its second, in 1843, as the Queen's Own Regiment of Dorset Yeomanry Cavalry.

History

Formation and early history

Under threat of invasion by the

French Revolutionary government from 1793, and with insufficient military forces to repulse such an attack, the British government under William Pitt the Younger decided in 1794 to increase the Militia and to form corps of volunteers for the defence of the country. The mounted arm of the volunteers became known as the "Gentlemen and Yeomanry Cavalry".[2]

The Dorset Yeomanry was first raised on 9 May 1794 as the Dorsetshire Regiment of Volunteer Yeomanry Cavalry of six troops. In 1796, it became the Dorsetshire Rangers and now consisted of ten troops. In 1802, it was disbanded[3] as a result of the Treaty of Amiens and the consequent peace.[4]

With the ending of the

Peace of Amiens in 1803,[4] the regiment was re-raised as the Dorsetshire Regiment of Volunteer Yeomanry Cavalry, consisting of seven troops. In 1814, it was once again disbanded.[3]

The next, and longest lived, incarnation came in 1830 when the Dorsetshire Regiment of Volunteer Yeomanry Cavalry was reformed from troops at

headquarters at Dorchester.[3]

Corporal of the Dorset Yeomanry, c.1870

On 1 April 1893, the troops were reorganised into squadrons, and the headquarters moved to Weymouth.[3]

Second Boer War

On 13 December 1899, the decision to allow volunteer forces to serve in the

Royal Warrant on 24 December 1899. This warrant officially created the Imperial Yeomanry. The Royal Warrant asked standing Yeomanry regiments to provide service companies of approximately 115 men each. In addition to this, many British citizens (usually mid-upper class) volunteered to join the new regiment.[5]

Dorset Yeomanry entering Johannesburg, 1900

The first contingent of recruits contained 550 officers, 10,371 men with 20 battalions and 4 companies,[6] which arrived in South Africa between February and April, 1900.[7] On arrival, the regiment was sent throughout the zone of operations. The Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry provided troops for the 26th Company, 7th Battalion, fighting at the Relief of Wepener, Battle of Doornkop, Battle of Diamond Hill, Capture of Pretoria, Battle of Boschfontein, Battle of Nooitgedacht, and the Battle of Middelfontein along with many other patrols and skirmishes.[8]

Boer War
from 1900 - 1901.

On 17 April 1901, the regiment was renamed as the Dorsetshire Imperial Yeomanry (Queen's Own) and reorganised in four squadrons and a machine gun section. In 1902, the headquarters moved to

hussars. The regiment was based at Priestlands Crescent in Sherborne at this time (since demolished).[9][10]

Trooper Walter Lear, Dorset Yeomanry, c.1904.

The regiment's organisation was:[3]

Dorset Yeomanry (Queen's Own)
HQ Sherborne
A Squadron Dorchester
(detachments at Bridport, Weymouth, Maiden Newton, Charmouth)
B Squadron Sherborne
(detachments at Yeovil (Somerset), Pulham)
C Squadron Blandford
(detachments at Wimborne, Wareham, Handley)
D Squadron Gillingham
(detachments at Shaftesbury, Stalbridge, Sturminster Newton)

It was ranked as 23rd (of 55) in the order of precedence of the Yeomanry Regiments in the Army List of 1914.[11]

First World War

1st South Western Mounted Brigade
Organisation on 4 August 1914
Assigned units
A Squadron at Warminster
B Squadron at Chirton
C Squadron at Chippenham
D Squadron at Swindon
A Squadron at Bath
B Squadron at Weston-super-Mare
C Squadron at Shepton Mallet
D Squadron at Bristol
A Squadron at Portsmouth
B Squadron at Winchester
C Squadron at Southampton
D Squadron at Bournemouth
  • Brigade troops
Ammunition Column, Basingstoke
Transport and Supply Column, ASC,
Tisbury
Training attachments
A Squadron at Dorchester
B Squadron at Sherborne
C Squadron at Blandford
D Squadron at Gillingham

In accordance with the

7 Edw. 7, c.9) which brought the Territorial Force into being, the TF was intended to be a home defence force for service during wartime and members could not be compelled to serve outside the country. However, on the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, many members volunteered for Imperial Service. Therefore, TF units were split in August and September 1914 into 1st Line (liable for overseas service) and 2nd Line (home service for those unable or unwilling to serve overseas) units. Later, a 3rd Line was formed to act as a reserve, providing trained replacements for the 1st and 2nd Line regiments.[13]

1/1st Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry

The 1st Line regiment was mobilised in August 1914 and attached to the

2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade, 2nd Mounted Division.[14]

In 1915, it was deployed overseas to

Battle of Gallipoli, the Battle of Sari Bair and the Battle of Scimitar Hill.[15]

After the evacuation of Gallipoli, it returned to Egypt in January 1916 and became part of the

Jaffir Pasha prisoner.[18]

In February 1917, 6th Mounted Brigade joined the

Imperial Mounted Division and took part in the First and Second Battles of Gaza. I, June 1917, it was transferred to the Yeomanry Mounted Division for the Third Battle of Gaza and the Battle of Beersheba.[14]

In July 1918, the Brigade was re-designated the

4th Cavalry Division. The Regiment remained with them in Palestine until the end of the war.[14]


2/1st Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry

The 2nd Line regiment was formed at Sherborne in September 1914. In May 1915, it was at

16th Mounted Brigade and joined 4th Mounted Division at Manningtree.[19]

In July 1916, there was a major reorganization of 2nd Line yeomanry units in the United Kingdom. All but 12 regiments were converted to

2nd Cyclist Division) at Woodbridge.[19]

Further reorganization in November 1916 saw the 2nd Cyclist Division broken up and the regiment was remounted at

3rd Mounted Brigade in the new 1st Mounted Division (3rd Mounted Division redesignated). In March 1917, it was at Sevenoaks.[19]

In September 1917, the regiment was converted back to cyclists, this time in

The Cyclist Division, still at Sevenoaks. In December 1917, the 13th Cyclist Brigade was broken up and in early 1918 the regiment moved to Ireland, joining the 6th Cyclist Brigade at The Curragh. There were no further changes before the end of the war.[14][19]

3/1st Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry

The 3rd Line regiment was formed in 1915 and in the summer was affiliated to a

2nd Reserve Cavalry Regiment, also at The Curragh.[19]

Between the wars

On 7 February 1920, the Regiment was reconstituted in the

Territorial Army with HQ still at Sherborne. Following the experience of the war, it was decided that only the fourteen most senior yeomanry regiments would be retained as horsed cavalry, with the rest being transferred to other roles. As a result, on 25 January 1922, the Regiment was transferred to the Royal Artillery to form two batteries – 375 (Dorset Yeomanry) Battery at Blandford and 376 (Dorset Yeomanry) Battery (Howitzer) at Sherborne – that joined the 94th (Somerset Yeomanry) Brigade, RFA to form the 94th (Somerset and Dorset Yeomanry) Brigade, RFA, soon being renamed as the 94th (Dorset and Somerset Yeomanry) Brigade, RFA. This was a short-lived marriage, the Somerset Yeomanry batteries being moved to 55th (Wessex) Army Field Brigade, RA in July 1929.[21][22][23]

At this time (July 1929) the regiment was renamed as the 94th (Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry) Army Field Brigade, RA with headquarters at

brigades became regiments, hence 94th (Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry) Field Regiment, RA.[3][22]

In 1939, the

Territorial Army was "duplicated" – existing units formed a second unit. 375 and 376 batteries transferred to the duplicate 141st Field Regiment, RA. 94th Field Regiment, RA retained 218 and 224 batteries.[3][22]

Second World War

In 1938, field regiments were organised into two 12-gun batteries. The experience of the BEF in 1940 showed the problem with this organisation: field regiments were intended to support an infantry brigade of three battalions. This could not be managed without severe disruption to the regiment. As a result, field regiments were reorganised into three 8-gun batteries.[26]

94th (Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry) Field Regiment, RA

94th (Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry) Field Regiment served in the Home Forces for most of the war, taking part in the

North West Europe Campaign from June 1944.[4]

At the outbreak of the war, 94th Field Regiment was part of 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division.[27] Initially commanding two batteries – 218 (Bournemouth) at Bournemouth and 224 (Dorset) Battery at Dorchester – the third battery (468) was formed in the regiment on 27 February 1941.[28]

It remained in the United Kingdom until June 1944, when it was deployed to France, still with the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division. It remained with 43rd Division until the end of the war.[29]

141st (Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry) Field Regiment, RA

141st (Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry) Field Regiment served in the Home Forces throughout the war.[4]

At the outbreak of the war, 141st Field Regiment was also part of 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division.[30] Initially commanding two batteries – 375 (Dorset Yeomanry) at Shaftesbury and 376 (Dorset Yeomanry) at Sherborne – the third battery (505) was formed in the regiment on 27 February 1941. It was authorised to use the "Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry" designation from 17 February 1942.[31]

It transferred to the 9th Armoured Division in June 1942, 55th Infantry Division in August 1944 and finally to 61st Infantry Division in June 1945.[32]

Post war

In 1947, the Regiment was reformed in the

Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Lord Hylton.[35]

Dorset Yeomanry

In 1997, an Armoured Replacement Regiment was formed at Bovington and called 'The Dorset Yeomanry'.[3] This new regiment did not inherit the lineage and battle honours of the Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry. In 1999, this regiment was reduced to a single squadron, which became "A" (Dorset Yeomanry) Squadron of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry.[3] The other squadrons of this regiment are formed by other old yeomanry regiments that had been reduced to the strength of one squadron:[36]

B (Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry) [RWY] Squadron
C (Royal Gloucestershire Hussars) [RGH] Squadron
D (Royal Devon Yeomanry) [RDY] Squadron

The Regiment has three roles:

  • B, C and D Squadrons – provide replacement Challenger 2 turret crewmen to the Regular Army.
  • Regimental Headquarters and A (Dorset Yeomanry) Armour Replacement Squadron – develop Armour Replacement doctrine and provide the infrastructure to support the Logistic brigades.[37]

Battle honours

The Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry was awarded the following

regimental colours):[3]

Second Boer War
South Africa 1900–01
First World War
Palestine 1917–18
Second World War The Royal Artillery was present in nearly all battles and would have earned most of the honours awarded to cavalry and infantry regiments. In 1833,
William IV awarded the motto Ubique (meaning "everywhere") in place of all battle honours.[38]

Uniforms

During the period 1830 to 1847, the regiment wore a

Boer War a khaki uniform with green facings replaced the blue uniforms, to be worn with a slouch hat. This practical dress proved unpopular for recruiting purposes and, by 1908, officers had for full dress reverted to the 19th century dark blue hussar uniform, with silver braiding, scarlet facings and plumed busby. Other ranks had plainer "blues" for parade and walking out dress.[39] Subsequently, khaki service and battle dress of standard British Army pattern was worn for nearly all occasions.[40]

See also

References

  1. ^ "No. 63516". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 November 2021. p. 19472.
  2. ^ Mileham 1994, pp. 8–10
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "The Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry [UK]". Archived from the original on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d Mileham 1994, p. 83
  5. ^ "Boer War Notes". Retrieved 11 June 2007.
  6. ^ "Imperial Yeomanry [UK]". Archived from the original on 29 May 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ "Boer War - Imperial Yeomanry Battalions". Retrieved 3 July 2007.
  8. ^ "anglo boer war". Archived from the original on 14 July 2008.
  9. ^ "Sherborne". The Drill Hall Project. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  10. ^ "Dorset Historic Towns Survey: Sherborne" (PDF). Dorset County Council. p. 69. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  11. ^ Mileham 1994, p. 73
  12. ^ Conrad, Mark (1996). "The British Army, 1914".
  13. ^ Rinaldi 2008, p. 35
  14. ^ a b c d Baker, Chris. "Dorset Yeomanry". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  15. ^ "Scimitar Hill - Gallipoli". The Keep Military Museum. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  16. ^ "historyofwar".
  17. ^ Rolls S.C. (1937). Steel Chariots in the Desert. Leonaur Books.
  18. ^ Gwatkin-Williams R.S. (1919). Prisoners of the Red Desert. Leonaur Books. pp. 264.
  19. ^ a b c d e f James 1978, p. 18
  20. ^ a b James 1978, p. 36
  21. ^ "West Somerset Yeomanry [UK]". Archived from the original on 16 August 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  22. ^ a b c d e f g Litchfield, pp. 50–2; Appendix VII.
  23. ^ Titles & Designations 1927.
  24. ^ "1st Devonshire Artillery Volunteers, RA (T) [UK]". Archived from the original on 22 November 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. ^ "Hampshire Yeomanry (Carabiniers) [UK]". Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  26. ^ Forty 1998, p. 73
  27. ^ Bellis 1995, p. 96
  28. ^ Frederick 1984, p. 524
  29. ^ Barton, Derek. "94 (Queen's Own Dorset Yeo) Field Regiment RA(TA)". The Royal Artillery 1939-45.
  30. ^ Bellis 1995, p. 101
  31. ^ Frederick 1984, p. 532
  32. ^ Barton, Derek. "141 (Queens Own Dorset Yeo) Field Regiment RA(TA)". The Royal Artillery 1939-45.
  33. ^ Milne, Jim (2 June 2002). "United Kingdom: Royal Artillery – Territorial Army 1st March 1947". Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  34. ^ "289 - 322 Regiments 1947-67". British Army units from 1945 on British Army units from 1945 on. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  35. ^ a b "West Somerset Yeomanry". Somerset Military Museum. Archived from the original on 13 June 2004. Retrieved 4 November 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  36. ^ "The Royal Wessex Yeomanry". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 18 October 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  37. ^ "Brief History of The Royal Wessex Yeomanry". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  38. ^ "Royal Regiment of Artillery [UK]". Archived from the original on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  39. ISBN 0-948251-26-3
    .
  40. ^ "Henry Colt Arthur Hoare (1888-1917) at Stourhead in the Uniform of the 1st Queen's Own Yeomanry". Stourhead. Retrieved 4 November 2017.

Bibliography

External links
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