Imperial Yeomanry

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The Imperial Yeomanry was created on December 24, 1899 — most units being raised during 1900 and 1901 — to allow volunteer cavalry troops to fight as mounted infantry alongside regular troops of the British Army in the Second Boer War as, at that time, Yeomanry regiments had no obligation to fight overseas.

Volunteers did so for periods of twelve months; few did more than a single twelve-month engagement.

Unusually for cavalry regiments and emphasising its mounted infantry role, the Imperial Yeomanry was not organised into Squadrons but Battalions and Companies, the latter of 115 men. Certain units were sponsored by existing Yeomanry regiments. Many companies had county names and affiliations and certain battalions were named, such as the 18th (Sharpshooters), 19th (Paget's Horse), 20th (Rough Riders), 24th (Metropolitan Mounted Rifles) and County of London Yeomanry.

A total of 39 battalions and 3 companies were raised under the Imperial Yeomanry; it was formally disbanded on April 1, 1908 but had not fought since the war ended on May 31, 1902 finally leaving South Africa in 1903.