Lancashire Hussars
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| Lancashire Hussars | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1798 - Present Day |
| Country | Great Britain |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Yeomanry |
| Size | Regiment |
| Part of | Royal Armoured Corps Royal Artillery |
| Battle honours | World War II No battle honours were awarded. It is tradition within artillery units that the Regiment's guns represent its colours and battle honours.[1] |
The Lancashire Hussars were originally formed in 1798 as independent troops, before becoming the Lancashire Yeomanry Cavalry in 1828 and then being disbanded in 1832. In 1848 the regiment was reformed as the Lancashire Hussars, becoming the Lancashire Hussars Imperial Yeomanry in 1901 for service in South Africa and the Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry, in 1908.[2]
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[edit] World War I
During The Great War the Regiment consisted of the 1/1st , 2/1st and 3/1st Lancashire Hussars.[3]
[edit] 1/1st Lancashire Hussars
The 1/1st was formed in Liverpool , in August 1914 and attachjed to the Welsh Border Mounted Brigade[4]. In 1915 the Regiment was split up with RHQ and B Squadron joining the 31st Division , after moving to France it was briefley attached to the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division. The rest of the Regiment was attached to 35th Division , (C Squadron) and 30th Division ,(D Squadron).[5] The Regiment was reformed in May 1916 to form the VIII Corps Cavalry Regiment.[6] Then in July 1917 , the Regiment was dismounted and dispatched for [7]training as infantry which was completed in September 1917 ,when the men joined a battalion of the King's, which was redesignated 18th (Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry) Battalion , the King's (Liverpool) Regiment.
[edit] 2/1st Lancashire Hussars
The 2/1st Lancashire Hussars was formed September 1914, and remained in United Kingdom until May 1918 , when moved to Ireland, having first converted into a cyclist unit in July 1916.[8]
[edit] 3/1st Lancashire Hussars
The 3/1st Lancashire Hussars was formed in 1915. Remained in United Kingdom until absorbed by the 2nd Reserve Cavalry Regiment in Ireland in early 1917.[9]
[edit] Between the Wars
In 1920 it became a Royal Artillery regiment the 2nd (Lancashire) Army Brigade, R.F.A. and in 1921 the 106th (Lancashire Yeomanry) Brigade, R.F.A. and in 1924 the 106th (Lancashire Yeomanry) Field Brigade, R.A. In 1938 it was retitled the 106th (Lancashire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, R.A..[10]
[edit] World War II
At the start of the war it consisted of 423rd and 424th Batteries, based in Liverpool.[11] . By November 1939 it was part of 1st Cavalry Division , in the UK before moving to Palestine in January 1940 , equipped with 4.5 inch Howitzers (424 Bty) and 18 pdr Field Guns (423 Bty). Later in 1940 it became 106th Royal Horse Artillery, consisting of 423 and 424 Batteries.[12] It moved to North Africa in August 1940, after serving in Crete , by which time 424 Bty had become No. 1 and No. 2 Batteries (Anti-tank) and 423 Bty had become No. 3 and No. 4 Batteries (Anti-aircraft), known as 1/106 Bty, 1/102, Bty, etc. The former teo were equipped with 37mm Bofors anti-tank guns on Portees and the latter two with captured Italian 20mm Breda AA/AT guns. Each new battery consisted of only two troops, A and B (No. 1 Bty), C and D (No. 2 Bty), E and F (No. 3 Bty) and G and H (No.4 Bty). It served with the 7th Armoured Division during many of the earlier battles in North Africa.[13]
At the end of February 1941 the regiment was advised it was to become a Light Anti Aircraft (L.A.A) regiment of just three batteries and was then later known as 106th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (Lancashire Hussars). It was placed in suspended animation in July the same year, with many of its men going to reinforce the Northumberland Hussars , who were being strengthened and re-equipped after being evacuated from Greece and Crete.[14]
[edit] Post War
After the war in 1947 , it was renamed 306th (Lancashire Hussars) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA, before being amalgamated with 390th (King's Own) LAA Regiment, RA in 1950.[15]
Later in 1956 it had become 'P' (Lancashire Hussars) Battery, of 287th (1st West Lancashire) Medium Regiment, RA and by 1967 it was just 'A' Troop (Lancashire Hussars), P (1st West Lancashire) Battery, The West Lancashire Regiment, RA (Territorial).[16]
In 1969 the regiment reduced to cadre, and Yeomanry lineage discontinued. However, in 2004 , 106th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery , re-adopted the Yeomanry status of the old 106th Regiment RHA.[17]
