Lothian and Border Horse
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lothian and Border Horse Yeomanry | |
|---|---|
| Active | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Yeomanry |
| Size | World War I, 3 Regiments World War II, 2 Regiments |
| Part of | Royal Armoured Corps |
| Engagements | Battle of Normandy Battle of the Scheldt Geilenkirchen salient Rhine crossing Elbe crossing Bou Arada Fondouk El Kourzia Battle of Tunis Liri Valley Arezzo Advance to Florence Gothic Line Argenta Gap |
The Lothian and Border Horse Yeomanry was a Yeomanry regiment, part of the British Territorial Army. It was ranked 36th in the Yeomanry order of precedence, and based in the Scottish lowland area, recruiting in the Lothian and along the border with England.
Contents |
[edit] World War One
In August 1914 during World War One the Lothian and Border Horse Yeomanry was based in Edinburgh , they formed second and third line regiments named the 1/1st, 2/1st and 3/1st Lothian and Border Horse which together formed part of the Lowland Mounted Brigade.[1]
[edit] 1/1st Lothian and Border Horse
In the Summer of 1915, the 1/1st was split up as follows:[1]
- Regimental Headquarters and B Squadron joined the 25th Division. In May 1916 they moved to become V Corps cavalry regiment but in July 1917, due to manpower shortages, they were dismounted and transferred to the infantry. In September 1917, after infantry training they re re designated the 17th Battalion Royal Scots.
- A Squadron went first to 26th Division, then, in November 1916, they joined 8th Mounted Brigade.
- D Squadron initially joined the 22nd Division, and in November 1916, was reunited with A Squadron in 8th Mounted Brigade.
Then on the May 11, 1917, A and D Squadrons formed the XII Corps cavalry regiment in Salonika, where they remained until the end of the war.[1]
[edit] 2/1st Lothian and Border Horse
The 2/1st Regiment was formed in September 1914, and atached to the Lowland Mounted Brigade.In July 1916, they converted into a cyclist unit and remained in Scotland until moving to Ireland in May 1918.[1]
[edit] 3/1st Lothian and Border Horse
The 3/1st Regiment was formed in 1915 and remained in the United Kingdom until absorbed by 4th Reserve Cavalry Regiment in early 1917.[1]
[edit] World war Two
[edit] 1st Lothian and Border Horse
The 1st Lothian and Border Horse Regiment was part of the 51st Highland Division, that had been sent to reinforce the French Maginot Line and was serving there when the Germans started their offensive. Together with the rest of the Division, they attempted to rejoin the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), moving around the south of Paris they engaged the German Army south of the River Somme near Abbeville. Outnumbered, it fought a retreat of sixty miles in six days to the fishing port of St. Valery-en-Caux, where having run out of food, ammunition and other supplies they surrendered on June 12.[2]
Prior to this some of the regiment were evacuated during Operation Ariel, and went on to re-form the 1st Lothian and Border Horse which were attached to the 30th Armoured Brigade, 79th Armoured Division and returned to France on D Day, June 6, 1944. The regiment remained with 79th Armoured in North West Europe until the end of the war.
Casualties, from D-Day up to the end of the war, consisted of 17 men killed, 90 officers and other ranks wounded, and 16 officers and other ranks missing in action. Equipment losses were 4 Sherman Gun Tanks and 36 Sherman Crab Tanks destroyed.[3]
While part of 79th Armoured Division the 1st Lothian and Border Horse Yeomanry took part in the following battles:
[edit] 2nd Lothian and Border Horse
The 2nd Lothian and Border Horse was from June 1940 - October 1940 part of the British 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade an interim formation formed due to the shortage of Tanks and Armoured Vehicle after the retreat from Dunkirk , then in October 1940 it was renamed the British 26th Armoured Brigade , which went on to form part of the British 6th Armoured Division[4]
While part of 6th Armoured Division the 2nd Lothian and Border Horse participated in the following battles
- 18 January–25 January 1943—Bou Arada
- 7 April–11 April 1943—Fondouk
- 22 April–26 April 1943—El Kourzia
- 5 May–12 May 1943—Battle of Tunis
- 18 May–20 May 1944—Liri Valley
- 4 July–17 July 1944—Arezzo
- 17 July–10 August 1944—Advance to Florence
- 25 August–22 September 1944—Gothic Line
- 13 April–21 April 1945—Argenta Gap.
[edit] See also
[edit] Contacts
Lothian & Border Regimental Association Contact: c/o RHQ RTR, Bovington Camp, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 6JA Tele: 01929 40 3331, Ext 3331
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Scots at war.
- ^ Clara.net.
- ^ Peoples war.
- ^ Flames of War.
