Royal Gloucestershire Hussars

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Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
Active 1795-present
Country United Kingdom
Branch Army
Type Armoured Corps
Role Armour Replacement
Part of Royal Wessex Yeomanry
Motto Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense
Colors Beaufort Blue, Buff and Crimson
March Quick: D'ye ken John Peel?
Anniversaries Katia Day, 23rd April 1916,
Bir El Gubi , 19th November 1941
Engagements See Guidon
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Capt MG Lloyd-Baker,
Lt Col NA Birley DSO,
Lt Col Anthony Kershaw MC

The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars (RGH) was a unit of the British Army.

Raised in 1795 following William Pitt's 1794 order to raise volunteer bodies of men to defend Great Britain, through various re-organisations, the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars remain today on the establishment of the Territorial Army as C (RGH) Sqn Royal Wessex Yeomanry. Their main function is to provide Tank Repacement Crew for the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank. They also train in a forward reconnaissance role on the Land Rover Defender. They continue to have strong ties with the King's Royal Hussars.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Formation and Early Years

In 1795 Captain Powell Snell raised the First Troop of Gloucestershire Gentleman and Yeomanry at the Plough Inn in Cheltenham. By 1797, troops had been raised at Minchinhampton, Wotton Under Edge, Stow on the Wold, Henbury, Bristol, and Gloucester. In 1798 Stroud had also raised a troop. Following the 1802 Peace of Amiens, all except the Cheltenham Troop under Major Snell were disbanded.

Following the end of the Napoleonic Wars, all Yeomanry Troops were disbanded, either voluntarily or by order, in 1827. In 1830, responding to unrest amongst agricultural workers, Yeomanry Troops were raised again. The First Troop was established by Mr Codrington of Dodington Park, quickly followed by troops from Fairford, Cirencester, Stroud, Tetbury, Gloucester, and Bristol. In 1834 the captains of all Gloucestershire troops met in Petty France and combined to form one regiment, known as the Gloucestershire Yeomanry Cavalry. The Marquis of Worcester was appointed as the first Commanding Officer and the band was also established.

[edit] Boer War

In 1900 123 members of the RGH under Capt WH Playne left for Cape Town, forming C Coy 1 Bn Imperial Yeomanry.

[edit] The Great War

On 15 April 1915 the RGH sailed to Egypt on board the SS Minneapolis, disembarking in Alexandria on 24 April, and making camp at Chatby Beach. On 11 August, the RGH received orders to embark for Gallipoli, less 4 officers and 100 ORs who remained to tend the horses. They dis-embarked at Suvla Bay and were brigaded in 1st South Midland Brigade as part of the British 2nd Mounted Division. On return to Egypt, they took part in many of the battles that formed the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, primarily as part of the Imperial Mounted Division. As part of the Imperial Mounted Division, the RGH would have been present at the Battle of Beersheba.

During The Great War the RGH were placed under command of the following formations:

[edit] The Second World War

During the Second World War three lines of RGH existed.

  • 1st RGH guarded the South West of England after Dunkirk. Due to leave for Africa as part of British 6th Armoured Division, a last minute change saw the line spend the majority of the war as a UK Defence / Training regiment. After VJ Day 1st RGH were sent to Austria and took part in the Musical Ride at the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna.
  • 2nd RGH reached Egypt in October 1941 as part of British 22nd Armoured Brigade. The unit took part in many of the key battles in Operation Crusader. In subsequent engagements the RGH suffered many casualties and was re-equipped on two occasions. 2nd RGH fought its final action at Battle of Alam el Halfa, on the 31st August to 5th September 1942. Expecting to be re-equipped the regiment was instead disbanded with 'F', 'G' and 'H' Squadrons transferred to the 4th Hussars, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry and the 8th Hussars respectively. HQ Squadron was divided and sent to the 5th Royal Tank Regiment and the 3rd Hussars.
  • 3rd RGH, consisting of the equivalent of a single troop of 1 officer and 30 men, was at various times either a training 'regiment', a trials unit or a decoy unit.

[edit] Late 20th Century

In keeping with many Territorial Army units, the RGH was reduced to a cadre of 3 officers and 4 NCOs between 1969 and 1971.

[edit] Current Status

The RGH forms C (RGH) Sqn Royal Wessex Yeomanry as an Armoured Replacement Squadron. It is also the parent unit of the army section of Pate's Grammar School Combined Cadet Force whose members wear the cap badge of the RGH.

[edit] Guidon

[edit] Battle Honours

The current Guidon was presented to the RGH by Col the Duke of Beaufort, representing HM The Queen at Badminton House in 27 May 1962.

Guidon of the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
Guidon of the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars

[edit] Boer War

  1. South Africa 1900-01

[edit] The Great War

  1. Suvla
  2. Scimitar Hill
  3. Gallipoli 1915
  4. Rumani
  5. Rafah
  6. Egypt 1915-17
  7. Gaza
  1. El Mughar
  2. Nebi Samwil
  3. Jerusalem
  4. Megiddo
  5. Sharon
  6. Damascus
  7. Palestine 1917-18

[edit] The Second World War

  1. Tobruk 1941
  2. Gubi
  3. Sidi Rezegh '41
  4. Chor es Sufan
  5. Gazala
  1. Bir el Aslagh
  2. Cauldron
  3. Alam el Halfa
  4. West Point 23
  5. North Africa 1941-42

[edit] Items of Interest

[edit] JNCO Rank

Lance Corporals and Corporals in the RGH have slightly different badges of rank compared to other similar units within the British Army. A Lance Corporal has two chevrons and a Corporal has two chevrons topped with a cloth crown. This crown is lost when the Corporal is promoted to Sergeant. In keeping with all Armoured and Cavalry Units, rank is only worn on the right sleeve.

The origin of this arrangement is unclear. Suggestions vary from 'Queen Victoria preferred all NCOs to wear two chevrons minimum' to the practice of Lance Corporals removing the single chevron from the left sleeve of the dolman as this would be covered by the pelisse. As the RGH does not form part of the Household Division and the pelisse was not worn by NCOs from 1882 (and cavalry wear rank on only one arm in the first instance), both these explanations are probably incorrect.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Mileham, Patrick (1994). The Yeomanry Regiments. Edinburgh: Canongate Academic. ISBN 1-898410-36-4. 
  • (1994) Royal Review of Serving Yeomanry Regiments & Old Comrades by Her Majesty The Queen. 
  • Pitman, Stuart (1950). Second Royal Gloucestershire Hussars. London: St Catherine Press. 
  • Clifford, Rollo (1991). The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars. Stroud: Alan Sutton. ISBN 0-86299-982-0. 
  • (1994) Year of the Yeomanry. Winchester: Army Museum Ogilby Trust. ISBN 0-9515714-8-6. 
  • Morgan, Paul; Capt T McMahon, SSgt D Bird (1995). A Short History of the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars. Gloucester: Royal Gloucestershire Hussars.