| Duke of Yorks Own Loyal Suffolk Hussars | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1793 - Present |
| Country | Great Britain |
| Allegiance | British Army |
| Type | Yeomanry |
| Size | Squadron |
| Part of | Cavalry World War I Royal Artillery World War II Army Air Corps Present Day |
| Motto | CONSTANTIA LEVANDI (Steadfast in support) |
| 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] |
Contents |
The Duke of Yorks Own Loyal Suffolk Hussars was a unit of the British Army from 1794–1961.
The regiment was formed as volunteer cavalry in 1794, during the French Revolutionary Wars. The Suffolk Yeomanry was raised in as the Loyal Suffolk Hussars, they fought in the Boer war as part of the Imperial Yeomanry. In the First World War they fought at Gallipoli, Palestine and the Western front. They were subsequently converted to artillery, serving in this role during the Second World War North Africa, Italy and France. In 1961 they were amalgamated with the Norfolk Yeomanry to form the Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry.
In World War One The Duke of York's Own Loyal Suffolk Hussars, consisted of three units the 1/1st the 2/1st and the 3/1st.[2]
The 1/1st was embodied in August 1914 at Bury St. Edmunds and became part of the Eastern Mounted Brigade , 1st Mounted Division.[3] In September 1915 , they were dismounted and moved to the ANZAC bridgehead at Gallipoli and came under the command of the British 54th Division.[4] After they were withdrawn from Gallipoli they moved to Egypt in December 1915 , the first party being evacuated to Mudros on December 14 and the rest following five days later.[5] They were next attached to the 3rd Dismounted Brigade on Suez Canal defences , from February 22 , 1916. In January 1917 , they were converted to an infantry battalion and formed the 15th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Battalion, the Suffolk Regiment in the 74th (Yeomanry) Division , which moved to France in May 1918.[6]
The 2/1st was formed in September 1914 , and remained in United Kingdom converting into a cyclist unit in 1916. In May 1918 when they moved to Ireland.[7]
The 3/1st was formed in 1915. They remained in United Kingdom until they were disbanded in early 1917.[8]
Prio to World War II The Duke of York’s Own Loyal Suffolk Hussars , were amagamated with the Norfolk Yeomanry and converted into an Anti Tank Regiment of the Royal Artillery , 55 Anti Tank Regiment R.A. (Suffolk & Norfolk Yeomanry). Later in 1938 the Suffolk Yeomanry separated from the regiment to form 55th Anti-Tank Regiment, RA (217th, 218th, 219th and 220th Batteries), The Regiment was attached to various Divisions during the war
During the major reorganisation of the Territorial Army that took place in 1967, "202 (The Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Battery" Royal Artillery was formed out of the old "308 Regiment Royal Artillery". The new Battery became part of "100 (Medium) Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)". At the time the Battery was equipped with the BL 5.5 inch Medium Gun. In 1980 the Battery re-equipped with the 105mm Light Gun, then to the much larger FH70 155mm Gun in 1992. On 1 July 1999, the Battery yet again began re-roling as an Air Defence Battery affiliated to 12 Regiment Royal Artillery in Paderborn , Germany, with the Lightweight Multiple Launcher (LML) High Velocity Missile (HVM) system. On 2 July 2006, 202 (The Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Battery Royal Artillery (Volunteers) re-roled to become 677 (The Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Squadron Army Air Corps (Volunteers), part of 6 Regiment Army Air Corps (Volunteers). 677 Squadron Army Air Corps (Volunteers) currently has its headquarters alongside 6 Regiment Army Air Corps (Volunteers) in Bury St Edmunds (Suffolk). The Squadron has detachments at Swaffham and Norwich (Norfolk).