Lancashire Hussars
| Lancashire Hussars | |
|---|---|
 Badge of the Lancashire Hussars | |
| Active | 1798–Present Day |
| Country | Great Britain |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Yeomanry |
| Size | Regiment |
| Part of |
Royal Armoured Corps Royal Artillery |
| Battle honours | Second World War: 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]
First World War
During the Great War, the Regiment consisted of the 1/1st, 2/1st and 3/1st Lancashire Hussars.[3]
1/1st Lancashire Hussars
The 1/1st was formed in Liverpool in August 1914 and attached to the Welsh Border Mounted Brigade.[3] In 1915, the Regiment was split up, the Regimental Headquarters and B Squadron joining the 31st Division and, after moving to France, being briefly attached to the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division. The rest of the Regiment was attached to 35th Division, (C Squadron) and 30th Division, (D Squadron).[3]
The Regiment was reformed in May 1916 to form the VIII Corps Cavalry Regiment.[3] In July 1917, the Regiment was dismounted and dispatched for [3] training as infantry. This was completed in September 1917,when the men joined a battalion of the King's, which was redesignated as the 18th (Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry) Battalion, the King's (Liverpool) Regiment.
2/1st Lancashire Hussars
The 2/1st Lancashire Hussars was formed September 1914. It remained in the United Kingdom until May 1918, when it moved to Ireland, having first converted into a cyclist unit in July 1916.[3]
3/1st Lancashire Hussars
The 3/1st Lancashire Hussars was formed in 1915. It remained in the United Kingdom until absorbed by the 2nd Reserve Cavalry Regiment in Ireland in early 1917.[3]
Inter-War Years
In 1920, it converted to a Royal Artillery role and was redesignated as the 2nd (Lancashire) Army Brigade, R.F.A. In 1921, it was redesignated as the 106th (Lancashire Yeomanry) Brigade, R.F.A. and then, in 1924, as the 106th (Lancashire Yeomanry) Field Brigade, R.A. In 1938 it was retitled as the 106th (Lancashire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, R.A.[2]
Second World War
106th (Lancashire Hussars) Regiment, RHA
At the start of the Second World War, the hussars comprised 423rd and 424th Batteries, based in Liverpool.[2] By November 1939, it was part of the UK-based 1st Cavalry Division and was equipped with 4.5 inch Howitzers (424 Bty) and 18 pdr Field Guns (423 Bty). In January 1940, the regiment moved to Palestine. Later that year, it was renamed the 106th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery.[2]
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 two were equipped with Bofors 37 mm anti-tank guns on Portees, and the latter two with captured Italian 20mm Breda Model 35 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 early battles in North Africa.[2]
At the end of February 1941, the regiment was advised that it was to become a Light Anti Aircraft (L.A.A) regiment of just three batteries (comprising 36 x 20mm Breda guns[4]) and was then later known as 106th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (Lancashire Hussars). In March 1941, the regiment deployed to Greece via Operation Lustre as part of W Force. Upon disembarking at Piraeus, the regiment deployed to Glyfada for 2 weeks training.[5] Thereafter, the regiment was sent to defend the airstrip at Larissa.[6] The German advance forced the British to retreat to the town of Nauplion, where the 106th were the only AA defence.[7] After destroying their Breda guns, the regiment was evacuated to Crete on board HMS Calcutta.[8] Most of the regiment ended the campaign in the defence of Suda Bay in the Battle of Crete, becoming prisoners of war in the process.
It was placed in suspended animation in July the same year, with many of its men going to reinforce the 102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Regiment RA, which were being strengthened and re-equipped after being evacuated from Greece and Crete.[2]
149th (Lancashire Hussars) Regiment, RHA
Post war
After the war in 1947, it was renamed the 306th (Lancashire Hussars) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA, before being amalgamated with the 390th (King's Own) LAA Regiment, RA in 1950.[2]
Later, in 1956, it became '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).[2]
In 1969, the regiment reduced to a cadre and the Yeomanry lineage discontinued. However, in 2004, 106th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery, re-adopted the Yeomanry status of the old 106th Regiment RHA.[2]
References
External links
- Desert Rat escaped PoW camp three times
- The 106th (Lancashire Hussars) of Shaw Street remembered
- Resources for 106th RHA
Bibliography
Douglas ARTHUR, 2000 Desert Watch: A Story of the Battle of Beda Fomm Blaisdon Publishing, Bedale, ISBN 978-1902838014
Douglas ARTHUR, 2003 Forty men - Eight horses Vanguard Press, Cambridge, ISBN 978-1843860709