Lincolnshire Yeomanry
| Lincolnshire Yeomanry | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1794–1920 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 British Army |
| Type | Yeomanry |
| Size | Maximum three Regiments in World War I |
| Engagements |
South Africa 1900-1902 World War I Second Battle of Gaza Third Battle of Gaza Battle of Beersheba |
The Lincolnshire Yeomanry was a volunteer cavalry unit of the British Army from 1794–1920.
Early history
Independent Troops of Yeomanry were raised from 1794 and served until 1828. The Lincoln Light Horse comprised four troops and a further ten existed. Re-raised in 1831 the North Lincoln Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry served until 1846 when it was disbanded.
Boer War
On 13 December 1899, the decision to allow volunteer forces serve in the Second Boer War was made. Due to the string of defeats during Black Week in December 1899, the British government realized they were going to need more troops than just the regular army, thus issuing a Royal Warrant on 24 December 1899. This warrant officially created the Imperial Yeomanry. The Lincolnshire Yeomanry was raised in May 1901.
The Royal Warrant asked standing Yeomanry regiments to provide service companies of approximately 115 men each. In addition to this, many British citizens (usually mid-upper class) volunteered to join the new regiment.[1] Although there were strict requirements, many volunteers were accepted with substandard horsemanship/marksmanship, however they had significant time to train while awaiting transport.
The first contingent of recruits contained 550 officers, 10,371 men with 20 battalions and 4 companies,[2] which arrived in South Africa between February and April, 1900.[3] Upon arrival, the regiment was sent throughout the zone of operations.
World War I
During World War I, the Lincolnshire Yeomanry formed second and third line regiments known as the 2/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry and the 3/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry.[4]
1/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry
The 1/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry was mobilised in August 1914, and formed a part of the North Midland Mounted Brigade and in September were attached to the 1st Mounted Division.[4] In 1915 they were ordered overseas and departed for Salonika but on route they received order to divert to Egypt.[4] In April 1916 the Brigade was re designated as the 22nd Mounted Brigade and attached to the Western Frontier Force and in early 1917 moved to the ANZAC Mounted Division and participated in the Second Battle of Gaza.[4] Another move was made in June 1917,this time they were attached to the Yeomanry Mounted Division and were involved in the Third Battle of Gaza and the Battle of Beersheba, later the Division would be re designated and change their name to the 1st Mounted Division and the 4th Cavalry Division, while with the 4th Cavalry Division the Brigade again changed its designation and became the 12th Cavalry Brigade.[4] In April 1918, the regiment left the brigade and their horses to become a dismounted unit of the Machine Gun Corps, merging with 1/1st East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry to form "D" Battalion, Machine Gun Corps. It was as the 102nd MGC that they moved to France in June 1918 and were attached to the First Army.[4]
2/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry
The 2/1st Lincolnshie Yeomanry was formed in September 1914 and in July 1916 they were converted into a cyclist unit. This regiment remained in the United Kingdom for the course of the war and did not see any active service.[4]
3/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry
The third line regiment the 3/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry was formed in 1915. They remained in the United Kingdom until early in 1917 when they were absorbed into the 1st Reserve Cavalry Regiment.[4]
Post war
On reforming the Territorial Army, after the war the 14 senior Yeomanry Regiments would remain as horsed cavalry regiments (forming the 5th and 6th Cavalry Brigades). Other Yeomanry Regiments were converted into Royal Artillery Regiments. The Lincolnshire Yeomanry decided they did not want to convert to artillery so the regiment was disbanded in 1920.
References
- ↑ Boer War Notes, retrieved 2007-06-11
- ↑ Imperial Yeomanry at regiments.org by T.F.Mills at the Wayback Machine (archived 29 May 2007)
- ↑ Boer War - Imperial Yeomanry Battalions, retrieved 2007-07-03
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 "1914-918".
Bibliography
- Mileham, Patrick, 1994. 200 years of Tradition: The Yeomanry Regiments, Canongate Press Ltd, Edinburgh. ISBN 1 898410 364