Norfolk Yeomanry
The Norfolk Yeomanry was a yeomanry regiment of the British Army.
The regiment was raised in 1901 at the express wish of the new King Edward VII, and titled the Norfolk (King′s Own) Imperial Yeomanry with the Royal cypher as their badge.[1] It was later renamed King's Own Royal Regiment (Norfolk Yeomanry)
World War I
In accordance with the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 (7 Edw.7, c.9) which brought the Territorial Force into being, the TF was intended to be a home defence force for service during wartime and members could not be compelled to serve outside the country. However, on the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, many members volunteered for Imperial Service. Therefore, TF units were split in August and September 1914 into 1st Line (liable for overseas service) and 2nd Line (home service for those unable or unwilling to serve overseas) units. Later, a 3rd Line was formed to act as a reserve, providing trained replacements for the 1st and 2nd Line regiments.[3]
Gallipoli
In September 1915, the regiment embarked on RMS Olympic with 25 officers & 504 men for the journey to Gallipoli, landing on the peninsula on 10 October. Units of the Norfolk Yeomanry were among the last to be evacuated from the Suvla beachhead on 20 December.
Egypt and Palestine
The Yeomanry was re-equipped and sent to the Suez Canal defences and then joined the Western Frontier Force in July 1916, defending Egypt against the Senussi. On 7 Feb 1917 the regiment formed the 12th (Norfolk Yeomanry) Battalion, The Norfolk Regiment and served in Palestine (including the Third Battle of Gaza) from April 1917 to April 1918 in the 230th Brigade of the 74th (Yeomanry) Division.
France and Flanders
In May 1918 the battalion was sent to France.
The regimental war memorial in Norwich Cathedral bears the names of 196 officers and men of the Norfolk Yeomanry who died during the First World War. The Muckleburgh Collection at Weybourne in Norfolk, has displays of Norfolk Yeomanry memorabilia.[4]
Among those who served in the K.O.R.R. were:
- Viscount Coke
- W.E. Johns author of the Biggles books
- Frederick Duleep Singh (1868–1926), second son of Maharaja Duleep Singh (last ruler of the Sikhs)
Later history
Several units have subsequently borne Norfolk Yeomanry as part of their title. In 1961 they amalgamated with the Suffolk Yeomanry to form the Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry. In 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) and is part of 6 Regiment Army Air Corps (Volunteers).[5]
Honorary Colonels and Commanding Officers
| List of Honorary Colonels |
List of Commanding Officers/ Officer Commanding | |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk (King′s Own) Imperial Yeomanry (1901-1908) |
Major H.A. Barclay (1901-1913)[6] | |
| King′s Own Royal Regiment (Norfolk Yeomanry) 1908-1961 |
References
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27317. p. 3562. 24 May 1901.
- ↑ Conrad, Mark (1996). "The British Army, 1914". Retrieved 21 February 2013.
- ↑ Baker, Chris. "Norfolk Yeomanry". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ↑ http://www.muckleburgh.co.uk/the-collection.htm
- ↑ http://www.army.mod.uk/aviation/25372.aspx
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27320. p. 3775. 4 June 1901.