_division.gif)
British 74th (Yeomanry) Division
Encyclopedia
The British 74th Division was a First World War infantry
division
formed in Egypt
in early 1917 from brigades of dismounted yeomanry
(Territorial Army cavalry
). The division fought in Palestine
before moving to France in May, 1918.
The division's insignia was a broken spur
to signify that it was once a mounted division and now served as infantry.
fortications west of Beersheba.
230th Brigade :
231st Brigade :
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
formed in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in early 1917 from brigades of dismounted yeomanry
Yeomanry
Yeomanry is a designation used by a number of units or sub-units of the British Territorial Army, descended from volunteer cavalry regiments. Today, Yeomanry units may serve in a variety of different military roles.-History:...
(Territorial Army cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
). The division fought in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
before moving to France in May, 1918.
The division's insignia was a broken spur
Spur
A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids and to back up the natural aids . The spur is used in every equestrian discipline...
to signify that it was once a mounted division and now served as infantry.
Unit history
During the Battle of Beersheba on October 31, 1917, the division, as part of Chetwode's XX Corps, captured the TurkishTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
fortications west of Beersheba.
Formation
229th Brigade :- 16th (Royal 1st Devon and Royal North Devon Yeomanry) Battalion, The Devonshire RegimentThe Devonshire RegimentThe Devonshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army which served under various titles from 1685 to 1958. Its lineage is continued today by The Rifles.-Origin and titles:...
- 12th (West Somerset YeomanryWest Somerset YeomanryThe West Somerset Yeomanry was formed in 1794, when King George III was on the throne, William Pitt the Younger was the Prime Minister of Great Britain and, across the English Channel, Britain was faced by a French nation that had recently guillotined its King and possessed a revolutionary army...
) Battalion, The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's)The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's)The Somerset Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army, which served under various titles from 1685 to 1959. Its lineage is continued today by The Rifles.-Formation:... - 14th (Fife and Forfar YeomanryFife and Forfar YeomanryThe Fife and Forfar Yeomanry was an Armoured Yeomanry Regiment of the British Territorial Army from 1793 to 1956 when it was amalgimated with the Scottish Horse....
) Battalion, Black WatchBlack WatchThe Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II.... - 12th (AyrAyrshire (Earl of Carrick's Own) YeomanryThe Ayrshire Yeomanry was a Regiment of the British Yeomanry and is now an armoured Squadron of the Queen's Own Yeomanry , part of the British Territorial Army...
and LanarkLanarkshire YeomanryThe Lanarkshire Yeomanry was a yeomanry regiment of the British Army, first raised in 1819, which served as a dismounted infantry regiment in the First World War and provided two field artillery regiments in the Second World War, before being amalgamated into The Queen's Own Lowland Yeomanry in...
Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Scots FusiliersRoyal Scots Fusiliers-The Earl of Mar's Regiment of Foot :The regiment was raised in Scotland in 1678 by Stuart loyalist Charles Erskine, de jure 5th Earl of Mar for service against the rebel covenanting forces during the Second Whig Revolt . They were used to keep the peace and put down brigands, mercenaries, and...
(until June 1918)
230th Brigade :
- 10th (Royal East KentRoyal East Kent YeomanryThe Royal East Kent Yeomanry were formed in 1794, originally as a series of independent troops based in the important towns of Kent, England.In the latter part of the 19th century they frequently provided escorts for the Queen and members of the Royal Family, and as a result, in 1856 the East Kent...
and West Kent YeomanryQueen's Own West Kent YeomanryThe Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry can trace its origins to 1794 when local volunteer troops were raised to assist the civil powers. Each Troop was about 50 strong with three officers , they were required to provide their own uniforms and mounts while the government would supply their arms and...
) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) - 15th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment
- 16th (Sussex Yeomanry) Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment
231st Brigade :
- 25th (MontgomeryMontgomeryshire YeomanryThe Montgomeryshire Yeomanry unlike the other Yeomanry regiments was only formed in 1813 when the threat of a French invasion was almost over. They served as part of the Imperial Yeomanry during the Boer War and formed three regiments for service during World War I.-Boer War:The Montgomeryshire...
& Welsh HorseWelsh HorseThe Welsh Horse unlike the other Yeomanry regiments was newly formed and raised in 1914, almost single handed by their aspiring Commanding Officer Lt Colonel Arthur Owen Vaughan DSO OBE DCM. During the Great War the Regiment would raise three regiment but only the First Line Regiment would see...
Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers - 24th (PembrokePembroke YeomanryThe Pembroke Yeomanry were formed in 1794, by Lord Milfordwhen King George III was on the throne, William Pitt the Younger was Prime Minister of Great Britain, and across the English Channel, Britain was faced by a French nation that had recently guillotined its King and which possessed a...
& GlamorganGlamorgan YeomanryThe Glamorgan Yeomanry were formed in 1797, when King George III was on the throne, William Pitt the Younger was the Prime Minister of Great Britain, and across the English Channel, Britain was faced by a French nation that had recently guillotined its King and possessed a revolutionary army...
) Battalion, The Welsh Regiment - 10th (ShropshireShropshire YeomanryThe Shropshire Yeomanry was a yeomanry regiment of the British Army, first raised in 1795, which served as a cavalry and dismounted infantry regiment in the First World War and as a cavalry and an artillery regiment in the Second World War, before being amalgamated with the Shropshire Royal Horse...
& Cheshire YeomanryCheshire YeomanryThe Cheshire Yeomanry was a yeomanry regiment that can trace its history back to 1797 when Sir John Fleming Leicester of Tabley raised a county regiment of light cavalry in response to the growing fears of invasion from Napoleonic France....
) Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry - 24th (Denbighshire HussarsDenbighshire HussarsThe Denbighshire Hussars was a unit of the British Army from 1794–1921. It saw service in the First World War before being merged into a unit of the Royal Artillery.-Early history:...
) Battalion, Royal Welch FusiliersRoyal Welch FusiliersThe Royal Welch Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. It was founded in 1689 to oppose James II and the imminent war with France...
(until June 1918)
Battles
- Second Battle of GazaSecond Battle of GazaThe Second Battle of Gaza, fought in southern Palestine during the First World War, was another attempt mounted by British Empire forces to break Ottoman defences along the Gaza-Beersheba line...
- Third Battle of GazaThird Battle of GazaThe Third Battle of Gaza was fought in 1917 in southern Palestine during the First World War. The British Empire forces under the command of General Edmund Allenby successfully broke the Ottoman defensive Gaza-Beersheba line...
- Battle of Beersheba
- Battle of EpehyBattle of EpéhyThe Battle of Épehy was a World War I battle fought on 18 September 1918, involving the British Fourth Army against German outpost positions in front of the Hindenburg Line.- Prelude :...