Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry
Encyclopedia
The Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry has its origins in the various troops of light horse raised in the eighteenth century in the county of Lancaster, the earliest of which was the Bolton Light Horse formed in 1798.
In June 1828 the Lancashire Corps of Yeomanry Cavalry assembled and by special act, King William IV, granted the title Duke of Lancaster’s Corps of Yeomanry Cavalry in 1834, and the Sovereign, as the Duke of Lancaster
, has traditionally been Colonel-in-Chief
.
The regiment sent mounted infantry for service in the Boer War
as the Imperial Yeomanry
, between 1900 and 1902.
The regiment was then split up with RHQ and C Squadron joining the 23rd Division in April 1915, after being briefly attached to 1st Cavalry Division in late April to early May 1916.
A Squadron joined East Lancashire Division then it moved to the 53rd Division while in Egypt
on 29 January 1917 , and moved to XXI Corps
Cavalry in Palestine
in August 1917
D Squadron joined the 14th Division
.
Then on 14 May 1916, all the units except A Squadron reformed in France
, where together with 'C' Squadron the Surrey Yeomanry
they formed III Corps Cavalry.
On 24 July 1917 they were dismounted and became G.H.Q troops.
Then on September 24, 1917, after infantry training, the regiment joined a battalion of the Manchester Regiment, which was redesignated 12th (Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry) Bn, the Manchester Regiment.
in early 1917.
. The 78th went on to serve in Palestine
, Syria
and Italy
as part of 6 AGRA.
.
The 77th remained in Northern Ireland
until early 1944 when it prepared for the invasion of Europe. Landing in Normandy
on D Day plus 6, attached to 8 AGRA
, it fought for the Odon Bridgehead and in the battle of the Falaise Gap. They also provided support for the Arnhem Operation Market Garden
in September 1944.
.
Two years later the combined regiment was reduced to a cadre until 1971 when it was reformed as an infantry unit. On 1 April 1983 it rejoined the Royal Armoured Corps as a home defence reconnaissance unit equipped with Land Rovers.
On 1 November 1992 the regiment disbanded as a result of the Options for Change
and units amalgamated with The Queen's Own Mercian Yeomanry to form The Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry
and formed 'D' (Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry) Squadron.
In June 1828 the Lancashire Corps of Yeomanry Cavalry assembled and by special act, King William IV, granted the title Duke of Lancaster’s Corps of Yeomanry Cavalry in 1834, and the Sovereign, as the Duke of Lancaster
Duke of Lancaster
There were several Dukes of Lancaster in the 14th and early 15th Centuries. See also Duchy of Lancaster.There were three creations of the Dukedom of Lancaster....
, has traditionally been Colonel-in-Chief
Colonel-in-Chief
In the various Commonwealth armies, the Colonel-in-Chief of a regiment is its patron. This position is distinct from that of Colonel of the Regiment. They do not have an operational role. They are however kept informed of all important activities of the regiment, and pay occasional visits to its...
.
The regiment sent mounted infantry for service in the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
as the Imperial Yeomanry
Imperial Yeomanry
The Imperial Yeomanry was a British volunteer cavalry regiment that mainly saw action during the Second Boer War. Officially created on 24 December 1899, the regiment was based on members of standing Yeomanry regiments, but also contained a large contingent of mid-upper class English volunteers. In...
, between 1900 and 1902.
1/1st Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry
Formed in August 1914, in Manchester and became part of the Welsh Border Mounted Brigade.The regiment was then split up with RHQ and C Squadron joining the 23rd Division in April 1915, after being briefly attached to 1st Cavalry Division in late April to early May 1916.
A Squadron joined East Lancashire Division then it moved to the 53rd Division while 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...
on 29 January 1917 , and moved to XXI Corps
XXI Corps (United Kingdom)
The XXI Corps was a Army Corps of the British Army during World War I.-First World War:The Corps was formed in Egypt in June 1917 under the command of Lieutenant General Edward Bulfin...
Cavalry 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....
in August 1917
D Squadron joined the 14th Division
British 14th (Light) Division
The 14th Division was one of the Kitchener's Army divisions raised from volunteers by Lord Kitchener. It fought on the Western Front for the duration of the First World War.- Formation :...
.
Then on 14 May 1916, all the units except A Squadron reformed in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where together with 'C' Squadron the Surrey Yeomanry
Surrey Yeomanry
The Surrey Yeomanry was a unit of the British Army formed as volunteer cavalry in 1794 during the French Revolutionary Wars. In 1901 the Regiment was granted the title Princess of Wales's which was changed to Queen Mary's when George V became the King...
they formed III Corps Cavalry.
On 24 July 1917 they were dismounted and became G.H.Q troops.
Then on September 24, 1917, after infantry training, the regiment joined a battalion of the Manchester Regiment, which was redesignated 12th (Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry) Bn, the Manchester Regiment.
2/1st Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry
Formed in September 1914 they remained in the United Kingdom until July 1916, when they converted into a cyclist unit and moved to Ireland in May 1918.3/1st Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry
The 3/1st were formed in 1915. They also remained in United Kingdom until absorbed by the 6th Reserve Cavalry RegimentCavalry Reserve Regiments (United Kingdom)
Seventeen Cavalry Reserve Regiments were formed by the British Army on the outbreak of the Great War in August, 1914. These were affiliated with one or more active cavalry regiments, their purpose being to train replacement drafts for the active regiments. In 1915, the 3rd Seventeen Cavalry Reserve...
in early 1917.
World War II
During World War II the regiment was mobilised as horsed cavalry but in 1940 , then converted to form the 77th Medium and 78th Medium Regiments of Royal ArtilleryRoyal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
. The 78th went on to serve 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....
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
as part of 6 AGRA.
Army Group Royal Artillery
An Army Group Royal Artillery was a British Commonwealth military formation type during the Second World War and shortly thereafter, generally assigned to corps. An AGRA was mainly composed of medium artillery regiments but heavy regiments and field regiments were also used...
.
The 77th remained in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
until early 1944 when it prepared for the invasion of Europe. Landing in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
on D Day plus 6, attached to 8 AGRA
Army Group Royal Artillery
An Army Group Royal Artillery was a British Commonwealth military formation type during the Second World War and shortly thereafter, generally assigned to corps. An AGRA was mainly composed of medium artillery regiments but heavy regiments and field regiments were also used...
, it fought for the Odon Bridgehead and in the battle of the Falaise Gap. They also provided support for the Arnhem Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
in September 1944.
Post war
In 1947 the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry was reformed as an armoured regiment. In 1956 its role changed to reconnaissance, equipped with armoured cars, but on April 1, 1967 it combined with the 40th/41st Royal Tank Regiment40th/41st Royal Tank Regiment
The 40th/41st Royal Tank Regiment was an armoured regiment of the British Army from 1956 until 1967.It was formed in 1956, as part of the reorganisation of the Territorial Army, from the 40th Royal Tank Regiment and the 41st Royal Tank Regiment...
.
Two years later the combined regiment was reduced to a cadre until 1971 when it was reformed as an infantry unit. On 1 April 1983 it rejoined the Royal Armoured Corps as a home defence reconnaissance unit equipped with Land Rovers.
On 1 November 1992 the regiment disbanded as a result of the Options for Change
Options for Change
Options for Change was a restructuring of the British Armed Forces in 1990, aimed at cutting defence spending following the end of the Cold War....
and units amalgamated with The Queen's Own Mercian Yeomanry to form The Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry
Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry
The Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry is a yeomanry regiment of the United Kingdom's Territorial Army. It currently serves in the armoured replacement role, providing replacement tank crews for regular armoured regiments....
and formed 'D' (Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry) Squadron.
Further reading
- Brereton, John: Chain Mail; the History of the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry 1798-1991.Chippenham,Picton Publishers,(1992).