Essex Yeomanry
Encyclopedia
The Essex Yeomanry was a yeomanry
regiment of the British Army
raised in 1797. The regiment recruited volunteers from the county of Essex
in the East of England
.
as a number of independent troops. Its Band was formed in 1809. The regiment was brought together as the "Essex Yeomanry Cavalry" in 1814. The regiment was disbanded in 1828, but with the expansion of the volunteer movement in the 1850s the regiment was re-raised as the "West Essex Yeomanry Cavalry" in 1857. The regiment was disbanded again in 1877, but an "Essex Troop" continued to serve under command of the "Loyal Suffolk Hussars".
. In 1908, the regiment was renamed the "Essex Yeomanry" and transferred to the Territorial Force
.
and the 10th Royal Hussars in France in November 1914 as part of 8th Cavalry Brigade. http://www.essex-yeomanry.org.uk/history/shorthistory.htm During the war, 2nd and 3rd line regiments were raised at Colchester to reinforce the 1st line. The 2nd Essex Yeomanry served as garrison troops in Ireland during the war, and the 3rd Essex Yeomanry was absorbed into the 4th Reserve Cavalry Regiment in 1917. In addition, 1/1st (Essex Yeomanry) Battery, RHA was mobilised at Colchester in 1914. The battery was a reserve Royal Horse Artillery
formation aligned to the Essex Yeomanry. The battery served attached to 8th Cavalry Brigade in France from 1914-1918. http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/3cavdiv.htm In April 1918, the 1st Essex Yeomanry was broken up as reinforcements for three other cavalry regiments. Lieutenant Colonel Whitmore of the EY was appointed to command the 10th Royal Hussars, the only Territorial officer without previous regular service to command a regular cavalry regiment. Other officers included members of the Towers family, whose descendants subsequently hung portraits of their menfolk in uniform at Ashridge
, where they can still be seen today.
.
In 1932, with regimental headquarters and 413 Battery transferred to Chelmsford
, the regiment gained a third battery in form of 339 (Essex Royal Horse Artillery
) Battery based at Colchester. In 1938, the regiment was renamed "104th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, RHA
".
in 1939 the "104th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, RHA" formed a duplicate regiment as part of the increase in British military manpower. The second Essex Yeomanry regiment was designated "147 Regiment RHA (Essex Yeomanry).
and the Siege of Tobruk
. The regiment went on to fight in the Italian Campaign
and was stood-down in Austria
in 1946.
on D-Day
, 1944. The regiment fought with the British 8th Armoured Brigade
as a spearhead unit through France
, Belgium
, the Netherlands
, and into Germany
. The regiment stood-down in 1946.
. The squadron headquarters and 881 Troop were located in Chelmsford
with 882 Troop based in Harlow
. Members of the squadron wore the Green Beret of the Essex Yeomanry and were liable for active duty under the Reserve Forces Act 1996, soldiers from the Squadron contributed to operations in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq.
On the 25th April 2009 70 (Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron was awarded the freedom of Harlow.
Following the announcement on Tuesday 28 April 2009 in the Houses of Parliament of Royal Signals Territorial Army restructuring:
Harlow TA Centre was closed on 1 October 2009
70 (Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron amalgamated with 68 (Inns of Court & City Yeomanry) Signal Squadron to form 68 (Inns of Court & City and Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron. The official parade where the two Squadron fell out and then fell back in as one Squadron occurred on Saturday 26 June 2010.
, Lincoln's Inn
and Whipps Cross
. Soldiers from the Squadron continue to contribute to operations in Afghanistan & Cyprus.
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:...
regiment of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
raised in 1797. The regiment recruited volunteers from the county of Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
in the East of England
East of England
The East of England is one of the nine official regions of England. It was created in 1994 and was adopted for statistics from 1999. It includes the ceremonial counties of Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Essex has the highest population in the region.Its...
.
Origins
The Essex Yeomanry was raised in 1797 during the Napoleonic WarsNapoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
as a number of independent troops. Its Band was formed in 1809. The regiment was brought together as the "Essex Yeomanry Cavalry" in 1814. The regiment was disbanded in 1828, but with the expansion of the volunteer movement in the 1850s the regiment was re-raised as the "West Essex Yeomanry Cavalry" in 1857. The regiment was disbanded again in 1877, but an "Essex Troop" continued to serve under command of the "Loyal Suffolk Hussars".
Essex Imperial Yeomanry
In 1902 the "Essex Imperial Yeomanry" was raised with 4 sabre squadrons, 1 machine gun section, and its regimental headquarters at ColchesterColchester Garrison
Colchester Garrison is located in Colchester in the county of Essex. It has been an important military base since the Roman era. The first permanent military garrison in Colchester was established by Legio XX Valeria Victrix in 43 AD following the Claudian invasion of Britain. Colchester was an...
. In 1908, the regiment was renamed the "Essex Yeomanry" and transferred to the Territorial Force
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
.
- Regimental Headquarters was based at ColchesterColchester GarrisonColchester Garrison is located in Colchester in the county of Essex. It has been an important military base since the Roman era. The first permanent military garrison in Colchester was established by Legio XX Valeria Victrix in 43 AD following the Claudian invasion of Britain. Colchester was an...
- A Squadron was based at ColchesterColchester GarrisonColchester Garrison is located in Colchester in the county of Essex. It has been an important military base since the Roman era. The first permanent military garrison in Colchester was established by Legio XX Valeria Victrix in 43 AD following the Claudian invasion of Britain. Colchester was an...
- B Squadron was based at BraintreeBraintree, EssexBraintree is a town of about 42,000 people and the principal settlement of the Braintree district of Essex in the East of England. It is northeast of Chelmsford and west of Colchester on the River Blackwater, A120 road and a branch of the Great Eastern Main Line.Braintree has grown contiguous...
- C Squadron was based at Waltham AbbeyWaltham Abbey, EssexWaltham Abbey is a market town of about 20,400 people in the south west of the county of Essex, in the East of England region. It is about 24 km north of London on the Greenwich Meridian and lies between the River Lea in the west and Epping Forest in the east. It takes its name from The Abbey...
- D Squadron was based at Southend
First World War (1914-1918)
The Essex Yeomanry Cavalry Regiment was mobilised at the outbreak of war. The regiment joined the Royal Horse GuardsRoyal Horse Guards
The Royal Horse Guards was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry.Founded August 1650 in Newcastle Upon Tyne by Sir Arthur Haselrig on the orders of Oliver Cromwell as the Regiment of Cuirassiers, the regiment became the Earl of Oxford's Regiment during the reign of...
and the 10th Royal Hussars in France in November 1914 as part of 8th Cavalry Brigade. http://www.essex-yeomanry.org.uk/history/shorthistory.htm During the war, 2nd and 3rd line regiments were raised at Colchester to reinforce the 1st line. The 2nd Essex Yeomanry served as garrison troops in Ireland during the war, and the 3rd Essex Yeomanry was absorbed into the 4th Reserve Cavalry Regiment in 1917. In addition, 1/1st (Essex Yeomanry) Battery, RHA was mobilised at Colchester in 1914. The battery was a reserve Royal Horse Artillery
Royal Horse Artillery
The regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
formation aligned to the Essex Yeomanry. The battery served attached to 8th Cavalry Brigade in France from 1914-1918. http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/3cavdiv.htm In April 1918, the 1st Essex Yeomanry was broken up as reinforcements for three other cavalry regiments. Lieutenant Colonel Whitmore of the EY was appointed to command the 10th Royal Hussars, the only Territorial officer without previous regular service to command a regular cavalry regiment. Other officers included members of the Towers family, whose descendants subsequently hung portraits of their menfolk in uniform at Ashridge
Ashridge
Ashridge is an estate and house in Hertfordshire, England; part of the land stretches into Buckinghamshire and it is close to the Bedfordshire border. It is situated in the Chiltern Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, about two miles north of Berkhamsted and twenty miles north west of...
, where they can still be seen today.
Between the Wars (1918-1939)
The regiment was reconstituted in 1920 as part of the Territorial Army with regimental headquarters at Colchester. In 1921, the regiment was converted from cavalry to artillery. The regiment became "104th (Essex Yeomanry) Brigade, Royal Field ArtilleryRoyal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
.
- Regimental Headquarters was based at ColchesterColchester GarrisonColchester Garrison is located in Colchester in the county of Essex. It has been an important military base since the Roman era. The first permanent military garrison in Colchester was established by Legio XX Valeria Victrix in 43 AD following the Claudian invasion of Britain. Colchester was an...
- 413 (Essex Yeomanry) Battery was based at Colchester
- 414 (Essex Yeomanry) Battery was based at HarlowHarlowHarlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
In 1932, with regimental headquarters and 413 Battery transferred to Chelmsford
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
, the regiment gained a third battery in form of 339 (Essex Royal Horse Artillery
Royal Horse Artillery
The regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
) Battery based at Colchester. In 1938, the regiment was renamed "104th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, RHA
Royal Horse Artillery
The regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
".
Second World War (1939-1945)
At the outbreak of the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939 the "104th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, RHA" formed a duplicate regiment as part of the increase in British military manpower. The second Essex Yeomanry regiment was designated "147 Regiment RHA (Essex Yeomanry).
104th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, RHA
The first line regiment went to the Middle East in 1940 and served in most of the Western Desert battles, notably Battle of El AlameinSecond Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
and the Siege of Tobruk
Siege of Tobruk
The siege of Tobruk was a confrontation that lasted 240 days between Axis and Allied forces in North Africa during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War...
. The regiment went on to fight in the Italian Campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
and was stood-down in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
in 1946.
147th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, RHA
The new regiment landed on the beaches of NormandyNormandy
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
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, 1944. The regiment fought with the British 8th Armoured Brigade
British 8th Armoured Brigade
The 8 Armoured Brigade was a British Army brigade, formed in August 1941 during the Second World War and active until 1956. The brigade was formed by the re-designation of 6th Cavalry Brigade when the 1st Cavalry Division based in Palestine , converted from a motorised formation to an armoured...
as a spearhead unit through 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...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and into Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The regiment stood-down in 1946.
Post-war (1945 - 1st April 1969)
The Essex Yeomanry was reraised on 1 June 1947 as 304th (EY) Field Regiment RA with HQ at Chelmsford and batteries at Colchester (P), Southend (Q), and Harlow (R). The title RHA was restored in February 1955 and shoulder chains were added to the green No 1 dress. http://www.essex-yeomanry.org.uk1st April 1969 - Saturday 26th June 2010
The Essex Yeomanry tradition was continued through the men and women of the Territorial Army who served as members of 70 (Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron, which formed part of 71 Yeomanry Signal Regiment in the Royal Corps of SignalsRoyal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
. The squadron headquarters and 881 Troop were located in Chelmsford
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
with 882 Troop based in Harlow
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
. Members of the squadron wore the Green Beret of the Essex Yeomanry and were liable for active duty under the Reserve Forces Act 1996, soldiers from the Squadron contributed to operations in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq.
On the 25th April 2009 70 (Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron was awarded the freedom of Harlow.
Following the announcement on Tuesday 28 April 2009 in the Houses of Parliament of Royal Signals Territorial Army restructuring:
Harlow TA Centre was closed on 1 October 2009
70 (Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron amalgamated with 68 (Inns of Court & City Yeomanry) Signal Squadron to form 68 (Inns of Court & City and Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron. The official parade where the two Squadron fell out and then fell back in as one Squadron occurred on Saturday 26 June 2010.
26th June 2010 -
With the closure of Harlow TA Centre on 1 October 2009, and the Squadron's amalgamation, 907 (Essex Yeomanry) Signal Troop was reformed at Chelmsford TA Centre as part of Inns of Court & City and Essex Yeomanry with TA Centres at ChelmsfordChelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
, Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
and Whipps Cross
Whipps Cross
Whipps Cross is an area of the London Borough of Waltham Forest in London, England. It is most famous for Whipps Cross University Hospital.-The environs:...
. Soldiers from the Squadron continue to contribute to operations in Afghanistan & Cyprus.