Glamorgan Yeomanry
Encyclopedia
The 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 numbering half a million men. The Prime Minister proposed that the English Counties form a force of Volunteer Yeoman Cavalry that could be called on by the King to defend the country against invasion or by the Lord Lieutenant
to subdue any civil disorder within the country.
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 December 24, 1899. This warrant officially created the Imperial Yeomanry
.
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. 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 officer
s, 10,371 men with 20 battalion
s and 4 companies
, which arrived in South Africa
between February and April, 1900. Upon arrival, the regiment was sent throughout the zone of operations.
The Glamorgan Yeomanry provided troops for the 4th Company, 1st Battalion.
the regimental tiles were the 1/1st , 2/1st and 3/1st Glamorgan Yeomanry
they were a Part of the South Wales Mounted Brigade , of the 1st Mounted Division
.. In November 1915 they were dismounted and moved overseas for active service in Egypt
, attached to the 4th Dismounted Brigade.. In 1917 they were re designated as an infantry battalion and converted into the 24th (Pembroke and Glamorgan Yeomanry) Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, 231st Brigade, 74th (Yeomanry) Division. As part of the 74th Yeomanry Division they were involved in the following battles Second Battle of Gaza
, Third Battle of Gaza
, Battle of Beersheba and the Battle of Epehy
and 6th Cavalry Brigades) the remaining Yeomanry Regiments would be re roled as Artillery. The Glamorgan Yeomanry were one of the regiments that now formed part of the Royal Artillery
forming 81 (Welsh) Field Regiment RA(TA) in 1922.
There was also a second line regiment formed in 1939, the 132 (Welsh) Field Regiment RA(TA). This new Regiment's formation was the 322 (Glamorgan), 321 (Glamorgan) and the 496 Batteries all equipped with 25 pounder field guns. They were deployed on active service as part of the 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division and the 78th Infantry Division , in North Africa, at Tebourba and
Tunisia in Sicily and in Italy taking past in the Monte Cassino
battles at the end of the war they were in Austria.
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
was the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, and across the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
, Britain was faced by a French
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...
nation that had recently guillotined its King and possessed a revolutionary army numbering half a million men. The Prime Minister proposed that the English Counties form a force of Volunteer Yeoman Cavalry that could be called on by the King to defend the country against invasion or by the Lord Lieutenant
Lord Lieutenant
The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post...
to subdue any civil disorder within the country.
Boer War
On December 13, 1899, the decision to allow volunteer forces serve in the Second Boer War was made. Due to the string of defeats during Black WeekBlack Week
In one disastrous week, dubbed Black Week, from 10-17 December 1899, the British Army suffered three devastating defeats by the Boer Republics at the battles of Stormberg , Magersfontein and Colenso , with 2,776 men killed, wounded and captured...
in December, 1899, the British government realized they were going to need more troops than just the regular army, thus issuing a Royal Warrant
Royal Warrant
Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier...
on December 24, 1899. This warrant officially created 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...
.
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. 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 officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
s, 10,371 men with 20 battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s and 4 companies
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
, which arrived in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
between February and April, 1900. Upon arrival, the regiment was sent throughout the zone of operations.
The Glamorgan Yeomanry provided troops for the 4th Company, 1st Battalion.
World War I
For service during World War One the Glamorgan Yeomanry formed second and third line regimentsthe regimental tiles were the 1/1st , 2/1st and 3/1st Glamorgan Yeomanry
1/1st Glamorgan Yeomanry
The 1/1st Glamorgan Yeomanry was mobilised in August 1914 at BridgendBridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
they were a Part of the South Wales Mounted Brigade , of the 1st Mounted Division
1st Mounted Division
The 1st Mounted Division was formed in August 1914 for the home defence of the United Kingdom. It was formed from existing mounted brigades of the Territorial Force, each of three regiments of Yeomanry....
.. In November 1915 they were dismounted and moved overseas for active service 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...
, attached to the 4th Dismounted Brigade.. In 1917 they were re designated as an infantry battalion and converted into the 24th (Pembroke and Glamorgan Yeomanry) Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, 231st Brigade, 74th (Yeomanry) Division. As part of the 74th Yeomanry Division they were involved in the following battles Second Battle of Gaza
Second Battle of Gaza
The 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 Gaza
Third Battle of Gaza
The 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 and the Battle of Epehy
Battle of Epéhy
The 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 :...
2/1st Glamorgan Yeomanry
Formed September 1914, and joined 2/1st South Wales Mounted Brigade in January 1915. Brigade redesignated 4th Mounted Brigade in 1st Mounted Division in April 1916. November 1917, converted into a Cyclist unit.3/1st Glamorgan Yeomanry
Formed in 1915. Remained in United Kingdom until disbanded in early 1917.Between the Wars
On the reforming of the TA, the 14 senior Yeomanry Regiments remained as horsed cavalry regiments (6 forming the 5th5th Cavalry Brigade (United Kingdom)
The 5th Cavalry Brigade, was a part of the British Army, it served in both world wars in World War One it was part of the 2nd Cavalry Division, and during the Second World War it was formed in 1939 from Yeomanry Regiments and part of the 1st Cavalry Division....
and 6th Cavalry Brigades) the remaining Yeomanry Regiments would be re roled as Artillery. The Glamorgan Yeomanry were one of the regiments that now formed part of the Royal Artillery
Royal 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:...
forming 81 (Welsh) Field Regiment RA(TA) in 1922.
World War II
At the start on World War II, the Glamorgan Yeomanry now known as the 81 (Welsh) Field Regiment RA(TA), which consisted of two batteries. The 323 (Glamorgan) and the 324 (Glamorgan) they would serve in the North western Europe Campaign from June 1944 attached to the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division.There was also a second line regiment formed in 1939, the 132 (Welsh) Field Regiment RA(TA). This new Regiment's formation was the 322 (Glamorgan), 321 (Glamorgan) and the 496 Batteries all equipped with 25 pounder field guns. They were deployed on active service as part of the 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division and the 78th Infantry Division , in North Africa, at Tebourba and
Tunisia in Sicily and in Italy taking past in the Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino is a rocky hill about southeast of Rome, Italy, c. to the west of the town of Cassino and altitude. St. Benedict of Nursia established his first monastery, the source of the Benedictine Order, here around 529. It was the site of Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944...
battles at the end of the war they were in Austria.