Lincolnshire Yeomanry
Encyclopedia
The Lincolnshire Yeomanry was a volunteer cavalry unit of the British Army
from 1794–1920.
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 24 December 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.
.
In 1915 they were ordered overseas and departed for Salonika but on route they received order to divert to Egypt
.
In April 1916 the Brigade was re designated as the 22nd Mounted Brigade and attached to the Western Frontier Force and in early 1917 moved to the Anzac Mounted Division
and participated in the Second Battle of Gaza.
Another move was made in June 1917,this time they were attached to the Yeomanry Mounted Division and were involved in the Third Battle of Gaza
and the Battle of Beersheba , later the Division would be re designated and change their name to the 1st Mounted Division
the 4th Cavalry Division , while with the 4th Cavalry Division the Brigade again changed its designation and became the 12th Cavalry Brigade.
In April 1918, the regiment left the brigade and their horses to become a dismounted unit of the Machine Gun Corps
, forming "D" Battalion the Machine Gun Corps. It was as the 10th MGC that they moved to France
in June 1918 and were attached to the First Army
.
for the course of the war and did not see any active service.
Regiments. The Lincolnshire Yeomanry decided they did not want to convert to artillery so the regiment was disbanded in 1920.
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...
from 1794–1920.
Boer War
On 13 December 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 24 December 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.
World War I
During World War I , the Lincolnshire Yeomanry formed second and third line regiments known as the 2/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry and the 3/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry.1/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry
The 1/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry was mobilised in August 1914 , and formed a part of the North Midland Mounted Brigade and in September were attached to the 1st Mounted Division1st 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 1915 they were ordered overseas and departed for Salonika but on route they received order to divert to 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 April 1916 the Brigade was re designated as the 22nd Mounted Brigade and attached to the Western Frontier Force and in early 1917 moved to the Anzac Mounted Division
Anzac Mounted Division
The ANZAC Mounted Division was a mounted infantry and mounted rifles division formed in March 1916 in Egypt during World War I following the Battle of Gallipoli when the Australian and New Zealand regiments returned from fighting dismounted as infantry...
and participated in the Second Battle of Gaza.
Another move was made in June 1917,this time they were attached to the Yeomanry Mounted Division and were involved in the 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...
and the Battle of Beersheba , later the Division would be re designated and change their name to 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....
the 4th Cavalry Division , while with the 4th Cavalry Division the Brigade again changed its designation and became the 12th Cavalry Brigade.
In April 1918, the regiment left the brigade and their horses to become a dismounted unit of the Machine Gun Corps
Machine Gun Corps
The Machine Gun Corps was a corps of the British Army, formed in October 1915 in response to the need for more effective use of machine guns on the Western Front in World War I. The Heavy Branch of the MGC was the first to use tanks in combat, and the branch was subsequently turned into the Tank...
, forming "D" Battalion the Machine Gun Corps. It was as the 10th MGC that they moved to 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...
in June 1918 and were attached to the First Army
First Army
The military of a number of countries had or have a First Army:* Australian First Army* Austro-Hungarian First Army* British First Army* Bulgarian First Army* Canadian First Army* Republic of China First Army and New First Army* French First Army...
.
2/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry
The 2/1st Lincolnshie Yeomanry was formed in September 1914 and in July 1916 they were converted into a cyclist unit. This regiment remained in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for the course of the war and did not see any active service.
3/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry
The third line regiment the 3/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry was formed in 1915. They remained in the United Kingdom until early in 1917 when they were absorbed into the 1st Reserve Cavalry Regiment.Post war
On reforming the Territorial Army, after the war the 14 senior Yeomanry Regiments would remain as horsed cavalry regiments (forming the 5th and 6th Cavalry Brigades). Other Yeomanry Regiments were converted into 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:...
Regiments. The Lincolnshire Yeomanry decided they did not want to convert to artillery so the regiment was disbanded in 1920.