Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry
Encyclopedia
The Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry was a Yeomanry
, Cavalry Regiment of the British Army
formed in 1828. They were a part of the Imperial Yeomanry
during the Boer War and would remain in Great Britain
for the first years of the Great War but went to sail for France
in 1917 to fight in the trenches as dismounted troops. They were converted to an artillery unit in 1920 and remained as gunners until 1967 when, after many amalgamations, the title disappeared.
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 Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry provided troops for the 8th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry , 24th (Westmorland and Cumberland) Company,
, Cavalry Regiment in May 1916, with the Head Quarters, 'D' Squadron and the MG
Section were attached to the 20th (Light) Division , this lasted until April 1916, when they were allocated to the 2nd Cavalry Division
before re joining the XI Corps.
In June 1917, it was announced that due to manpower shortages the Regiment would be dismounted and retrain as infantry. When they had completed the infantry conversion the regiment was re designated the 7th (Westmoreland and Cumberland Yeomanry) Battalion, the Border Regiment
.
until May 1918 when they were moved to Ireland
.
, during the Norwegian Campaign
on detachment from the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division
.They were next in action in the Western Desert
serving with the 7th Armoured Division (Desert Rats) in November 1941 and in the siege of Tobruk
with the 9th Australian Division.
In February 1942, they served in Ceylon , the 16th Brigade
, in 1943 they moved to India
and joined the 70th Infantry Division , this lasted until September 1943 when they were placed in suspended animation.
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:...
, Cavalry 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...
formed in 1828. They were a part of 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...
during the Boer War and would remain in 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...
for the first years of the Great War but went to sail for 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 1917 to fight in the trenches as dismounted troops. They were converted to an artillery unit in 1920 and remained as gunners until 1967 when, after many amalgamations, the title disappeared.
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.
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 Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry provided troops for the 8th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry , 24th (Westmorland and Cumberland) Company,
World War I
During World War I the Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry provided a second and a third line regiment for service.They were known by the titles 1/1st , 2/1st and 3/1st Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry. During World War I the unit is known to have had a wireless section and armoured cars provided by private means.1/1st Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry
The 1/1st was mobilised in August 1914 and attached to the Welsh Border Mounted Brigade.They were designated as the XI CorpsXI Corps
XI Corps or 11th Corps may refer to:* XI Corps * XI Corps , a formation of the Pakistani Army* XI Corps , a formation of the Union Army during the American Civil War...
, Cavalry Regiment in May 1916, with the Head Quarters, 'D' Squadron and the MG
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
Section were attached to the 20th (Light) Division , this lasted until April 1916, when they were allocated to the 2nd Cavalry Division
2nd Cavalry Division (United Kingdom)
The 2nd Cavalry Division was a regular British Army division that saw service in World War I. It also known as Gough's Command, after its commanding General and was part of the initial British Expeditionary Force which landed in France in September 1914....
before re joining the XI Corps.
In June 1917, it was announced that due to manpower shortages the Regiment would be dismounted and retrain as infantry. When they had completed the infantry conversion the regiment was re designated the 7th (Westmoreland and Cumberland Yeomanry) Battalion, the Border Regiment
Border Regiment
The Border Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 34th Regiment of Foot and the 55th Regiment of Foot....
.
2/1st Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry
The 2/1st was formed in September 1914, they were attached to the Western Mounted Brigade later re designated as the 21st Mounted Brigade and then the 14th Cyclict Brigade , they did not see any active service and 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...
until May 1918 when they were moved to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
3/1st Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry
Formed in 1915. Remained in United Kingdom until absorbed into 10th Reserve Cavalry Regiment in Summer 1916. Personnel were transferred as infantry to 5th (Reserve) Bn Durham Light Infantry in early 1918.51st (Westmoreland & Cumberland) Field Artillery Regiment
The 51st (Westmoreland & Cumberland) Field Artillery Regiment Territorial Army (TA) originally had two batteries the 203rd (Cumberland) and 370th (Cumberland Yeomanry).During World War II in 1940 they served in NorwayNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, during the Norwegian Campaign
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
on detachment from the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division
42nd (East Lancashire) Division
The 42nd Division was a Territorial Force division of the British Army. Originally called the East Lancashire Division, it was redesignated as the 42nd Division on 25 May 1915. It was the first Territorial division to be sent overseas during the First World War. The division fought at Gallipoli,...
.They were next in action in the Western Desert
Libyan Desert
The Libyan Desert covers an area of approximately 1,100,000 km2, it extends approximately 1100 km from east to west, and 1,000 km from north to south, in about the shape of a rectangle...
serving with the 7th Armoured Division (Desert Rats) in November 1941 and in the siege of Tobruk
Tobruk
Tobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
with the 9th Australian Division.
In February 1942, they served in Ceylon , the 16th Brigade
British 16th Infantry Brigade
The British 16th Infantry Brigade was a British Army formation based in Palestine at the beginning of the Second World War as part of the British 8th Infantry Division. It was later part of the British 6th Infantry Division which was redesignated as the British 70th Infantry Division on 10 October...
, in 1943 they moved to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and joined the 70th Infantry Division , this lasted until September 1943 when they were placed in suspended animation.