Lancashire Hussars
Encyclopedia
The Lancashire Hussars were originally formed in 1798 as independent troops, before becoming the Lancashire Yeomanry Cavalry in 1828 and then being disbanded in 1832. In 1848 the regiment was reformed as the Lancashire Hussars, becoming the Lancashire Hussars Imperial Yeomanry
in 1901 for service in South Africa and the Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry, in 1908.
, in August 1914 and attached to the Welsh Border Mounted Brigade. In 1915, the Regiment was split up, the Regimental Headquarters and B Squadron joining the 31st Division and, after moving to France
, being briefly attached to the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division
. The rest of the Regiment was attached to 35th Division
, (C Squadron) and 30th Division,(D Squadron).
The Regiment was reformed in May 1916 to form the VIII Corps
Cavalry Regiment.
In July 1917 , the Regiment was dismounted and dispatched for training as infantry. This was completed in September 1917 ,when the men joined a battalion of the King's, which was redesignated 18th (Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry) Battalion, the King's (Liverpool) Regiment.
, having first converted into a cyclist unit in July 1916.
in Ireland in early 1917.
regiment the 2nd (Lancashire) Army Brigade, R.F.A. and in 1921 the 106th (Lancashire Yeomanry) Brigade, R.F.A. and in 1924 the 106th (Lancashire Yeomanry) Field Brigade, R.A.
In 1938 it was retitled the 106th (Lancashire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, R.A.
. By November 1939 it was part of 1st Cavalry Division
, in the UK before moving to Palestine
in January 1940 , equipped with 4.5 inch Howitzers (424 Bty) and 18 pdr Field Guns (423 Bty). Later in 1940 it became 106th Royal Horse Artillery
, consisting of 423 and 424 Batteries.
It moved to North Africa in August 1940, after serving in Crete
, by which time 424 Bty had become No. 1 and No. 2 Batteries (Anti-tank) and 423 Bty had become No. 3 and No. 4 Batteries (Anti-aircraft), known as 1/106 Bty, 1/102, Bty, etc. The former teo were equipped with 37mm Bofors anti-tank guns on Portees and the latter two with captured Italian 20mm Breda AA/AT guns. Each new battery consisted of only two troops, A and B (No. 1 Bty), C and D (No. 2 Bty), E and F (No. 3 Bty) and G and H (No.4 Bty). It served with the 7th Armoured Division
during many of the earlier battles in North Africa.
At the end of February 1941 the regiment was advised it was to become a Light Anti Aircraft (L.A.A) regiment of just three batteries and was then later known as 106th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (Lancashire Hussars). It was placed in suspended animation in July the same year, with many of its men going to reinforce the Northumberland Hussars
, who were being strengthened and re-equipped after being evacuated from Greece and Crete.
Later in 1956 it had become 'P' (Lancashire Hussars) Battery, of 287th (1st West Lancashire) Medium Regiment, RA and by 1967 it was just 'A' Troop (Lancashire Hussars), P (1st West Lancashire) Battery, The West Lancashire Regiment, RA (Territorial).
In 1969 the regiment reduced to cadre, and Yeomanry lineage discontinued. However, in 2004 , 106th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery
, re-adopted the Yeomanry status of the old 106th Regiment RHA.
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...
in 1901 for service in South Africa and the Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry, in 1908.
World War I
During The Great War the Regiment consisted of the 1/1st , 2/1st and 3/1st Lancashire Hussars.1/1st Lancashire Hussars
The 1/1st was formed in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, in August 1914 and attached to the Welsh Border Mounted Brigade. In 1915, the Regiment was split up, the Regimental Headquarters and B Squadron joining the 31st Division and, after moving 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...
, being briefly attached to the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division
2nd Indian Cavalry Division
The 2nd Indian Cavalry Division was a regular division of the British Indian Army during World War I.-History:The division sailed for France from Bombay on October 16, 1914, under the command of Major General G A Cookson. During the war the division would serve in the trenches as infantry...
. The rest of the Regiment was attached to 35th Division
35th Division (United Kingdom)
The 35th Infantry Division was a unit of the British Army during World War I.Originally raised for the Fifth New Army as the 42nd Division, it was renumbered as the 35th when the Fifth New Army was redesignated as the Fourth New Army in April 1915. By June 1915, the division had begun to congregate...
, (C Squadron) and 30th Division,(D Squadron).
The Regiment was reformed in May 1916 to form the VIII Corps
VIII Corps
List of military corps — List of military corps by numberA number of countries have Eighth, or VIII, Corps:* VIII Corps * VIII Corps * U.S. VIII Corps involvement in the American Civil War...
Cavalry Regiment.
In July 1917 , the Regiment was dismounted and dispatched for training as infantry. This was completed in September 1917 ,when the men joined a battalion of the King's, which was redesignated 18th (Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry) Battalion, the King's (Liverpool) Regiment.
2/1st Lancashire Hussars
The 2/1st Lancashire Hussars was formed September 1914, and remained in United Kingdom until May 1918 , when moved to IrelandIreland
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...
, having first converted into a cyclist unit in July 1916.
3/1st Lancashire Hussars
The 3/1st Lancashire Hussars was formed in 1915. Remained in United Kingdom until absorbed by the 2nd 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 Ireland in early 1917.
Between the Wars
In 1920 it became a 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:...
regiment the 2nd (Lancashire) Army Brigade, R.F.A. and in 1921 the 106th (Lancashire Yeomanry) Brigade, R.F.A. and in 1924 the 106th (Lancashire Yeomanry) Field Brigade, R.A.
In 1938 it was retitled the 106th (Lancashire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, R.A.
World War II
At the start of the war it consisted of 423rd and 424th Batteries, based in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. By November 1939 it was part of 1st Cavalry Division
British 1st Cavalry Division
The 1st Cavalry Division was a regular Division of the British Army during the First World War where it fought on the Western Front. During the Second World War it was a second line formation, formed from Yeomanry Regiments...
, in the UK before moving to 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 January 1940 , equipped with 4.5 inch Howitzers (424 Bty) and 18 pdr Field Guns (423 Bty). Later in 1940 it became 106th 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...
, consisting of 423 and 424 Batteries.
It moved to North Africa in August 1940, after serving in Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
, by which time 424 Bty had become No. 1 and No. 2 Batteries (Anti-tank) and 423 Bty had become No. 3 and No. 4 Batteries (Anti-aircraft), known as 1/106 Bty, 1/102, Bty, etc. The former teo were equipped with 37mm Bofors anti-tank guns on Portees and the latter two with captured Italian 20mm Breda AA/AT guns. Each new battery consisted of only two troops, A and B (No. 1 Bty), C and D (No. 2 Bty), E and F (No. 3 Bty) and G and H (No.4 Bty). It served with the 7th Armoured Division
British 7th Armoured Division
The 7th Armoured Division was a British armoured division which saw service during the Second World War where its exploits made it famous as the Desert Rats....
during many of the earlier battles in North Africa.
At the end of February 1941 the regiment was advised it was to become a Light Anti Aircraft (L.A.A) regiment of just three batteries and was then later known as 106th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (Lancashire Hussars). It was placed in suspended animation in July the same year, with many of its men going to reinforce the Northumberland Hussars
Northumberland Hussars
The Northumberland Hussars is a Squadron of The Queen's Own Yeomanry is an armoured Squadron of the British Territorial Army. It is part of a Formation Reconnaissance Regiment, equipped with the FV107 Scimitar and FV103 Spartan type armoured reconnaissance vehicles...
, who were being strengthened and re-equipped after being evacuated from Greece and Crete.
Post war
After the war in 1947 , it was renamed 306th (Lancashire Hussars) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA, before being amalgamated with 390th (King's Own) LAA Regiment, RA in 1950.Later in 1956 it had become 'P' (Lancashire Hussars) Battery, of 287th (1st West Lancashire) Medium Regiment, RA and by 1967 it was just 'A' Troop (Lancashire Hussars), P (1st West Lancashire) Battery, The West Lancashire Regiment, RA (Territorial).
In 1969 the regiment reduced to cadre, and Yeomanry lineage discontinued. However, in 2004 , 106th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery
106th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery
The 106th Regiment Royal Artillery is a Territorial Army Air Defence Artillery Regiment, with mixed equipment, in the British Army. One unit use the Starstreak HVM missile, while the other two use the Rapier SAM. The role 106 Regt is to provide reinforcement to regular army units...
, re-adopted the Yeomanry status of the old 106th Regiment RHA.