North Somerset Yeomanry
Encyclopedia
The North Somerset Yeomanry was first raised in Frome
in 1798. A condition of service was that it should not be required to march more than 10 miles from the town and it was soon disbanded in 1802. The Frome Troop was re-raised in 1803 and united with The East Mendip Corps in 1804, this new Yeomanry
Regiment being designated the North Somerset Yeomanry Cavalry in 1814.
The Yeomanry were a select corps, with members accepted only on the recommendation of one or more serving members and usually paying an entrance fee. Their main employment in the early 19th Century was the suppression of riots, such as among miners in Radstock
in 1817 and among weavers in Frome in 1822.
it became part of the 7th Battalion of the Imperial Yeomanry
. The Regiment was renamed Dragoon
s in 1908, and went to France during World War I in that role.
and joined the 6th Cavalry Brigade
, 3rd Cavalry Division
.
In March 1918 it left the Division to be converted to a cyclist unit. This was changed to a machine-gun unit, but a hurried decision was taken (during the great German Spring Offensive) to keep the Regiment as a mounted unit, whereupon it became Cavalry Corps troops.
Then in April 1918, the Regiment was broken up, supplying reinforcements to the other units of the 6th Cavalry Brigade in 3rd Cavalry Division.
until early 1918 when it moved to Ireland
and was converted into a cyclist unit.
in early 1917.
, then fought in Syria
, and in 1943 was converted to the Royal Corps of Signals unit. As Air Formation Signals it served in the Western Desert
, Sicily
, Italy
, and North West Europe.
to become The North Somerset and Bristol Yeomanry in 1956. Although the Regular battalions of the Somerset Light Infantry and the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
merged to become the Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry
in 1959, the Territorial battalions kept their county names. In 1967, the Territorial battalion (Somerset Light Infantry (TA)) and elements of the North Somerset Yeomanry and West Somerset Yeomanry
merged to form the Somerset Yeomanry and Light Infantry, which changed title again in 1971 to become the 6th Battalion The Light Infantry (Volunteers).
In 1969, when the complete disbandment of the Territorial Army was being considered, it was reduced to a cadre of eight men, as was the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
(TA).
in 2000 and, from 2008, the squadron became the regiment's Support Squadron. The regiment is now consists of the following elements.
Frome
Frome is a town and civil parish in northeast Somerset, England. Located at the eastern end of the Mendip Hills, the town is built on uneven high ground, and centres around the River Frome. The town is approximately south of Bath, east of the county town, Taunton and west of London. In the 2001...
in 1798. A condition of service was that it should not be required to march more than 10 miles from the town and it was soon disbanded in 1802. The Frome Troop was re-raised in 1803 and united with The East Mendip Corps in 1804, this new Yeomanry
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 being designated the North Somerset Yeomanry Cavalry in 1814.
The Yeomanry were a select corps, with members accepted only on the recommendation of one or more serving members and usually paying an entrance fee. Their main employment in the early 19th Century was the suppression of riots, such as among miners in Radstock
Radstock
Radstock is a town in Somerset, England, south west of Bath, and north west of Frome. It is within the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset and had a population of 5,275 according to the 2001 Census...
in 1817 and among weavers in Frome in 1822.
Boer War
During the Boer WarBoer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
it became part of the 7th Battalion 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...
. The Regiment was renamed Dragoon
Dragoon
The word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...
s in 1908, and went to France during World War I in that role.
World War One
During World War One the Regiment was expanded to three regiments: the 1/1st, 2/1st and the 3/1st.1/1st North Somerset Yeomanry
The 1/1st was formed in 1914 in the city of Bath and become part of the South Western Mounted Brigade. In October 1914 it was moved to FranceFrance
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...
and joined the 6th Cavalry Brigade
6th Cavalry Brigade (United Kingdom)
The 6th Cavalry Brigade was part of the 1st Cavalry Division , which was a British Army First World War and Second World War formation formed in 1939 from Yeomanry Regiments.- History in World War Two :...
, 3rd Cavalry Division
3rd Cavalry Division
The 3rd Cavalry Division was a division of the British Army in the First World War. It was formed in Ludgershall, Wiltshire England in September 1914 under the command of General Major General Julian Byng...
.
In March 1918 it left the Division to be converted to a cyclist unit. This was changed to a machine-gun unit, but a hurried decision was taken (during the great German Spring Offensive) to keep the Regiment as a mounted unit, whereupon it became Cavalry Corps troops.
Then in April 1918, the Regiment was broken up, supplying reinforcements to the other units of the 6th Cavalry Brigade in 3rd Cavalry Division.
2/1st North Somerset Yeomanry
The 2/1st was formed in September 1914 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 early 1918 when it 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...
and was converted into a cyclist unit.
3/1st North Somerset Yeomanry
The 3/1st was formed in 1915 and remained in United Kingdom until absorbed into 6th 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 early 1917.
World War two
During World War II, the Regiment was first employed in the Far EastFar East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
, then fought in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, and in 1943 was converted to the Royal Corps of Signals unit. As Air Formation Signals it served 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...
, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and North West Europe.
Post war
After the War the Regiment became the Armoured Regiment of 16th Airborne Division and joined with the 44th Royal Tank RegimentRoyal Tank Regiment
The Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
to become The North Somerset and Bristol Yeomanry in 1956. Although the Regular battalions of the Somerset Light Infantry and the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. Its lineage is continued today by The Rifles....
merged to become the Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry
Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry
The Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army.It was formed in 1959 by the merger of two regiments: The Somerset Light Infantry and The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry...
in 1959, the Territorial battalions kept their county names. In 1967, the Territorial battalion (Somerset Light Infantry (TA)) and elements of the North Somerset Yeomanry and West Somerset Yeomanry
West Somerset Yeomanry
The West Somerset Yeomanry was formed in 1794, 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...
merged to form the Somerset Yeomanry and Light Infantry, which changed title again in 1971 to become the 6th Battalion The Light Infantry (Volunteers).
In 1969, when the complete disbandment of the Territorial Army was being considered, it was reduced to a cadre of eight men, as was the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. Its lineage is continued today by The Rifles....
(TA).
39 (Skinners) Signal Regiment (Volunteers)
The North Somerset Yeomanry was reformed as the Headquarters Squadron of 39 (Skinners) Signal Regiment39 (Skinners) Signal Regiment
39 Signal Regiment is Territorial Army regiment in the Royal Corps of Signals in the British Army. The regiment forms part of 2 Signal Brigade, providing military communications for national operations...
in 2000 and, from 2008, the squadron became the regiment's Support Squadron. The regiment is now consists of the following elements.
- Regimental Headquarters - Bristol
- 56 Signal Squadron (Volunteers), [Eastbourne]
- 57 (City and County of Bristol) Signal Squadron (Volunteers) , [Bristol]
- 93 (North Somerset Yeomanry) Support Squadron, [Bristol]
- 94 (Berkshire YeomanryBerkshire Yeomanry94 Signal Squadron forms part of 39 Signal Regiment. They are currently based in three locations in the Home Counties...
) Signal Squadron, [Windsor]