Queen's Own Yeomanry
Encyclopedia
The Queen's Own Yeomanry (QOY) is an armoured regiment of the British Territorial Army. The Queen's Own Yeomanry is the only Yeomanry
regiment that serves in the formation reconnaissance role
, equipped with the CVR(T)
family of armoured reconnaissance vehicles, including Scimitar
and Spartan
.
On mobilisation, it provides squadrons to reinforce the regular formation reconnaissance regiments. It has provided personnel to both Operation HERRICK
in Afghanistan
and Operation TELIC
in Iraq
, who have served with their regular counterparts in the Royal Armoured Corps
and other arms and services.
within the Army's 2nd Division
.
It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps
and consists of five squadrons:
Because of the geographic spread of the regiment A and C Squadrons are administered by 51st (Scottish) Brigade
and B Squadron is administered by 38 (Irish) Brigade
, part of HQ Northern Ireland
.
During the Cold War
The Queen's Own Yeomanry were a BAOR Regiment with an Armoured Reconnaissance role in Germany.
With the Strategic Defence Review in 1999 the geographical locations of the QOY changed to encompass East Scotland and Northern Ireland and remains as such now.
The Guidon, which is awarded by The Queen, is a flag of crimson silk damask embroidered and fringed with gold with the Regimental Battle Honours emblazoned upon it and the Regimental emblem embroidered in the centre.
On 22 September 2007 HRH Prince Charles, in his capacity as Royal Honorary Colonel of The Queen's Own Yeomanry, presented a new Guidon
to the Regiment in an hour long ceremony in the grounds of Alnwick Castle
. This is the first Guidon the QOY has received since its formation. Before the Parade each of the five Squadrons had their own Guidons representing them and their antecedent Regiments. The old Guidons of the five Squadrons were marched off parade for the last time during the Alnwick Castle ceremony.
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Initially equipped with Ferret, Saladin and later CVR(W) Fox armoured cars and CVR(T) armoured personnel carriers.
This changed in 1992 when Fox was withdrawn and they became equipped with the CVR(T) Sabre. This vehicle was created from the body of the Scorpion, and the turret of the Fox. This combination combined a 30 mm Rarden Cannon with the tracks.
Today, the CVR (T) Sabre has gone and the Regiment operates a in the similar Scimitar
and Spartan
armoured reconnaissance vehicles. These vehicles are from the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (tracked)
family.
of the old East Riding Yeomanry. However, each of the Squadrons wears their own collar badges and buttons.
or shoulder flashes are worn to show a soldier or officer is serving with the QOY in various forms of dress. The colour of both is Prussian blue
with two horizontal stripes of cavalry gold (yellow):
, The Life Guards
- Household Cavalry Regiment
, The Blues & Royals
- 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
- 9th/12th Royal Lancers
- The Light Dragoons - The Queen's Royal Lancers
- The Royal Dragoon Guards
- The Queen's Royal Hussars - 655 Squadron (The Scottish Horse)
Army Air Corps - 69 (North Irish Horse
) Signal
Squadron, 40 (Ulster) Signal Regiment
- 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's Own) - HMS Westminster
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 that serves in the formation reconnaissance role
Formation reconnaissance regiment
The Formation Reconnaissance Regiment is one of two organisations currently provided by cavalry regiments of the British Army. Until recently, it was known as the Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment....
, equipped with the CVR(T)
Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)
The Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance —or CVR—is a family of armoured fighting vehicles s in service with the British Army and others throughout the world...
family of armoured reconnaissance vehicles, including Scimitar
FV107 Scimitar
FV107 Scimitar is an armoured reconnaissance vehicle used by the British Army. It is very similar to the FV101 Scorpion but mounts a high velocity 30 mm L21 RARDEN cannon instead of a 76 mm gun. It was issued to Royal Armoured Corps, Armoured Regiments in the Reconnaissance role...
and Spartan
FV103 Spartan
FV103 Spartan is a tracked armoured personnel carrier of the British Army. It was developed as the APC variant of the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance family. The vehicle can carry up to 7 personnel, including 3 crew members. Armed with a single machine gun, it is almost indistinguishable from the...
.
On mobilisation, it provides squadrons to reinforce the regular formation reconnaissance regiments. It has provided personnel to both Operation HERRICK
Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the war in Afghanistan have been conducted since 2002. It consists of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and support to the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Operation TELIC
Operation Telic
Operation TELIC was the codename under which all British military operations in Iraq were conducted between the start of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011...
in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, who have served with their regular counterparts in the Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Armoured Corps
The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
and other arms and services.
Organisation
The Regiment is part of 15 (North East) BrigadeBritish 15th Infantry Brigade
The 15th Infantry Brigade is a British Army brigade. It was part of the regular British 5th Infantry Division during the Second World War, and is now part of the British 2nd Infantry Division in the north of the United Kingdom, with specific responsibility for the areas of North East England and...
within the Army's 2nd Division
British 2nd Infantry Division
The 2nd Division is a regular division of the British army, with a long history. It dates its existence as a permanently embodied formation from 1809, when it was established by Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Wellesley , as part of the Anglo-Portuguese Army, for service in the Peninsular War...
.
It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Armoured Corps
The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
and consists of five squadrons:
- A (Ayrshire (Earl of Carrick's Own) YeomanryAyrshire (Earl of Carrick's Own) YeomanryThe Ayrshire Yeomanry was a Regiment of the British Yeomanry and is now an armoured Squadron of the Queen's Own Yeomanry , part of the British Territorial Army...
) Squadron - B (North Irish HorseNorth Irish HorseThe North Irish Horse is a yeomanry unit of the British Territorial Army raised in the northern counties of Ireland in the aftermath of the Second Boer War...
) Squadron - C (Fife and Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish HorseFife and Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish HorseThe Fife & Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish Horse is a Yeomanry Squadron of the Queen's Own Yeomanry part of the British Territorial Army. It was formed following the amalgamation of the The Fife and Forfar Yeomanry and The Scottish Horse regiments....
) Squadron - D (Northumberland HussarsNorthumberland HussarsThe 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...
) Squadron - Y (Yorkshire Yeomanry) Squadron
Because of the geographic spread of the regiment A and C Squadrons are administered by 51st (Scottish) Brigade
British 51st Infantry Brigade
The British 51st Infantry Brigade is currently known as 51 Brigade, part of the 2nd Division. It is currently the regional administrative formation responsible for all the units of the Territorial Army based in Scotland. It is the largest Regional Brigade in the United Kingdom in terms of...
and B Squadron is administered by 38 (Irish) Brigade
38th (Irish) Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)
The 38th Infantry Brigade was a British Army unit formed initially after the start of World War I, without the title 'Irish'.-History:...
, part of HQ Northern Ireland
HQ Northern Ireland
HQ Northern Ireland was the command formation responsible for the administration of all British Armed Forces stationed in and around Northern Ireland...
.
History
The Queens Own Yeomanry was initially formed on 1 April 1971 as the 2nd Armoured Car Regiment from five of the yeomanry units across the North and Middle of England and South West Scotland.During the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
The Queen's Own Yeomanry were a BAOR Regiment with an Armoured Reconnaissance role in Germany.
With the Strategic Defence Review in 1999 the geographical locations of the QOY changed to encompass East Scotland and Northern Ireland and remains as such now.
Order of precedence
For the purposes of parading, the Regiments of the British Army are listed according to an order of precedence. This is the order in which the various corps of the army parade, from right to left, with the unit at the extreme right being the most senior.Guidon
On 22 September 2007 HRH Prince Charles, in his capacity as Royal Honorary Colonel of The Queen's Own Yeomanry, presented a new Guidon
Guidon
Guidon may refer to:*Guidon , a type of heraldic flag*Guidon , a swallow tailed flag for the colours of a light cavalry regiment...
to the Regiment in an hour long ceremony in the grounds of Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle is a castle and stately home in the town of the same name in the English county of Northumberland. It is the residence of the Duke of Northumberland, built following the Norman conquest, and renovated and remodelled a number of times. It is a Grade I listed building.-History:Alnwick...
. This is the first Guidon the QOY has received since its formation. Before the Parade each of the five Squadrons had their own Guidons representing them and their antecedent Regiments. The old Guidons of the five Squadrons were marched off parade for the last time during the Alnwick Castle ceremony.
Armoured Vehicles
This changed in 1992 when Fox was withdrawn and they became equipped with the CVR(T) Sabre. This vehicle was created from the body of the Scorpion, and the turret of the Fox. This combination combined a 30 mm Rarden Cannon with the tracks.
Today, the CVR (T) Sabre has gone and the Regiment operates a in the similar Scimitar
FV107 Scimitar
FV107 Scimitar is an armoured reconnaissance vehicle used by the British Army. It is very similar to the FV101 Scorpion but mounts a high velocity 30 mm L21 RARDEN cannon instead of a 76 mm gun. It was issued to Royal Armoured Corps, Armoured Regiments in the Reconnaissance role...
and Spartan
FV103 Spartan
FV103 Spartan is a tracked armoured personnel carrier of the British Army. It was developed as the APC variant of the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance family. The vehicle can carry up to 7 personnel, including 3 crew members. Armed with a single machine gun, it is almost indistinguishable from the...
armoured reconnaissance vehicles. These vehicles are from the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (tracked)
Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)
The Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance —or CVR—is a family of armoured fighting vehicles s in service with the British Army and others throughout the world...
family.
Badges
The whole Regiment wears a variation of the running fox cap badgeCap badge
A cap badge, also known as head badge or hat badge, is a badge worn on uniform headgear and distinguishes the wearer's nationality and/or organisation. The wearing of cap badges is a convention commonly found among military and police forces, as well as uniformed civilian groups such as the Boy...
of the old East Riding Yeomanry. However, each of the Squadrons wears their own collar badges and buttons.
Stable Belt and Shoulder Flash
The Regimental Stable BeltStable belt
A stable belt is an item of uniform used in the armed forces of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries. Stable belts or similar derivatives are also worn by the armed forced of other nations such as Denmark....
or shoulder flashes are worn to show a soldier or officer is serving with the QOY in various forms of dress. The colour of both is Prussian blue
Prussian blue
Prussian blue is a dark blue pigment with the idealized formula Fe718. Another name for the color Prussian blue is Berlin blue or, in painting, Parisian blue. Turnbull's blue is the same substance but is made from different reagents....
with two horizontal stripes of cavalry gold (yellow):
Role Affiliated Regiments
- Household Cavalry RegimentHousehold Cavalry Regiment
The Household Cavalry Regiment is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and is one of two regiments that are formed from the Household Cavalry. It was formed in 1992, under the Options for Change reforms, by the amalgamation of The Life Guards and the Blues and Royals. Both regiments were...
, The Life Guards
Life Guards (British Army)
The Life Guards is the senior regiment of the British Army and with the Blues and Royals, they make up the Household Cavalry.They originated in the four troops of Horse Guards raised by Charles II around the time of his restoration, plus two troops of Horse Grenadier Guards which were raised some...
- Household Cavalry Regiment
Household Cavalry Regiment
The Household Cavalry Regiment is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and is one of two regiments that are formed from the Household Cavalry. It was formed in 1992, under the Options for Change reforms, by the amalgamation of The Life Guards and the Blues and Royals. Both regiments were...
, The Blues & Royals
Blues and Royals
The Blues and Royals is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry. The Colonel-in-Chief is Her Majesty The Queen and the Colonel is HRH The Princess Royal...
- 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards is a cavalry regiment of the British Army. Nicknamed The Welsh Cavalry, the regiment recruits from Wales, Herefordshire, and Shropshire, and is the senior cavalry regiment, and therefore senior regiment, of the line of the British Army...
- 9th/12th Royal Lancers
9th/12th Royal Lancers
The 9th/12th Royal Lancers is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1960 by the amalgamation of the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers and the 12th Royal Lancers. It is currently a formation reconnaissance regiment, equipped with the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance family of vehicles and...
- The Light Dragoons - The Queen's Royal Lancers
The Queen's Royal Lancers
The Queen's Royal Lancers is a cavalry regiment of the British Army. It was formed in 1993 by the amalgamation of two other regiments:*16th/5th Queen's Royal Lancers*17th/21st Lancers...
Other Affiliated Regiments & Units
- The Royal Scots Dragoon GuardsRoyal Scots Dragoon Guards
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and the senior Scottish regiment. It was formed on 2 July 1971 at Holyrood, Edinburgh, by the amalgamation of the 3rd Carabiniers The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) (SCOTS DG) is a cavalry regiment of...
- The Royal Dragoon Guards
Royal Dragoon Guards
The Royal Dragoon Guards is a cavalry regiment of the British Army. It was formed in 1992 by the amalgamation of two other regiments: The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards...
- The Queen's Royal Hussars - 655 Squadron (The Scottish Horse)
655 Squadron (V) The Scottish Horse
No. 655 Squadron AAC is a Helicopter Support squadron made up of the Volunteer Groundcrew of the Army Air Corps.-History:655 Squadron Army Air Corps was formed as a Royal Air Force Air Observation Post unit on the 30 November 1942 at Old Sarum Airfield, Wiltshire...
Army Air Corps - 69 (North Irish Horse
North Irish Horse
The North Irish Horse is a yeomanry unit of the British Territorial Army raised in the northern counties of Ireland in the aftermath of the Second Boer War...
) Signal
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
Squadron, 40 (Ulster) Signal Regiment
40 (Ulster) Signal Regiment
40 Signal Regiment is a 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...
Overseas & Other Arms and Services
- 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers
The 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers is a current Australian Army Reserve Light Cavalry Regiment. The regiment is based at Lancer Barracks in Parramatta, New South Wales. The regiment has recently re-equipped with 4x4 Land Rover patrol vehicles as part of the conversion to a Light Cavalry ...
- 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's Own) - HMS Westminster
HMS Westminster (F237)
HMS Westminster is a Type 23 frigate of the Royal Navy, and the second ship to bear the name. She was launched on 4 February 1992.Westminster was used for the interior shots in the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies in three different roles - as HMS Chester, HMS Devonshire and HMS Bedford...