Shropshire Yeomanry
Encyclopedia
The Shropshire Yeomanry was a yeomanry
regiment
of the British Army
, first raised in 1795, which served as a cavalry
and dismounted infantry
regiment in the First World War and as a cavalry and an artillery
regiment in the Second World War, before being amalgamated with the Shropshire Royal Horse Artillery.
In 1969 the regiment was disbanded and replaced by No. 4 Squadron, 35 (South Midland) Signal Regiment (Volunteers) and the Shropshire Yeomanry Cadre, later formed into the Shropshire Yeomanry Squadron of Queen's Own Mercian Yeomanry
, then amalgamated into the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry
.
From 1814 the units had been clothed and trained as "Dragoons" (mounted infantry). It was to prove a fortunate upbringing because the failure of the Regular Army to contain the Boer forces in the South African Campaign caused the Volunteer Cavalry to be called for overseas service in 1900. Volunteers from the Regiment formed the 13th (Shropshire) Company of the 5th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry
. Three contingents of 13/5 served in South Africa, earning the first Shropshire Yeomanry battle-honour, South Africa 1900-1902.
., then in 1915 they were dismounted and served in the Western Desert as part of the 4th Dismounted Brigade in Egypt
and Palestine
. Then in 1917, together with the 1/1st Cheshire Yeomanry
, they formed the 10th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry (K.S.L.I.), and were attached to the 231st Brigade, 74th (Yeomanry) Division. and were involved in the following battles:
until July 1916, when they were converted into a Cyclist unit and moved to Ireland
in early 1918..
The only Victoria Cross awarded to a Shropshire Regiment was won by Sgt. Harold Whitfield
of the Shropshire Yeomanry,(10TH K.S.L.I.) , for gallantry at Burj-el-Lisaneh in Palestine in 1918.
After intensive training, 101 battery moved through the desert to Tripoli, then went to Syracuse in Sicily and saw its first action. 102 Battery arrived in Sicily from Egypt on August 7.
The Regiment served through the Italian campaign, sometimes in support of the 5th Army, sometimes with the 8th Army
, and saw action in many notable battles.
These included the third battle of Monte Cassino
, operations against the Gustav Line and the breakthrough, operations against the Hitler Line
, actions at Arezzo
and the occupation of Florence
and Forlì
.
The Regiment went on to serve in the Apennines against the Gothic Line
and on to the final offensives of the 8th Army in Spring 1945.
The end of the war found the 75th Medium Regiment in defensive positions facing Tito's Yugoslav army in Venezia Giulia.
On August 25, 1942, now equipped with 5.5-in. howitzers, sailed from Gourock-on-Clyde, also by way of Durban, to the Suez Area, arriving in November.
In January 1943, the Regiment left Egypt and motored by way of the Sinai Desert along the Trans-Jordan Pipeline to Baghdad
to join the Persia and Iraq
Force ("Paiforce").
In April, they moved to Syria
and through a shortage of guns in Tunisia
lost its own.
In May, more guns arrived and combined operations with further intensive training were carried out in the Suez Canal area. They left the Middle East in December 1943, and landed at Taranto
, Italy
, by the December 9. 112 Battery had at this time 5.5-in. howitzers and 113 Battery 4.5's, but shortly after landing 112 lost its guns to another Yeomanry
Regiment, receiving 4.5's in exchange.
On December 15, 1943 the Regiment moved up to the Sangro battle and took over from its sister-regiment in support of the 8th Army.
In February 1944, the Regiment moved across to Cassino and took part in the battles of February 16 to March 15 and the successful capture and break-through of May 11, and then on to the Hitler Line.
The advance now went beyond Rome, with the Regiment supporting the 6th South African Armoured Division up to and including the fight for Florence, except for the Arezzo battle, with 6th Armoured Division.
In April 1945, the Regiment again moved across Italy to the east coast to join the final offensive with the 8th Army.
After the surrender on May 2, 1945 the Regiment saw further action on the road to Austria
, but, like its sister-regiment, was watching Tito near Trieste on V.E. Day.
In 1959 Home Headquarters of the 1st Queen's Dragoon Guards was established at R.H.Q. in Shrewsbury
and the new Regiment became associated with the Shropshire Yeomanry.
From 1961 - 1967 the Pembroke Yeomanry
was affiliated as a Sabre Squadron and in 1967 the Shropshire Royal Horse Artillery (raised in 1860 as the 1st Shropshire Artillery Volunteers) was amalgamated with the Regiment, and became "A" Squadron.
In 1969 the Regiment was disbanded and replaced by No. 4 Squadron, 35 (South Midland) Signal Regiment (Volunteers) and the Shropshire Yeomanry Cadre. However, in 1971 the Cadre was expanded to form the Shropshire Yeomanry Squadron of The Mercian Yeomanry, having an Infantry role in Home Defence.
On May 25, 1973 Her Majesty The Queen approved the change of title to The Queen's Own Mercian Yeomanry, which in its turn was later amalgamated into the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry
.
.
95 Shropshire Yeomanry Signal Squadron was disbanded in 2009, due to the signal equipment becoming obsolete.
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
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
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...
, first raised in 1795, which served as a cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
and dismounted infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment in the First World War and as a cavalry and an artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
regiment in the Second World War, before being amalgamated with the Shropshire Royal Horse Artillery.
In 1969 the regiment was disbanded and replaced by No. 4 Squadron, 35 (South Midland) Signal Regiment (Volunteers) and the Shropshire Yeomanry Cadre, later formed into the Shropshire Yeomanry Squadron of Queen's Own Mercian Yeomanry
Queen's Own Mercian Yeomanry
The Queen's Own Mercian Yeomanry was a cavalry regiment of the Territorial Army, formed in 1971 by the reconstitution of squadrons from The Queen's Own Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry, The Staffordshire Yeomanry , and The Shropshire Yeomanry...
, then amalgamated into the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry
Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry
The Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry is a yeomanry regiment of the United Kingdom's Territorial Army. It currently serves in the armoured replacement role, providing replacement tank crews for regular armoured regiments....
.
History
The Shropshire Yeomanry dates its origins to the French wars of 1793-1815, when volunteer cavalry units were raised throughout the country. They date their origins to the raising of the Wellington Troop in 1795.From 1814 the units had been clothed and trained as "Dragoons" (mounted infantry). It was to prove a fortunate upbringing because the failure of the Regular Army to contain the Boer forces in the South African Campaign caused the Volunteer Cavalry to be called for overseas service in 1900. Volunteers from the Regiment formed the 13th (Shropshire) Company of the 5th Battalion 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...
. Three contingents of 13/5 served in South Africa, earning the first Shropshire Yeomanry battle-honour, South Africa 1900-1902.
World War I
During the 1914-18 War, the Shropshire Yeomanry formed three Regiments, the 1/1st, 2/1st and 3/1st.1/1st Shropshire Yeomanry
The 1/1st Shropshire Yeomanry was part of the Welsh Border Mounted Brigade, which in 1914 was 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....
., then in 1915 they were dismounted and served in the Western Desert as part of the 4th Dismounted Brigade in 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...
and 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....
. Then in 1917, together with the 1/1st Cheshire Yeomanry
Cheshire Yeomanry
The Cheshire Yeomanry was a yeomanry regiment that can trace its history back to 1797 when Sir John Fleming Leicester of Tabley raised a county regiment of light cavalry in response to the growing fears of invasion from Napoleonic France....
, they formed the 10th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry (K.S.L.I.), and were attached to the 231st Brigade, 74th (Yeomanry) Division. and were involved in the following battles:
- Second Battle of GazaSecond Battle of GazaThe Second Battle of Gaza, fought in southern Palestine during the First World War, was another attempt mounted by British Empire forces to break Ottoman defences along the Gaza-Beersheba line...
- Third Battle of GazaThird Battle of GazaThe 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...
- Battle of Beersheba
- Battle of EpehyBattle of EpéhyThe Battle of Épehy was a World War I battle fought on 18 September 1918, involving the British Fourth Army against German outpost positions in front of the Hindenburg Line.- Prelude :...
2/1st Shropshire Yeomanry
The 2/1st Shropshire Yeomanry was formed in 1914 and joined the 2/1st Welsh Border Mounted Brigade. They 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 July 1916, when they were converted into a Cyclist unit and 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...
in early 1918..
3/1st Shropshire Yeomanry
The 3/1st Shropshire Yeomanry was formed in 1915 as part of a Reserve Cavalry Regiment, and remained in the United Kingdom until they were disbanded in early 1917.The only Victoria Cross awarded to a Shropshire Regiment was won by Sgt. Harold Whitfield
Harold Whitfield
Harold Edward Whitfield VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
of the Shropshire Yeomanry,(10TH K.S.L.I.) , for gallantry at Burj-el-Lisaneh in Palestine in 1918.
75th (Shropshire Yeomanry) Medium Regiment, R.A.
On September 1, 1939, the Shropshire Yeomanry was a Horsed Cavalry Regiment, but in 1940, the Regiment lost its horses and converted to artillery. "A" Squadron and H.Q. Squadron formed 101 and 102 Batteries of the 75th Medium Regiment, R.A. On December 20, 1942 the Regiment, equipped with 4.5" howitzers, left Liverpool for Durban and Suez, arriving on April 14, 1943. 101 Battery was re-equipped with 5.5 howitzers, whilst 102 kept its 4.5's.After intensive training, 101 battery moved through the desert to Tripoli, then went to Syracuse in Sicily and saw its first action. 102 Battery arrived in Sicily from Egypt on August 7.
The Regiment served through the Italian campaign, sometimes in support of the 5th Army, sometimes with the 8th Army
Eighth Army (United Kingdom)
The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations of the British Army during World War II, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns....
, and saw action in many notable battles.
These included the third battle of Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino is a rocky hill about southeast of Rome, Italy, c. to the west of the town of Cassino and altitude. St. Benedict of Nursia established his first monastery, the source of the Benedictine Order, here around 529. It was the site of Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944...
, operations against the Gustav Line and the breakthrough, operations against the Hitler Line
Hitler Line
The Hitler Line was a German defensive line in central Italy during the Second World War. The strong points of the line were at Aquino and Piedimonte. In May 1944, the line was re-named the Senger Line, after General von Senger und Etterlin, one of the generals commanding Axis forces in the area...
, actions at Arezzo
Arezzo
Arezzo is a city and comune in Central Italy, capital of the province of the same name, located in Tuscany. Arezzo is about 80 km southeast of Florence, at an elevation of 296 m above sea level. In 2011 the population was about 100,000....
and the occupation of Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
and Forlì
Forlì
Forlì is a comune and city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, and is the capital of the province of Forlì-Cesena. The city is situated along the Via Emilia, to the right of the Montone river, and is an important agricultural centre...
.
The Regiment went on to serve in the Apennines against the Gothic Line
Gothic Line
The Gothic Line formed Field Marshal Albert Kesselring's last major line of defence in the final stages of World War II along the summits of the Apennines during the fighting retreat of German forces in Italy against the Allied Armies in Italy commanded by General Sir Harold Alexander.Adolf Hitler...
and on to the final offensives of the 8th Army in Spring 1945.
The end of the war found the 75th Medium Regiment in defensive positions facing Tito's Yugoslav army in Venezia Giulia.
76th (Shropshire Yeomanry) Medium Regiment, R.A.
After the conversion from Horsed Cavalry to Gunners in 1940, "B" Squadron and "C" Squadron formed the nucleus of the 76th Medium Regiment as 112 and 113 Batteries, and where equipped with Great War 60-pounders, although these were later replaced by 6-in. howitzers. From then until 1942, the Regiment was occupied in intensive training.On August 25, 1942, now equipped with 5.5-in. howitzers, sailed from Gourock-on-Clyde, also by way of Durban, to the Suez Area, arriving in November.
In January 1943, the Regiment left Egypt and motored by way of the Sinai Desert along the Trans-Jordan Pipeline to Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
to join the Persia and 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....
Force ("Paiforce").
In April, they moved to 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 through a shortage of guns in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
lost its own.
In May, more guns arrived and combined operations with further intensive training were carried out in the Suez Canal area. They left the Middle East in December 1943, and landed at Taranto
Taranto
Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....
, 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...
, by the December 9. 112 Battery had at this time 5.5-in. howitzers and 113 Battery 4.5's, but shortly after landing 112 lost its guns to another Yeomanry
Regiment, receiving 4.5's in exchange.
On December 15, 1943 the Regiment moved up to the Sangro battle and took over from its sister-regiment in support of the 8th Army.
In February 1944, the Regiment moved across to Cassino and took part in the battles of February 16 to March 15 and the successful capture and break-through of May 11, and then on to the Hitler Line.
The advance now went beyond Rome, with the Regiment supporting the 6th South African Armoured Division up to and including the fight for Florence, except for the Arezzo battle, with 6th Armoured Division.
In April 1945, the Regiment again moved across Italy to the east coast to join the final offensive with the 8th Army.
After the surrender on May 2, 1945 the Regiment saw further action on the road to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, but, like its sister-regiment, was watching Tito near Trieste on V.E. Day.
Post World War II
Since 1947, the Regiment has been equipped with Tanks, Armoured Cars, Scout Cars and Land Rovers, whilst under command of the Royal Armoured Corps.In 1959 Home Headquarters of the 1st Queen's Dragoon Guards was established at R.H.Q. in Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
and the new Regiment became associated with the Shropshire Yeomanry.
From 1961 - 1967 the Pembroke Yeomanry
Pembroke Yeomanry
The Pembroke Yeomanry were formed in 1794, by Lord Milfordwhen King George III was on the throne, William Pitt the Younger was Prime Minister of Great Britain, and across the English Channel, Britain was faced by a French nation that had recently guillotined its King and which possessed a...
was affiliated as a Sabre Squadron and in 1967 the Shropshire Royal Horse Artillery (raised in 1860 as the 1st Shropshire Artillery Volunteers) was amalgamated with the Regiment, and became "A" Squadron.
In 1969 the Regiment was disbanded and replaced by No. 4 Squadron, 35 (South Midland) Signal Regiment (Volunteers) and the Shropshire Yeomanry Cadre. However, in 1971 the Cadre was expanded to form the Shropshire Yeomanry Squadron of The Mercian Yeomanry, having an Infantry role in Home Defence.
On May 25, 1973 Her Majesty The Queen approved the change of title to The Queen's Own Mercian Yeomanry, which in its turn was later amalgamated into the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry
Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry
The Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry is a yeomanry regiment of the United Kingdom's Territorial Army. It currently serves in the armoured replacement role, providing replacement tank crews for regular armoured regiments....
.
200 Years and 21st Century
Having celebrated its 200th anniversary in 1995, the Shropshire Yeomanry now survives as B Squadron of the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian YeomanryRoyal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry
The Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry is a yeomanry regiment of the United Kingdom's Territorial Army. It currently serves in the armoured replacement role, providing replacement tank crews for regular armoured regiments....
.
95 Shropshire Yeomanry Signal Squadron was disbanded in 2009, due to the signal equipment becoming obsolete.