Yorkshire Hussars
Encyclopedia
The Yorkshire Hussars was a unit of the British Army
from 1794 to 1956.
The regiment was formed as volunteer cavalry in 1794 during the French Revolutionary Wars
. It was converted to an armoured role during World War II
. In 1956 it merged with two other Yorkshire yeomanry regiments to form the Queen's Own Yorkshire Yeomanry
. Its lineage is continued today by the Queen's Own Yeomanry
.
formed a first line regiment of Yorkshire Hussars who volunteered to serve abroad, which was designated 1/1st Yorkshire Hussars. The 2/1st Yorkshire Hussars remained on coastal duties until being sent to Ireland
in 1918 under the command of Lord Deramore
, they were mainly 45- to 50-year-old men. A third line regiment, 3/1st Yorkshire Hussars was formed to supply drafts.
In February 1915, the 1/1st Yorkshire Hussars split up to be employed as Divisional Cavalry
A Squadron seeing action at the 2nd Battle of Ypres
, B at the Battle of Loos
and C at the Battle of Aubers Ridge
.
On May 16, 1916, the 1/1st Yorkshire Hussars reassembled under Lieutenant Colonel W Pepys as Corps Cavalry to XVII Corps
and were present at the Battle of Arras
. The Regiment was reorganised and reroled in August 1917.
After six weeks infantry training at Etaples
, the bulk of the Yorkshire Hussars were drafted to the 9th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment. The Battalion was titled the "9th (Yorkshire Hussars) Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment". and wore The Yorkshire Hussars cap-badge and West York collar-badges. The Battalion saw much hard fighting taking part in the 3rd Battle of Ypres
.
(with its headquarters in York).
s as part of the 9th Armoured Brigade. In March 1942 the Regiment became the Armoured Striking Force in Cyprus
with Cruiser
and Valentine tank
s, and from there to Egypt
in January 1943, taking over Sherman and Crusader tank
s, before returning to England at the end of the year.
They then in 1944 converted to become an Infantry Division Recce Regiment being attached to 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division , then transferred to the 61st (South Midland) Infantry Division so the missed out on the D-Day landings
. From April to August the Regiment split up into Squadrons to take over and run "D" Day Embarkation Camps. In August the Regiment reunited and the drafting of all tank-trained personnel began in earnest , the Regiment becoming a ‘Recce Holding Unit’ for refresher training and drafting of returned wounded Recce personnel. In June 1945 , the Regiment reorganised as a Light Armoured Regiment (Churchills). It was placed in ‘suspended animation’ March 1946.
, which was formed on April 1, 1967 as a TAVR III unit with the RHQ and 'A' Squadron at York
, 'B' Squadron at Doncaster
and 'C Squadron at Hull
, then on April 1, 1969, they were reduced to cadre and finally reformed on April 1, 1971, as 'A' Squadron The Queen's Own Yeomanry
.
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...
from 1794 to 1956.
The regiment was formed as volunteer cavalry in 1794 during the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
. It was converted to an armoured role during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1956 it merged with two other Yorkshire yeomanry regiments to form the Queen's Own Yorkshire Yeomanry
Queen's Own Yorkshire Yeomanry
The Queen's Own Yorkshire Yeomanry was a Yeomanry regiment of the British Army from 1956 to 1971. It was formed by the amalgamation of three Yorkshire Yeomanry regiments, the Yorkshire Hussars, the Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons and the East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry...
. Its lineage is continued today by the Queen's Own Yeomanry
Queen's Own Yeomanry
The Queen's Own Yeomanry 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 family of armoured reconnaissance vehicles, including Scimitar and Spartan.On...
.
World War I
On the September 1, Lord FevershamCharles Duncombe, 2nd Earl of Feversham
Lieutenant-Colonel Charles William Reginald Duncombe, 2nd Earl of Feversham , known as Viscount Helmsley from 1881 to 1915, was a British Conservative Party politician and soldier....
formed a first line regiment of Yorkshire Hussars who volunteered to serve abroad, which was designated 1/1st Yorkshire Hussars. The 2/1st Yorkshire Hussars remained on coastal duties until being sent 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 1918 under the command of Lord Deramore
Baron Deramore
Baron Deramore, of Belvoir in the County of Down, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 18 November 1885 for the Conservative Member of Parliament Sir Thomas Bateson, 2nd Baronet. His father Thomas Bateson had been created a Baronet, of Belvoir Park in the County of...
, they were mainly 45- to 50-year-old men. A third line regiment, 3/1st Yorkshire Hussars was formed to supply drafts.
In February 1915, the 1/1st Yorkshire Hussars split up to be employed as Divisional Cavalry
- B Squadron deployed to France in February 1915 with 46th (North Midland) Division.
- C Squadron deployed to France in April 1915 with 49th (West Riding) Division.
- A and HQ Squadrons deployed to France in April 1915 with 50th (Northumbrian) Division.
A Squadron seeing action at the 2nd Battle of Ypres
Battle of Ypres
There were five Battles of Ypres during World War I:*First Battle of Ypres *Second Battle of Ypres...
, B at the Battle of Loos
Battle of Loos
The Battle of Loos was one of the major British offensives mounted on the Western Front in 1915 during World War I. It marked the first time the British used poison gas during the war, and is also famous for the fact that it witnessed the first large-scale use of 'new' or Kitchener's Army...
and C at the Battle of Aubers Ridge
Battle of Aubers Ridge
The Battle of Aubers Ridge was a British offensive mounted on the Western Front in 1915 during World War I.- Background :The battle was the initial British component of the combined Anglo-French offensive known as the Second Battle of Artois...
.
On May 16, 1916, the 1/1st Yorkshire Hussars reassembled under Lieutenant Colonel W Pepys as Corps Cavalry to XVII Corps
XVII Corps
XVII Corps can refer to:*XVII Corps *XVII Corps *XVII Corps...
and were present at the Battle of Arras
Battle of Arras (1917)
The Battle of Arras was a British offensive during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British, Canadian, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Australian troops attacked German trenches near the French city of Arras on the Western Front....
. The Regiment was reorganised and reroled in August 1917.
After six weeks infantry training at Etaples
Étaples
Étaples or Étaples-sur-Mer is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is a fishing and leisure port on the Canche river.There is a separate commune named Staple, Nord.-History:...
, the bulk of the Yorkshire Hussars were drafted to the 9th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment. The Battalion was titled the "9th (Yorkshire Hussars) Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment". and wore The Yorkshire Hussars cap-badge and West York collar-badges. The Battalion saw much hard fighting taking part in the 3rd Battle of Ypres
Battle of Ypres
There were five Battles of Ypres during World War I:*First Battle of Ypres *Second Battle of Ypres...
.
Between the Wars
On reforming the TA, the 14 senior Yeomanry Regiments remained horsed cavalry regiments (6 forming the 5th and 6th Cavalry Brigades). The Yorkshire Hussars and The Queen’s Own Yorkshire Dragoons being respectively 3rd and 9th in seniority formed together with The Sherwood Rangers 5th Cavalry Brigade5th Cavalry Brigade (United Kingdom)
The 5th Cavalry Brigade, was a part of the British Army, it served in both world wars in World War One it was part of the 2nd Cavalry Division, and during the Second World War it was formed in 1939 from Yeomanry Regiments and part of the 1st Cavalry Division....
(with its headquarters in York).
World War II
In World War II the Regiment was a part of the 6th Cavalry Brigade , 1st Cavalry Division , which later became the 10th Armoured Division which meant the Regiment had to convert to armour and started tank training with Stuart tankStuart tank
The M3 Stuart, formally Light Tank M3, was an American light tank of World War II and supplied to British and Commonwealth forces under lend-lease prior to the entry of the U.S. into the war—and used thereafter by U.S...
s as part of the 9th Armoured Brigade. In March 1942 the Regiment became the Armoured Striking Force in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
with Cruiser
Cruiser tank
The cruiser tank was a British tank concept of the inter-war period. This concept was the driving force behind several tank designs which saw action during the Second World War....
and Valentine tank
Valentine tank
The Tank, Infantry, Mk III, Valentine was an infantry tank produced in the United Kingdom during the Second World War. More than 8,000 of the type were produced in 11 different marks plus various purpose-built variants, accounting for approximately a quarter of wartime British tank production...
s, and from there to 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...
in January 1943, taking over Sherman and Crusader tank
Crusader tank
The Tank, Cruiser, Mk VI or A15 Crusader was one of the primary British cruiser tanks of the early part Second World War and perhaps the most important British tank of the North African Campaign...
s, before returning to England at the end of the year.
They then in 1944 converted to become an Infantry Division Recce Regiment being attached to 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division , then transferred to the 61st (South Midland) Infantry Division so the missed out on the D-Day landings
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
. From April to August the Regiment split up into Squadrons to take over and run "D" Day Embarkation Camps. In August the Regiment reunited and the drafting of all tank-trained personnel began in earnest , the Regiment becoming a ‘Recce Holding Unit’ for refresher training and drafting of returned wounded Recce personnel. In June 1945 , the Regiment reorganised as a Light Armoured Regiment (Churchills). It was placed in ‘suspended animation’ March 1946.
Post war
After the second world war the yeomanry regiments in Yorkshire were amalgamated into The Queen's Own Yorkshire YeomanryQueen's Own Yorkshire Yeomanry
The Queen's Own Yorkshire Yeomanry was a Yeomanry regiment of the British Army from 1956 to 1971. It was formed by the amalgamation of three Yorkshire Yeomanry regiments, the Yorkshire Hussars, the Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons and the East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry...
, which was formed on April 1, 1967 as a TAVR III unit with the RHQ and 'A' Squadron at York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, 'B' Squadron at Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
and 'C Squadron at Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, then on April 1, 1969, they were reduced to cadre and finally reformed on April 1, 1971, as 'A' Squadron The Queen's Own Yeomanry
Queen's Own Yeomanry
The Queen's Own Yeomanry 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 family of armoured reconnaissance vehicles, including Scimitar and Spartan.On...
.