South Nottinghamshire Hussars

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=South Nottinghamshire Hussars
abbreviation=


caption=
dates= 1798 - Present Day
country= Great Britain
allegiance=
branch= Army
type= Yeomanry
role=
size= Regiment
command_structure=Royal Artillery
equipment=
Past Commanders=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_2=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=World War II
No battle honours were awarded. It is tradition within artillery units that the regiment's guns represent its colours and battle honours. [cite web|title=mod.uk|url=http://www2.army.mod.uk/royalsignals/1sigsqn/history/rby.htm]

History

The South Nottinghamshire Hussars were 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 numbering half a million men. The Prime Minister proposed that the English Counties form a force of Volunteer Yeoman Cavalry that could be called on by the King to defend the country against invasion or by the Lord Lieutenant to subdue any civil disorder within the country. [cite web|title=worcestershire|url=http://www.ph012b2086.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/harry/wyc.htm]

World War I

During World War I , the regiment consisted of the 1/1st , 2/1st and the 3/1st South Nottinghamshire Hussars. [cite web|title=1914-1918|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/snottshuss.htm]

1/1st South Nottinghamshire Hussars

The 1st was formed in Nottingham in April 1908 at the creation of the new Territorial Force and became part of the Notts and Derbys Mounted Brigade which was a component of the 1st Mounted Division [cite web|title=1914-1918|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/snottshuss.htm] . It became the 1/1st in 1914 when the TF created its second-line units. The Brigade was transferred to serve with the 2nd Mounted Division , and saw service in the Gallipoli campaign , In 1916 the Division was broken up and the Brigade was re designated the 7th Mounted Brigade and moved to Salonika in 1917. [cite web|title=1914-1918|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/snottshuss.htm]

They returned to Egypt in June 1917 where they were attached to the Desert Mounted Corps , until April 1918 , when they left the Brigade , and were dismounted to form B Battalion, Machine Gun Corps with the Warwickshire Yeomanry.They left Egypt for France , arriving in June 1918. [cite web|title=1914-1918|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/snottshuss.htm]

2/1st South Nottinghamshire Hussars

The 2/1st was formed in September 1914 and converted in July 1916 into a cyclist unit. [cite web|title=1914-1918|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/snottshuss.htm] It remained in Britain throughout the war as part of 2/2nd Mounted Division.

3/1st South Nottinghamshire Hussars

The 3/1st was formed in May 1915.They remained in United Kingdom until October 1916, when moved to Ireland. In February 1917 they were absorbed into the 2nd Reserve Cavalry Regiment. [cite web|title=1914-1918|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/snottshuss.htm]

World War II

During World War II the regiment again saw service and consisted of the 107 Royal Horse Artillery (South Notts Hussars Yeomanry) and the 150 Royal Horse Artillery (South Notts Hussars Yeomanry). [cite web |title=ra39-45|url=http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.html]

107 Royal Horse Artillery (South Notts Hussars Yeomanry)

The 107 Royal Horse Artillery (South Notts Hussars Yeomanry) consisted of three batteries the 425th , the 426th and the 520th it was at the start of the war part of Northern Command and then under the command of the 1st Cavalry Division and served in Palestine ,Mersa Matruh , Egypt ,Suez Canal , Tobruk , Tmini , Nile Delta , Sidi Bishr (Alexandria) , Beni Yusef. [cite web |title=ra39-45|url=http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.html]

Equipment

The 107th was equipped with the following during the course of the war:

:16 x 18 pdr Mk IV & Lorries:18 pdr Mk II:18 pdr Mk IIPA , 425 Bty:4.5 inch Howitzer , 426 Bty:25 pdr & Quads, Bren Carrier OP [cite web |title=ra39-45|url=http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.html]

150 Royal Horse Artillery (South Notts Hussars Yeomanry)

The 150th was also part of Northern Command at the start of the war but only had two batteries under command the 434th and the 435th. [cite web |title=ra39-45|url=http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.html] During the war it was at various times part of the 148 Infantry Brigade , 79th Armoured Division , 4 A.G.R.A. it was equipped with M3 Stuart & Marmon Harrington for the Artillery observation role.. [cite web |title=ra39-45|url=http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.html]

Present Day

Today the regiment is perpetuated in the 100th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery which is a British Territorial Army Royal Artillery Regiment that has three gun batteries, all equipped with the L118 Light Gun.

The Batteries are::201 (Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Battery. :266 (Gloucestershire Volunteer Artillery) Battery. :307 (South Nottinghamshire Hussars) Battery.

Further Reading

:DOBSON, ERIC B. HISTORY OF THE SOUTH NOTTINGHAMSHIRE HUSSARS 1924-1948. With a Foreword by Major-General M.E. Dennis.Herald Printing Works York and London, 1948.

:FELLOWS, GEORGE & BENSON FREEMAN Historical Records of the South Nottinghamshire Hussars Yeomanry, 1794 to 1924Aldershot, Gale & Polden. 1928

References