Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry

Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry
Cap badge of the Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry (c. 1914)
Active	1794 - Present Day
Country	Great Britain
Allegiance	British Army
Branch	Yeomanry
Role	Boer War Yeomanry World War One Yeomanry Infantry World War Two Artillery
Size	Boer War One Company World War One Three Regiments World War Two One Regiment Current One Squadron
Battle honours	Boer War South Africa1900-1902 World War One Battle of Gallipoli Battle of Sari Bair Battle of Scimitar Hill Battle of Aqqaqia First Battle of Gaza Second Battle of Gaza Third Battle of Gaza Battle of Beersheba 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.[1]

The Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry was founded as the Dorsetshire Regiment of Volunteer Yeomanry Cavalry in 1794. In response to the growing threat of invasion during the Napoleonic wars. It gained its first royal association in 1833 as The Princess Victoria's Regiment of Dorset Yeomanry Cavalry, and its second in 1843 as the Queen's Own Regiment of Dorset Yeomanry Cavalry.^[2]

Boer War

On December 13, 1899, the decision to allow volunteer forces serve in the Second Boer War was made. Due to the string of defeats during Black Week in December, 1899, the British government realized they were going to need more troops than just the regular army, thus issuing a Royal Warrant on December 24, 1899. This warrant officially created the Imperial Yeomanry.

The Royal Warrant asked standing Yeomanry regiments to provide service companies of approximately 115 men each. In addition to this, many British citizens (usually mid-upper class) volunteered to join the new regiment.^[3] Although there were strict requirements, many volunteers were accepted with substandard horsemanship/marksmanship, however they had significant time to train while awaiting transport.

The first contingent of recruits contained 550 officers, 10,371 men with 20 battalions and 4 companies^[4], which arrived in South Africa between February and April, 1900.^[5] Upon arrival, the regiment was sent throughout the zone of operations.
The Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry provided troops for the 26th Company , 7th Battalion.^[6]

World War One

During World War One the Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry supplied three regiments for service the original regiment now known as the 1/1st Queen's Own Dorset Yeomany a second line regiment the 2/1st and a third line regiment the 3/1st.^[7]

1/1st Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry

The 1/1st Queen's Own Doset Yeomanry was mobilised in August 1914 and assigned to the 1st South Western Mounted Brigade part of the 1st Mounted Division.^[7] In September 1914, they were moved to the 2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade , 2nd Mounted Division.^[7] In 1915 they were deployed overseas to Egypt then onwards to participate in the Dardanelles campaign where they served as dismounted troops and were involved in the Battle of Gallipoli the Battle of Sari Bair and the Battle of Scimitar Hill. After the evacuation of Gallipoli they returned to Egypt in January 1916 and became part of the 6th Mounted Brigade an independent Brigade which was involved in the Battle of Aqqaqia in February 1916.^[8] At this battle the retreating Senussi were attacked by the Dorset Yeomanry with drawn swords across open ground.^[9] Under fire, the Yeomanry lost half their horses, and about a third of their men and officers were casualties (58 of the 184 who took part). This brigade later joined the Imperial Mounted Division in February 1917, and took part in the First Battle of Gaza and the Second Battle of Gaza , they later transferred to the Yeomanry Mounted Division in June 1917, for the Third Battle of Gaza and the Battle of Beersheba.^[7] In July 1918 the Brigade was redesignated the 10th Cavalry Brigade and the Division the 4th Cavalry Division. The Regiment remained with them in Palestine until the end of the war.^[7]

2/1st Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry

The 2/1st Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry was formed in September 1914. They converted to a cyclist unit in July 1916 as part of 4th Mounted Division. They remained in this role until November 1916 when they took over the horses of the 2/1st Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry. They again became a cyclist unit in September 1917 prior to moving to Ireland Early in 1918. They remained in Ireland until the end of the war and did not see any active service.^[7]

3/1st Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry

The 3/1st Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry was formed in 1915, they remained in the United Kingdom until they were disbanded in early 1917.^[7]

Between The Wars

After World War I ,It had become clear that cavalry was obsolete and in 1922 it was announced that some Yeomanry Regiments were to become Royal Artillery regimentS.^[10] The Queen's Own Dorset Yeomany was reformed in 1920 as a Artillery Brigade. On re-organisation in 1927, two West Somerset Yeomanry Batteries were brigaded with two Batteries of the Queens Own Dorset Yeomanry forming the 94th Brigade R.F.A.^[11]

World War two

The Regiment was moblised in September 1939. They remained in the United Kingdom until June 1944 when they sailed for France and landed in Normandy on D plus 21, attached to the Guards Armoured Division.^[11] On the June 29 , 1944 the Regiment took part in its first action of the Second World War at Pubot en Bassin it was involved in the divisions battles at Carpiquet Areodrome , Caen and Miny Bocage.^[11] They were also with the Guards Armoured from Falaise to Brussels and the assault crossings of the Albert and Escaut Canals.^[11] Their last actions of the war were during the Battle of the Reichswald and to provided support for the Rhine crossing.^[11] After the war the Regiment was in the area of Aachen in an occupational role.^[11]

Post war

In 1947 the Regiment was reformed with the sub title 55th Field Regiment RA until February 1967, until the reduction of the Territorial Army when it ceased to exist as a Regiment.^[11] The final parade was held on Sunday 26 February. The salute was taken by the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Lord Hylton.^[11]

The Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry was reformed in 1971 as "A" Squadron of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry , the other squadrons of the regiment are formed by other old yeomanry regiments now reduced to the strength of one squadron;

Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry (RWY) , B Squadron

Royal Gloucestershire Hussars (RGH) , C Squadron

Royal Devon Yeomanry (RDY) , D Squadron

The Regiment has three roles: B,C and D Squadron provide replacement Challenger 2 turret crewmen to the Regular Army. Regimental Headquarters and A Squadron (Dorset Yeomanry) Armour Replacement Squadron: to develop Armour Replacement doctrine and provide the infrastructure to support the Logistic brigades.^[12]

References

1. ^ "mod.uk". http://www2.army.mod.uk/royalsignals/1sigsqn/history/rby.htm. 
2. ^ "antibook". http://www.antiqbook.co.uk/boox/isl/10049.shtml. 
3. ^ "Boer War Notes". http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Regiments/BoerWarNotes.html. Retrieved 2007-06-11 
4. ^ "Imperial Yeomanry" (^{[dead link]} – ^{Scholar search}). Archived from the original on 2007-05-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20070529010837/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/ImpYeo.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-11 
5. ^ "Boer War - Imperial Yeomanry Battalions". http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Regiments/ImperialYeomanryCompaniesBoerBn.html. Retrieved 2007-07-03 
6. ^ "anglo boer war". http://www.angloboerwar.com/forces/army_IY.htm. 
7. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} "1914-1918". http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/dorsetyeo.htm. 
8. ^ "historyofwar". http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_agagia.html. 
9. ^ Rolls S.C. (1937). Steel Chariots in the Desert. Leonaur Books.
10. ^ "worcestershire". http://www.ph012b2086.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/harry/wyc.htm. 
11. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} "sommilmuseum". http://www.sommilmuseum.org.uk/article.php?id=3. 
12. ^ "army.mod". http://www2.army.mod.uk/rac/ta_yeomanry/rwxy2.htm.