Lincolnshire Yeomanry

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=Lincolnshire Yeomanry


caption=
dates= 1794 - 1920
country=United Kingdom
branch=British Army
type=Yeomanry
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role=
size= Maximum three Regiments in World War One
Commanding Officer=
garrison=
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colonel_of_the_regiment=
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nickname=
motto=
colors=
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battles=South Africa 1900-1902
World War I
Second Battle of Gaza
Third Battle of Gaza
Battle of Beersheba
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=The Lincolnshire Yeomanry 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]

Early history

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. [Citation
last =
first =
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last2 =
first2 =
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title = Boer War Notes
date =
year =
url = http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Regiments/BoerWarNotes.html
accessdate = 2007-06-11] 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 [Citation
last =
first =
author-link =
last2 =
first2 =
author2-link =
title = Imperial Yeomanry
date =
year =
url = http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/ImpYeo.htm
accessdate = 2007-06-11] , which arrived in South Africa between February and April, 1900. [Citation
last =
first =
author-link =
last2 =
first2 =
author2-link =
title = Boer War - Imperial Yeomanry Battalions
date =
year =
url = http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Regiments/ImperialYeomanryCompaniesBoerBn.html
accessdate = 2007-07-03] Upon arrival, the regiment was sent throughout the zone of operations.

World War I

During World War I , the Lincolnshire Yeomanry formed second and third line regiments known as the 2/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry and the 3/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry.cite web|title=1914-918|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/lincsyeo.htm]

1/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry

The 1/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry was mobilised in August 1914 , and formed a part of the North Midland Mounted Brigade and in September were attached to the 1st Mounted Division.In 1915 they were ordered overseas and departed for Salonika but on route they received order to divert to Egypt.In April 1916 the Brigade was re designated as the 22nd Mounted Brigade and attached to the Western Frontier Force and in early 1917 moved to the Anzac Mounted Division and participated in the Second Battle of Gaza.Another move was made in June 1917,this time they were attached to the Yeomanry Mounted Division and were involved in the Third Battle of Gaza and the Battle of Beersheba , later the Division would be re designated and change their name to the 1st Mounted Division the 4th Cavalry Division , while with the 4th Cavalry Division the Brigade again changed its designation and became the 12th Cavalry Brigade. In April 1918, the regiment left the brigade and their horses to become a dismounted unit of the Machine Gun Corps , forming "D" Battalion the Machine Gun Corps. It was as the 10th MGC that they moved to France in June 1918 and were attached to the First Army.

2/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry

The 2/1st Lincolnshie Yeomanry was formed in September 1914 and in July 1916 they were converted into a cyclist unit. This regiment remained in the United Kingdom for the course of the war and did not see any active service.

3/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry

The third line regiment the 3/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry was formed in 1915. They remained in the United Kingdom until early in 1917 when they were absorbed into the 1st Reserve Cavalry Regiment.

Post war

On reforming the Terrortorial Army, after the war the 14 senior Yeomanry Regiments would remain as horsed cavalry regiments (forming the 5th and 6th Cavalry Brigades). Other Yeomanry Regiments were converted into Royal Artillery Regiments. The Lincolnshire Yeomanry decided they did not want to convert to artillery so the regiment was disbanded in 1920.

References