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44-807: Bertrand Stewart (December 1872 – 12 September 1914) worked as a solicitor in London and was also a military officer in the Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry , he fought in the Second Boer War and the First World War . In between the two wars he volunteered to spy on German naval actions. He was famously arrested in Germany on 2 August 1911 and sentenced to four years in prison. Stewart and another British spy, Captain Trench , were pardoned and released by

88-838: A code book from a turned German double agent. Stewart had accomplices but was the only one arrested in Bremen . He was then trying to gain information about the defences of the East Frisian islands and the Weser estuary. Stewart was tried by the Supreme Court of the Empire at Leipzig on 31 January 1912. After four days, he was found guilty and sentenced to three-and-a-half years in the Glatz Fortress . Stewart and another British spy, Captain Trench , were pardoned and released by

132-744: A position in the Intelligence Department on the Staff of Major General Allenby . During the Battle of the Marne , in the opening months of the war, his unit was facing fierce German attacks when he grabbed a rifle and went to help the men at the front lines. He was found dead by a future author and member of the same unit, Frederick Coleman, near the River Vesle . Queen%27s Own West Kent Yeomanry The Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry

176-847: A position probably at Colenso and left all the northern part of Natal undefended. We ought also probably to have abandoned Mafeking. One serious deficiency was the low velocity artillery which shot less far than the Boers' excellent guns. Milner wrote:. I dare not speculate on the further progress of the war. The Boers seem to have fought with the greatest courage and determination, and I do not gather that they have lost their power as marksmen On Monday 11 December, General Gatacre 's night attack into strong Boer defences at Stormberg had ended in failure. The enemy had modern rifles, accurate artillery, bandoliers for all, and proven horse commandos. Ganache lost two guns, and 700 men, of whom 500 were prisoners. The senior officers had left them behind. But as usual

220-510: A united people in this country, and in every part of the Empire, and with these forces on our side moral and material success is certain.... Mr Chamberlain is largely responsible for this war. The British government drastically changed their mindset after the Black Week disaster to the realization that the Boer war would not be an easy victory or won by Christmas. They undertook many changes in

264-837: The British War Office assumed the leading role while the Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain stepped back in the cabinet and the Boer War raged on. The reverses and humiliations for the Army hit the London government hard. Chamberlain was eclipsed in Cabinet during December 1899. Ironically Chamberlain had initially been offered the War Office by Lord Salisbury when the government was formed in 1895; had he accepted he would have been at

308-702: The German Emperor Wilhelm II as a present to Ernest Augustus the Duke of Brunswick when Augustus married the Kaiser's daughter, Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia . (They married on 24 May 1913). Stewart was annoyed at his capture and sued the British government for £12,500 for damage to his health. Some consider Stewart to have been a fantasist. When the Great War started, he was quickly given

352-925: The Hundred Days Offensive including the Second Battle of the Somme ( Second Battle of Bapaume ) and the Battles of the Hindenburg Line ( Battle of Épehy ). In October and November 1918 it took part in the Final Advance in Artois and Flanders. By the Armistice it was near Tournai , Belgium , still with 74th (Yeomanry) Division. With the end of the war, the troops of 74th Division were engaged in railway repair work and education

396-657: The Western Frontier Force . By the end of the year, it was back on the Suez. The brigade was with the Suez Canal Defences when, on 14 January 1917, Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) Order No. 26 instructed that the 2nd , 3rd and 4th Dismounted Brigades be reorganized as the 229th , 230th and 231st Brigades . The brigade units were reorganized in January and February 1917. As a result,

440-549: The 1/1st Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry was amalgamated with 1/1st Royal East Kent Yeomanry at Sollum on 1 February 1917 and redesignated 10th (Royal East Kent and West Kent Yeomanry) Battalion, Buffs (East Kent Regiment) . On 23 February, the GOC EEF ( Lt-Gen Sir A.J. Murray ) sought permission from the War Office to form the 229th, 230th and 231st Brigades into a new division. The War Office granted permission and

484-664: The Boers did not bother to pursue. On the Modder River, Methuen's division of 15,000 frontline troops ran into heavily dug-in Boers on the Magersfontein Heights . The British artillery barrage warned the Boer of the impending assault, led by the Highland Brigade in the monsoon rains in the darkness. At dawn the British were caught by a murderous cross-fire. Major-General Wauchope became a high-ranking casualty. The British casualties were 1000 men to

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528-497: The Boers' 250. The defeat delayed the relief of Kimberley . In Natal, Buller was already pessimistic about the coming battle, although in England they only knew his great reputation. On Friday, December 15, he tried to cross the river. A sortie from Ladysmith might have taken the Boer pickets on Hlangwane Hill , but its significance was overlooked. The British lost 1100 men killed, ten artillery guns lost. A humiliating retreat

572-541: The German Kaiser as a present to Ernest Augustus the Duke of Brunswick when Augustus married the Kaiser's daughter, Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia . He died fighting off a German attack near the River Vesle during the Battle of the Marne . Stewart went to school at Eton (Durnford's House) . He then went up to Christ Church, Oxford , leaving in 1892. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1897 and joined

616-458: The Napoleonic era, and had no tactical doctrine in place to fight against a foe also armed with the same modern weapons, and suffered accordingly. With new, modernized troops came new tactics; only a few months after Black Week, one of the main British cavalry divisions led a flanking march that ended with a victory. Besides equipping the cavalry with rapid-firing rifles instead of lances ,

660-639: The Sheria Position). At the end of 1917, it took part in the capture and defence of Jerusalem and in March 1918 in the Battle of Tell 'Asur . On 3 April 1918, the Division was warned that it would move to France and by 30 April 1918 had completed embarkation at Alexandria. In May 1918, the battalion landed at Marseilles , France with 74th (Yeomanry) Division. It served in France and Flanders with

704-456: The War Office dealing with the difficulties in the Cape. Arthur Balfour was acting Prime Minister, and Lord Lansdowne , Secretary for War. Lord Salisbury , grieving at Hatfield for his dead wife, was incapacitated. After Lord Roberts' victories in the first half of 1900 Chamberlain came to be hailed as a great statesman, in part filling the gap left by the gradual retirement of Lord Salisbury,

748-750: The Yeomanry were subsumed into the Territorial Force in 1908, the 'Imperial' part of the title was dropped. The regiment was based at Union Street in Maidstone at this time (since demolished). In accordance with the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 ( 7 Edw. 7 , c.9 ) which brought the Territorial Force into being, the TF was intended to be a home defence force for service during wartime and members could not be compelled to serve outside

792-588: The Younger decided in 1794 to increase the Militia and to form corps of volunteers for the defence of the country. The mounted arm of the volunteers became known as the "Gentlemen and Yeomanry Cavalry". In 1827 the government disbanded the Yeomanry Regiments in those districts where they had not been mobilised in the previous 10 years. The Kent Regiment was stood down and their equipment returned to

836-408: The calling up of the army reserves, raising a force of mounted infantry for better mobility, and most importantly by sending volunteers from home overseas which added more than one hundred thousand additional troops by the end of the war. "The week which extended from December 10th to December 17th, 1899, was the blackest one known during our generation, and the most disastrous for British arms during

880-591: The century. We had in the short space of seven days lost, beyond all extenuation or excuse, three separate actions. No single defeat was of vital importance in itself, but the cumulative effect, occurring as they did to each of the main British forces in South Africa, was very great. The total loss amounted to about three thousand men and twelve guns, while the indirect effects in the way of loss of prestige to ourselves and increased confidence and more numerous recruits to our enemy were incalculable." During Black Week,

924-495: The country. However, on the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, many members volunteered for Imperial Service . Therefore, TF units were split in August and September 1914 into 1st Line (liable for overseas service) and 2nd Line (home service for those unable or unwilling to serve overseas) units. Later, a 3rd Line was formed to act as a reserve, providing trained replacements for the 1st and 2nd Line regiments. The 1st Line regiment

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968-616: The division for the rest of the war. By 18 May, the division had concentrated around Rue in the Abbeville area. Here the dismounted Yeomanry underwent training for service on the Western Front , particularly gas defence . On 14 July 1918 the Yeomanry Division went into the line for the first time, near Merville on the right of XI Corps . From September 1918, as part of III Corps of Fourth Army , it took part in

1012-527: The firm of Markby, Stewart & Co., of Coleman Street, London. When the Boer War started, Bertrand joined the West Kent as a private. He fought in British operations at Cape Colony, Orange River Colony, and the Transvaal. In 1906 he became an officer in the Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry . In 1911, Stewart volunteered to spy on Germany while he pretended to be a tourist. He was arrested after receiving

1056-473: The former titan of foreign policy. Chamberlain wanted a tolerant, liberal, civilized Empire, and a generous reconstruction of South Africa. Lord Methuen was on the march to Kimberley, only 25 miles away. Unscreened from the Boer's trenches in the town, the mounted force lost 500 men. But they managed to wheel round to cross the Modder River by nightfall. There he rested from 1 to 7 December, using

1100-433: The government and troops, who had thought that the war could be won very easily. British units were armed with then-modern magazine-fed small arms, the .303 caliber Lee–Enfield and Lee–Metford , and breech-loading field artillery. Boers were armed with the 7mm 1893 Mauser rifle, and fielded German-built breech-loading field artillery. The British, however, were accustomed to fighting tribal wars with tactics more suited to

1144-436: The government called "for able-bodied men willing to abandon their homes and families and risk their lives to serve their country." Even with this dangerous task, many still volunteered either for the regular army or for shorter enlistments. Buller's decisions at Ladysmith caused him to be sacked and replaced with Lord Roberts . It was the end of a career for the man the press dubbed "Sir Reverse" Buller. Another consequence

1188-472: The military including military personnel, better mobilization, and better modernization in order to match and then surpass the Boer troops. Many different opinions arose in the United Kingdom. Although there were many doubters who criticized the overall justice of the British cause, the patriots who would end up volunteering, fighting, and winning this conflict were the majority. Following Black Week,

1232-477: The new 74th (Yeomanry) Division started to form. The 230th Brigade joined the division at Deir el Balah between 9 and 13 April. The battalion remained with 230th Brigade in 74th (Yeomanry) Division for the rest of the war. With the 74th Division, the battalion took part in the invasion of Palestine in 1917 and 1918. It fought in the Second and Third Battles of Gaza (including the capture of Beersheba and

1276-438: The new British military doctrine also started using artillery as a defensive unit of the army, and saw innovation in the use of machine guns . These new volunteers served as a "new face, untainted by defeat and accusations of defeatism…to breathe life back into the campaigns and restore hope at home." Other changes enacted by the British immediately following the Black Week disaster were the mobilization of two more divisions,

1320-558: The regiment was at Westbere , near Canterbury in 2/1st South Eastern Mounted Brigade . On 31 March 1916, the remaining Mounted Brigades were ordered to be numbered in a single sequence; the brigade was numbered as 14th Mounted Brigade and joined 4th Mounted Division , still at Canterbury. In July 1916 it transferred to 3rd Mounted Brigade in the new 1st Mounted Division near Maidstone. In October 1916 it handed its horses over to 2/1st Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry and in November

1364-493: The regiment was sent throughout the zone of operations. The Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry provided troops for the 36th Company, 9th Battalion. The Imperial Yeomanry was equipped and trained as Mounted infantry . This experiment was considered a success, and all the existing Yeomanry regiments were converted into IY in 1901, the West Kent unit becoming the West Kent Imperial Yeomanry (Queen's Own) . When

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1408-670: The regular army, thus issuing a Royal Warrant on 24 December 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. The first contingent of recruits contained 550 officers , 10,371 men with 20 battalions and four companies , which arrived in South Africa between February and April 1900. Upon arrival,

1452-661: The regular army. In 1830 the West Kent Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry was reformed and in 1864 the regiment was awarded the title "Queen's Own" and became known as the West Kent Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry (Queen's Own) . On 13 December 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

1496-892: The rest being transferred to other roles. As a result, on 20 August 1920, the Royal East Kent (The Duke of Connaught's Own) Yeomanry (Mounted Rifles) was amalgamated with the West Kent Yeomanry (Queen's Own) to form the Kent Yeomanry and simultaneously re-roled as field artillery to form 6th (Kent) Army Brigade, RFA . The West Kent Yeomanry (Queen's Own) was awarded the following battle honours : South Africa 1900–01 Somme 1918 , Bapaume 1918 , Hindenburg Line , Épehy , Pursuit to Mons , France and Flanders 1918 , Gallipoli 1915 , Egypt 1916–17 , Gaza , Jerusalem , Tell 'Asur , Palestine 1917–18 Black Week The events were an eye opener for

1540-535: The river for refreshment. They fully expected Redvers Buller to simultaneously march on Ladysmith in north Natal . These blows they hoped would end the war by Christmas . By Lord Milner 's assessment conveyed to London, 70,000 troops would be needed to complete the business. Milner's concern over losses mitigating success on the field had caused a rethink of the situation in the Transvaal . ...If we had known all we do now, I suppose that we should have taken up

1584-562: Was a British Army regiment formed in 1794. It served in the Second Boer War and the First World War . It amalgamated with the Royal East Kent (The Duke of Connaught's Own) Yeomanry (Mounted Rifles) to form the Kent Yeomanry in 1920. Under threat of invasion by the French Revolutionary government from 1793, and with insufficient military forces to repulse such an attack, the British government under William Pitt

1628-464: Was converted to a cyclist unit. The regiment was merged with the 2/1st Royal East Kent Yeomanry to form 9th (East Kent and West Kent) Yeomanry Cyclist Regiment in 3rd Cyclist Brigade in the Ipswich area. In March 1917 it resumed its identity as 2/1st Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry at Woodbridge , still in 3rd Cyclist Brigade. In April 1918, the regiment moved with its brigade to Ireland and

1672-700: Was evacuated to Mudros with 42nd Division; it left the Division at Mudros on 2 January 1916. The brigade, with the regiment, was withdrawn to Egypt in February 1916 and formed part of the Suez Canal Defences. On 22 February, South Eastern Mounted Brigade was absorbed into the 3rd Dismounted Brigade (along with the Eastern Mounted Brigade ). The brigade served as part of the Suez Canal Defences from 14 March to 26 July attached to 42nd (East Lancashire) Division; it then joined

1716-560: Was mobilised on 4 August 1914 at the outbreak of the First World War and was in the Canterbury area (under Second Army of Central Force ) until September 1915. It was dismounted and left Kent for Liverpool ; on 24 September it boarded RMS Olympic and sailed the next day. It arrived at Lemnos on 1 October. The regiment landed in Gallipoli on 8 October and was attached to the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division . On 30 December it

1760-452: Was ordered at nightfall although half the army had not yet engaged the enemy. Lord Roberts' son was killed. Buller, at his wits end, advised Ladysmith to surrender, but Sir George White pledged to fight on. Liberal leader Henry Campbell-Bannerman declared from Aberdeen on December 19, The gravity of the situation, the formidable character of the campaign as now disclosed ...these furnish no ground for doubt or for despondency.... We have

1804-499: Was serving as infantry. In November 1916 it was at Tunbridge Wells . The regiment was disbanded in February 1917 with personnel transferring to the 2nd Line regiment or to the 4th (Reserve) Battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment at Crowborough. Following the experience of the First World War , it was decided that only the fourteen most senior yeomanry regiments would be retained as horsed cavalry, with

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1848-525: Was stationed in Dublin and then Claremorris ; there was no further change before the end of the war. The 3rd Line regiment was formed at the end of 1914 at Canterbury . In June 1915 it was affiliated to 3rd Reserve Cavalry Regiment at Canterbury. In the summer of 1916 it was dismounted and attached to the 3rd Line Groups of the Home Counties Division at Crowborough as its 1st Line

1892-698: Was the recruitment within months of 30,863 new troops from Canada, Australia and New Zealand. These were ordered by the Imperial Conference held in 1902. 8400 Canadians volunteered, of which 600 Horse were raised by Lord Strathcona in British Columbia. Of the Australians, 6208 came from New South Wales, 3897 from Victoria, 2903 from Queensland, 1494 from South Australia, 1165 from Western Australia, 796 from Tasmania. About 6000 from New Zealand. The Canadians were eager horsemen, and when

1936-415: Was undertaken while demobilisation began. The division and its subformations were disbanded on 10 July 1919. The 2nd Line regiment was formed at Maidstone in August 1914. In January 1915 it moved to Hounslow Barracks and in April to Maresfield ; there it took over the horses of the Royal Canadian Dragoons and Lord Strathcona's Horse who were going dismounted to the Western Front . In October 1915

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