83-805: The Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars was a Yeomanry regiment of the British Army . First raised in 1794, it participated in the Second Boer War and World War I as horsed cavalry before being converted to an anti-tank regiment of the Royal Artillery for service in World War II . In 1956 it was amalgamated with the Warwickshire Yeomanry to form the Queen's Own Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry . The lineage
166-540: A light field regiment designated 53rd (Worcestershire Yeomanry) Air Landing Light Regiment, RA , and was now part of the British Army's airborne forces , with 210, 211 and 212 A/L Btys (331 Bty was disbanded on 6 December). Owing to a shortage of gliders, only 211 Battery participated in the British airborne assault on D-Day , 6 June 1944. Together with the 6th Airborne Division, they were tasked to seize and hold
249-476: A machine gun battery of 12 guns, attacked. The defending troops repulsed the first attack but were forced back by the weight of the onslaught. The defenders' only machine gun was put out of action early in the attack and all the gunners were killed or wounded. The victorious Turkish troops then advanced to reinforce the attack taking place against the small garrison at Qatia . Qatia fell to the Turkish forces with
332-565: A newly established School of Instruction and the Secretary of State for War took over responsibility for the force, from individual Lords Lieutenant of counties. While these reforms improved the professionalism of the Yeomanry Force, numbers remained low (only 10,617 in 1881). In 1876, the role of the Yeomanry Force was fixed as that of light cavalry . During the previous decades, horse artillery troops had been raised to be attached to
415-523: A northward retreat to the coast and used the 48th Division to cover the 28 miles of the La Bassee Canal. Their purpose was to protect the western flank of the BEF by holding strongpoints such as canal crossings. Large enemy losses were inflicted by the 210 Battery together with troops of the 211 in support of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment (of 144th Infantry Brigade ) who were holding
498-543: A number of yeomanry regiments and dismounted detachments appeared where horses were not available in sufficient numbers. These supernumerary units were now abolished. During the Second Boer War , companies of Imperial Yeomanry were formed to serve overseas from volunteers from the Yeomanry. In 1901, all yeomanry regiments were redesignated as "Imperial Yeomanry", and reorganised. In 1908, the Imperial Yeomanry
581-629: A pear blossom, the emblem of Worcestershire, worked in silk, to wear in their hat as a reminder of where they were from. When they returned in 1903 the Countess presented the regiment with a sprig of pear blossom made by Fabergé , in gold, diamond, rock crystal, and jade, which the unit still bring out on dinner nights. A second draft for the IY went out to South Africa in 1901, including the 102nd (Worcestershire) Company. The Second Boer War ended in June 1902 and
664-568: A revolutionary army numbering half a million men. The Prime Minister proposed on 14 March 1794 that the counties form a force of Volunteer Yeomanry Cavalry, which 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. Worcestershire responded quickly to this call: a meeting held on 29 April at the Guildhall in Worcester voted to raise money to augment
747-609: A stand which brought the British advance to a halt until the arrival of General Edmund Allenby , who reorganised the army and allowed them to conduct operations towards the Turkish positions at Beersheba . The resulting operation took the Turkish forces by surprise and they were forced to withdraw. In the pursuit that followed the Worcestershire Yeomanry with the Warwickshire Yeomanry took part in
830-469: A state prison) and was finished ten years after Windsor inherited his father's title. The canal was finished in 1799; however the reservoirs were built twenty years later, and finished in 1836. Windsor bought Barnt Green House from the tenant Yates family who had resided there for some years. According to his obituary, Lord Plymouth was fond of hunting and kept a large stud at Hewell Grange Worcestershire and at Melton . In October 1832, he entertained
913-506: A sub-unit of a larger unit: In 1907 the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry was established as an all female volunteer organisation to provide a link between field hospitals and the front line, with their primary role being to rescue the wounded, rather than provide nursing care. Because the organisation as initially formed was mounted it adopted the yeomanry name. The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry is an independent charity that
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#1732802587349996-579: Is an affectation of a Norwegian or Saxon name ; a powerful lord so called, lived in this country before the Conquest, from whom the earl's family had some pretensions to its descent. The male line, however, became extinct, and the late peer derived his origin from a gentleman of the name of Dixie Hickman, of Kew but his ancestor, on becoming the representative of the Lords Windsor, assumed that name. His lordship succeeded his father, Other Hickman,
1079-646: Is maintained by B (Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry) Squadron, part of The Royal Yeomanry . The Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars were formed in 1794, as the Worcestershire Yeomanry , 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
1162-460: Is not part of the Armed Forces, today it provides teams to aid civil agencies. Other uses of yeoman : Other Windsor, 6th Earl of Plymouth Other Archer Windsor, 6th Earl of Plymouth (2 July 1789 – 20 July 1833) was an English nobleman, the eldest and only surviving son of the 5th Earl of Plymouth by his wife and cousin, Hon. Sarah Archer , daughter and eventual co-heiress of
1245-623: The 6th Airlanding Brigade , as the Americans and British defended against the German offensive in the Ardennes . The Regiment's 210 Battery claimed to be the first to land shells over the frontier on German soil. In March 1945, the plan for Operation Varsity was to drop two Airborne divisions (the British 6th and US 17th ), including the Regiment, behind enemy lines north of Wesel , isolate
1328-698: The Army List after the Second Boer War . Under an Army Order of 22 January 1893 the yeomanry were organised by squadrons: In 1899, they were called for service in the Imperial Yeomanry , for the Boer War . The War Office was not prepared for the Boer offensive and sent only 10,000 Indian troops, under command of Lord Methuen , to face some 70,000 Boers. After an initial success the British found themselves in trouble owing to lack of cavalry. The result
1411-509: The Army List from December 1875. This assigned Regular and Yeomanry units places in an order of battle of corps, divisions and brigades for the 'Active Army', even though these formations were entirely theoretical, with no staff or services assigned. The Worcestershire, Derbyshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry were assigned to the Cavalry Brigade of VI Corps based at Crewe , alongside a Regular Army Royal Horse Artillery battery. This
1494-698: The Chartist riots at Birmingham in 1839; and from April to September 1842 during the Staffordshire Potteries and South Staffordshire miners' riots. Of this service the Commanding Officer (CO) stated: Prevention is the cure we should look to; we do not wish to be called into activity to cause injury to our neighbours, especially circumstanced as we are, and locally known to many of them. Colonel Clive died in 1854 and Lord Ward (later Earl of Dudley ), who had been lt-col since 1837,
1577-534: The Hon. Robert Clive , who continued to support the regiment financially. The Kidderminster Troop was disbanded in 1836, but most of its members joined the Kings Norton Troop, which became a squadron. A new troop was raised at Witley in 1841. The regiment continued to be called out to assist the civil powers, in 1832 during a boat hauliers' strike; at Dudley in 1833, 1834 and 1835; for six weeks' duty during
1660-556: The Lickey Hills Country Park and visible from Bromsgrove . His unusual forename 'Other' is traditional in the family and derives from a legendary Viking ancestor 'Otho' or 'Othere'. At his death, Plymouth was succeeded in the earldom by his bachelor uncle, Rev. the Hon. Andrew Windsor (born 1764) who died unmarried in 1837. The earldom then passed to the 7th Earl's youngest brother, Henry (youngest surviving son of
1743-711: The Munich Crisis the TA was doubled in size, and the 53rd A/T Rgt was split in February 1939, the Worcester Yeomanry batteries remaining with the 53rd and expanding to four (209 at Kidderminster, 210 and 211 at King's Heath and 212 at Bewdley ), and the QOOH batteries forming a new 63rd A/T Rgt. Both were officially titled 'Worcestershire and Oxfordshire Yeomanry', taking no account of the actual split. The Regiment
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#17328025873491826-513: The 1830s, the number of yeomanry units fluctuated, reflecting the level of civil unrest in any particular region at any particular time. The Irish Yeomanry, which had played a major role in suppressing the rebellion of 1798, was completely disbanded in 1838. For the next thirty years, the Yeomanry Force was retained as a second line of support for the regular cavalry within Britain. Recruiting difficulties led to serious consideration being given to
1909-517: The 2nd Baron Archer . He was the sixth Earl of Plymouth of the 1682 creation. He was born the only son, and had two sisters Lady Mary Windsor, who married the Marquess of Downshire and Lady Harriet Windsor , who married the Hon. Robert Clive , a son of the Earl of Powis and grandson of Clive of India . Styled Lord Windsor from birth, he inherited his titles from his father on 12 June 1799 at
1992-502: The 4th Earl), after whom the earldom became extinct in 1843. The 6th Earl's death without issue meant that the Windsor barony (1529) fell into abeyance between his two sisters, until it was called out of abeyance in 1855 in favour of the younger sister Lady Harriet Clive , who became Harriet Windsor-Clive and whose sons Robert and George also took the name Windsor-Clive. Harriet's grandson Robert Windsor-Clive, 14th Baron Windsor ,
2075-631: The Baltic Coast at Wismar . The Regiment had returned to England by 23 May and was then ordered in September 1945 to Palestine . Its task was to help establish and maintain security in the Jewish state against Arab hostility and internal Jewish battles for power. The Regiment retrained as infantry to act as a police force, controlling and searching traffic along the north to south roads into Jerusalem , Tel Aviv and Jaffa . Their largest operation
2158-529: The Baltic coast. The Regiment had fought in and captured the towns of Greven , Lengerich , Osnabrück , Minden and Lahder . Heavy German resistance was encountered near Celle on 15 April, when German self-propelled guns caused problems for 6th Airborne until they were outflanked after heavy shelling by the Regiment. The advance of the Regiment met with the Russian Army westward advance on 30 April, on
2241-703: The Brigade were informed they were to fight as infantry, and were sent to Suvla Bay , and took part in the Gallipoli campaign. The Regiment were in support of the Anzacs and other British soldiers, in an attempt to break through the Turkish defences. These Turkish defences on the hills overlooking the beaches proved too strong and Gallipoli was evacuated in January 1916. The Regiment was sent to Egypt , where their casualties were replaced by fresh troops from England and
2324-534: The Duchess of Kent and her young daughter Victoria at Hewell Grange Plymouth died on board his yacht, aged 44, at Deptford. During the night, he suffered an attack of apoplexy , and despite medical aid, died in the afternoon. He was buried in the family vault at St Bartholomew's Church in Tardebigge (then also called Tardebeck) , Worcestershire. He is commemorated by an obelisk bearing his name, situated in
2407-472: The Earl of Plymouth at Hewell Grange , for which the regiment provided her escort. After her accession as Queen Victoria in 1837 she conferred the title of 'Queen's Own' on the regiment in recognition of that visit: from now on the regiment bore the title of Queen's Own Regiment of Worcestershire Yeomanry . The Earl of Plymouth died in 1833 and on 9 November was succeeded as colonel by his brother-in-law, Major
2490-584: The King commended the Worcestershire Yeomanry for their 'honourable distinction in forming an essential part of the defence of the country against a foreign enemy in circumstances of extraordinary emergency'. However, the Worcester Yeomanry volunteered to serve on, and in the event the peace broke down in 1803. By the end of that year a third troop had been added to the Worcester Cavalry and Maj Somers Cocks had been promoted to lieutenant-colonel to command
2573-720: The RFA was subsumed into the Royal Artillery (RA), and the unit was redesignated as an 'Army Field Brigade, RA', serving as 'Army Troops' in 48th (South Midland) Divisional Area . As the British Army rearmed in the years before World War II , the 100th Field Brigade was converted on 28 November 1938 to the anti-tank role as 53rd (Worcestershire and Oxfordshire Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, RA (RA 'brigades' being redesignated 'regiments' at this time). The two QOWH batteries were renumbered as 209 (at Kidderminster ) and 210 (at King's Heath) (Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars Yeomanry) A/T Btys. Its 18-pounders were replaced with 2-pounders . After
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2656-502: The Regiment returned to home having lost 16 NCOs killed in action and 20 wounded. The Imperial Yeomanry was equipped and trained as Mounted infantry . The experiment was considered a success and in 1901 all the existing yeomanry regiments were converted to IY: the regiment became the Worcestershire Imperial Yeomanry (The Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars) . The 'Imperial' part of the title was dropped when
2739-558: The Regiment was sent to protect the eastern side of the Suez Canal . The Regiment dug wells and sent out patrols for reconnaissance to establish the location of the Turkish attack, the Regiment being responsible for patrolling the whole of the Qatia water area. The small isolated garrison at Oghratine had been ordered to protect a party of engineers on a well-digging expedition, when at dawn on 23 April 1916, 3,000 Turkish troops, including
2822-516: The Regiment were evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk in Operation Dynamo . The Regiment had, however, gained the distinction of having destroyed more enemy tanks than any other anti-tank Regiment of the BEF. On 28 July 1941, while stationed at Newton Abbot, Devon, the regiment provided the cadre of experienced gunners for a new 290 A/T Bty. In October 1941 the regiment was transferred to 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division , which
2905-582: The Regiment, was to maintain pressure on the retreating Germans on the coastal route towards the Seine in Operation Paddle . Progress was slow but the Regiment reached Honfleur on 27 August. They then returned to England to rest and reform for future airborne operations with the rest of the 6th Airborne Division. On 20 December 1944, the Regiment received orders to embark for France again and by 26 December they were in action near Dinant in support of
2988-752: The Territorial Army was doubled in size, with duplicate units formed; this led to some regiments being de-amalgamated. The last mounted regiment of yeomanry was the Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons , who were converted to an armoured role in March 1942, and later converted into an infantry battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry —KOYLI. Volunteers from the Yeomanry served in the Long Range Desert Group from 1940 through to 1943, incorporated into "Y Patrol". There were reductions in
3071-787: The Worcestershire Yeomanry Cavalry in November 1913, was already convinced that another European war was approaching. He appointed a permanent staff of instructors who trained the Regiment in musketry. War was declared in August 1914 and the Worcestershires formed part of the 1st South Midland Mounted Brigade commanded by Brigadier E.A. Wiggin. The Brigade was ordered to Egypt and was based in Chatby Camp, close to Alexandria , by April 1915. In August
3154-493: The Worcestershire Yeomanry, was formed in August 1916 and together with Anzac regiments were tasked to force back some 48,000 Turks from Romani , a strategically important and fortified watering hole which was identified as the Turkish base for a major attack on the Suez Canal. After a fierce battle, the Turkish forces were forced to retreat and large numbers of guns were captured. The Turkish army regrouped at Gaza and made
3237-574: The Worcestershire, volunteered to serve on. In 1818 the Worcestershire Yeomanry were called out to quell a disturbance in Pitchcroft , Worcester, where rioters were pulling down buildings that had been erected on common land, and the special constables had failed to intervene. The Yeomanry were met with a shower of stones and were glad to retire to the yard of the Star and Garter inn, after which
3320-414: The Worcestershires the Earl of Dudley and 12 other officers resigned their commissions as a result. However, the Earl remained as Honorary Colonel of the regiment; Lt-Col Lord Sandys, formerly of the 2nd Life Guards , succeeded as CO. The regiment was reorganised as follows: The gun detachment was disbanded and the regiment adopted a Hussar uniform. In 1887, during Queen Victoria's golden jubilee,
3403-438: The Yeomanry concentrated on local defence. In 1827, it was decided for financial reasons to reduce the number of yeomanry regiments, disbanding those that had not been required to assist the civil power over the previous decade. A number of independent troops were also dissolved. Following these reductions, the yeomanry establishment was fixed at 22 corps (regiments) receiving allowances and a further 16 serving without pay. During
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3486-659: The Yeomanry were linked to specific counties or regions, identified in the regimental title. Some of the units still in existence in 1914 dated back to those created in the 1790s, while others had been created during a period of expansion following on the Boer War. After the First World War, the Territorial Force was disbanded and later reformed and redesignated as the Territorial Army . Following
3569-534: The age of ten, along with his father's land at Tardebigge , the country seat Hewell Grange , and land in Shropshire and Glamorgan . A year later (1800), his mother married Lord Amherst as his first wife, and bore him two sons. It is not clear if young Plymouth grew up with his stepfather (but highly likely); if so, he was exposed to the influences of Amherst's wide-ranging Court and political connections, culminating in his failed (1816) embassy to China. Plymouth
3652-459: 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 Earl of Dudley , who took command of
3735-414: The disbandment of the entire force in 1870, but instead measures were taken the following year to improve its effectiveness. These included requirements that individual yeomanry troopers attend a minimum number of drills per year in return for a "permanent duty" allowance, and that units be maintained at a specific strength. Yeomanry officers and permanent drill instructors were required to undergo training at
3818-618: The division as 3rd Mounted Division . In July 1916, the regiment was converted to a cyclist unit in 8th Cyclist Brigade , 2nd Cyclist Division and was stationed at Tunbridge Wells . In November 1916, the division was broken up and regiment was merged with the 2/1st Royal Gloucestershire Hussars to form 12th (Gloucestershire and Worcestershire) Yeomanry Cyclist Regiment in 4th Cyclist Brigade at Ipswich . In March 1917, it resumed its identity as 2/1st Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars . In April 1917, it moved to Wivenhoe , by November at Frinton and then to Manningtree . About April 1918
3901-606: The existing militia and to raise a corps of yeomanry cavalry. A further meeting on 15 August resolved to raise two yeomanry troops of 56 men each. This offer of service having been accepted, the Hon. John Somers Cocks was appointed captain and Thomas Spooner as lieutenant of the first troop, the Worcester Troop of Gentlemen and Yeomen , which held its first parade in front of the Unicorn Inn at Worcester on 25 October and began drilling at Powick . The second troop
3984-495: The experience of the war, only the fourteen senior yeomanry regiments retained their horses, with the rest being re-designated as armoured car companies , artillery , engineers , or signals . Two regiments were disbanded. The converted units retained their yeomanry traditions, with some artillery regiments having individual batteries representing different yeomanry units. On the eve of the Second World War in 1939,
4067-425: The fifth earl, 12th January, 1799, and united himself the 3d of August, 1811, to Lady Mary Sackville, eldest daughter of John Frederick, fifth [sic] Duke of Dorset, by whom he has left no issue; the family honours therefore devolve on his uncle, the Hon. and Rev. Andrew Windsor, now Earl of Plymouth. The late earl's mother is married to Earl Amherst." The day before his death, being the anniversary of his natal day,
4150-570: The following day; the complete Regiment going into action on 15 June. The Regiment now manned a series of Forward Observation Posts providing information for the Parachute and Commando Brigades against German mortar strongpoints. By 16 August, reports were received that the Germans were pulling out eastwards. Major-General Richard Nelson Gale , General Officer Commanding the 6th Airborne Division, received orders that his command, together with
4233-588: The grounds that her husband could better afford the annual upkeep of the house. By 1829–30, the Countesses of Plymouth and De La Warr (or rather, their husbands) had partitioned the Sackville family estates between them. Lord Plymouth was admitted to the House of Lords probably at the usual age of 21, although he was not active in politics. He voted against the first Reform Bill on 8 October 1831 along with
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#17328025873494316-452: The high wooded area behind the city of Caen, which would see very heavy fighting during the Battle for Caen in the weeks to come, on the eastern flank of the Normandy bridgehead. 211 Battery landed near Caen in 27 gliders on 6 June. The Regiment's other Batteries, 210 and 212, were sent to Normandy on Empire Capulet , which had been pressed into service as a troopship . They landed by sea at Luc-sur-Mer , on 14 June and joined up with 211
4399-499: The industrial Ruhr and disrupt the German rear defences. On 24 March, 78 gliders set off from England for a successful attack that established bridgeheads on the eastern bank of the Rhine. The first guns were in action within 10 minutes of the gliders landing. By the evening, all of the divisions' objectives had been taken but 2 Battery Commanders and 20 Other Ranks had been killed, with 8 officers and 59 men missing or prisoners of war. The advance continued and six weeks later they reached
4482-534: The last cavalry charge on guns in British Military history, the Charge at Huj . Under Colonel Hugh Cheape the cavalry charged a group of Turkish guns at a place called Huj in November 1917. This action, in defence of the beleaguered 60th London Division , who were pinned down by Turkish fire, succeeded forcing them to withdraw and resulted in the capture of the guns. Yeomanry losses were heavy. Two out of nine officers were killed and four wounded and of 96 NCOs and men 17 were killed and 35 wounded. The 2nd Line regiment
4565-444: The loss of all of the Yeomanry's officers except a Major W.H. Wiggin who was wounded and managed to withdraw with about half the squadron. Anzac troops, who occupied both Qatia and Oghradine four days later, testified to the ferocity of the battle and paid tribute to the valour and tenacity of the defenders. In these actions, 9 officers and 102 NCOs and men of the Regiment were killed and many other wounded. A composite regiment, including
4648-442: The majority of the House of Lords. He was involved in the creation of the Worcester Yeomanry Division which fought in Spain . At his death, he was Colonel of the Worcestershire Yeomanry Cavalry. Also during his tenure, the Worcester and Birmingham Canal was built through Tardebigge (Tardebeck, Worcestershire) and good taxes were collected from the nailmakers of Redditch . The canal passes very close to Hewell Grange (now
4731-436: The officers. At its formation, the force was referred to as the Yeomanry Cavalry . Members of the yeomanry were not obliged to serve overseas without their individual consent. During the first half of the nineteenth century, Yeomanry Regiments were used extensively in support of the civil authority to quell riots and civil disturbances, including the Peterloo Massacre ; as police forces were created and took over this role,
4814-421: The railways, pacify the local Boer farmers and to capture the Boer forces their supplies, arms and equipment. The Regiment was armed with the Martini–Henry carbine and 2 lb and 3 lb guns which were, in fact, the private property of Lord Plymouth and paid for out of private funds. The Countess of Dudley , whose husband had been Colonel Commander of the Worcestershire Yeomanry, presented each yeoman with
4897-513: The regiment moved to Ireland and was stationed at Dublin where it remained, still in 4th Cyclist Brigade, until the end of the war. The 3rd Line regiment was formed in 1915; in the summer it was affiliated to a Reserve Cavalry Regiment at Tidworth . In the summer of 1916 it was affiliated to the 4th Reserve Cavalry Regiment , still at Tidworth. Early in 1917, it was absorbed into the 5th Reserve Cavalry Regiment , also at Tidworth. The Regiment returned from Palestine in 1919, under strength, but
4980-405: The regiment was called out to deal with riots at Upton, Tewkesbury and Worcester, by miners at Dudley when the entire regiment was deployed, and riots at Dudley and Stourbridge in connection with the Great Reform Act . The regiment raised an additional 100-man squadron at Dudley in 1832: mounted entirely on grey horses was known as the 'Grey Squadron'. In November 1832 Princess Victoria visited
5063-436: The regiment's title was changed to Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars . G and H Troops amalgamated to form a squadron and a new troop was raised at Malvern, amalgamating with one of the Upton troops. Lord Sandys resigned the command in 1878 and Lord Lyttelton (later Viscount Cobham ) was promoted to replace him. He was succeeded by Lord Windsor in 1893. Following the Cardwell Reforms a mobilisation scheme began to appear in
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#17328025873495146-404: The regiment, while seven troops of volunteer cavalry had been raised in the county: The Yeomanry's training was now carried out with Regular cavalry units whenever possible. During the 1810 training, rioting broke out in Worcester and the Yeomanry were called upon to assist the militia in quelling it. Lord Somers (as Lt-Col Somers Cocks had now become) resigned the command in 1811 and there
5229-417: The rioters dispersed peaceably. The regiment was also called out in 1822 during unrest amongst the South Staffordshire miners. The War Office ceased to support the Yeomanry after 1827 and most regiments were disbanded, including the Worcestershires. However, further civil disorder led to the reconstitution of many of these regiments in 1831. The Worcestershire magistrates decided to reform their regiment and it
5312-444: The rise of Napoleon Bonaparte , the perceived threat of invasion of the Kingdom of Great Britain was high. To improve the country's defences, Volunteer regiments were raised in many counties from yeomen . While the word "yeoman" in normal use meant a small farmer who owned his land, Yeomanry officers were drawn from the nobility or the landed gentry, and many of the men were the officers' tenants or had other forms of obligation to
5395-490: The size of the TA in both 1957 and 1961, which led to the amalgamation of some pairs of yeomanry regiments. There was a major reduction in reserve forces in 1967 with the formation of the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve; all existing yeomanry regiments were reduced to squadron, company or battery sub-units. A number of further reorganisations have taken place since then. In the current Army Reserve , several remnants of former Yeomanry regiments are still serving, usually as
5478-462: The town of Wormhoudt . These same troops were later involved in the Wormhoudt massacre . Orders were received from Brigade to destroy their guns and vehicles and proceed to Dunkirk. Near Oost-Cappell the 212 Battery defended the crossroads against German tanks, some of which were destroyed, until being forced to withdraw after disabling their guns and vehicles. Each battery had been ordered to escape to Dunkirk , but only five officers and 284 men of
5561-422: The yeomanry were transferred to the Territorial Force (TF) in 1908. The regiment was based at Silver Street in Worcester 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
5644-460: Was a two-year hiatus before his son, the Hon. John Somers Cocks was appointed lieutenant-colonel. In October 1811the lords lieutenant were required to incorporate the independent Volunteer cavalry into the Yeomanry, who were to train for 12 days a year, receiving Regular cavalry pay while training. After the Battle of Waterloo the remaining Volunteers were disbanded and the Yeomanry allowed to stand down if they wished, but most regiments, including
5727-510: Was accepted by the government on 29 April 1831, with the Earl of Plymouth as colonel and Lord Lyttelton as lt-col. The adjutant was Capt William Emmott, who had enlisted as a Trooper in the Royal Horse Guards , had served with it in the Napoleonic Wars and at Waterloo, and has retire as the regiment's quartermaster. The regiment consisted of ten 50-man troops: The regiment also had two 3-pounder ' galloper guns ' attached to it (replaced by 6-pounders in 1853). During its first year
5810-439: Was being converted into an armoured division. That month 209 A/T Bty transferred to a new 84th A/T Rgt that was being formed, and the new 290 A/T Bty left to join 56th (King's Own) A/T Rgt, leaving 53rd with just three batteries until it formed a new 331 A/T Bty on 25 June 1943. 42nd Armoured Division was broken up in October 1943, when the regiment moved to 6th Airborne Division , at first as an A/T regiment, then from 3 November as
5893-431: Was created Earl of Plymouth in 1905 (third creation), and is the great-grandfather of the present Earl (born 1951). Since the present Earl is the owner of the estates held by the 6th Earl, those might have descended by the 6th Earl's will to his younger sister Harriet and her heirs male. "The demise of the late Earl of Plymouth which took place on Wednesday (July 10) was very unexpected. His lordship on Tuesday evening
5976-488: Was educated at Harrow. He married Lady Mary Sackville (1792–1864), elder daughter of John Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset , on 5 August 1811. There was no issue of the marriage, and Lady Plymouth later married his stepfather Lord Amherst (after his wife Plymouth's mother died in 1838). Since Plymouth was richer than his brother-in-law De La Warr (1791–1869), his mother-in-law Arabella, Duchess of Dorset and Countess Whitworth, left Knole in 1825 to her elder daughter Mary, on
6059-421: Was formed at Worcester in September 1914. In April 1915 it joined the 2/1st South Midland Mounted Brigade at Cirencester and in June moved to King's Lynn where the brigade joined the 2/2nd Mounted Division . In July 1915, the regiment was at Holkham Hall . On 31 March 1916, the remaining Mounted Brigades were ordered to be numbered in a single sequence; the brigade was numbered as 10th Mounted Brigade and
6142-471: Was in the full enjoyment of health and spirits. He dined with his Countess in Grosvenor-square, at six o'clock, and afterwards proceeded with her ladyship in a carriage and four to Deptford, where they embarked on board his lordship's yacht, which was to sail at an early hour on Wednesday morning for Cowes. During the night the noble earl was attacked by apoplexy , and although the first medical aid
6225-638: Was merged with the Volunteer Force to form the Territorial Force , of which it became the cavalry arm. The "Imperial" title was dropped at the same time. On the eve of World War I in 1914, there were 55 Yeomanry regiments (with two more formed in August 1914), each of four squadrons instead of the three of the regular cavalry. Upon embodiment, these regiments were either brought together to form mounted brigades or allocated as divisional cavalry. For purposes of recruitment and administration,
6308-478: Was never more than a paper organisation, but from April 1893 the Army List showed the Yeomanry regiments grouped into brigades for collective training. They were commanded by the senior regimental commanding officer but they did have a Regular Army Brigade major . The Worcestershire Yeomanry together with the Shropshire Yeomanry formed the 5th Yeomanry Brigade. The Yeomanry brigades disappeared from
6391-656: Was part of the 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division and went with the division in January 1940 to join the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) on the border between France and Belgium. On 10 May 1940, the German Army 's attack started and the BEF moved forwards across the Belgian frontier to take position on the River Dyle. Lord Gort , commanding the entire BEF, was aware of the possibility of
6474-405: Was procured with all possible expedition, he expired on board the yacht at one o'clock on Wednesday afternoon. His remains were brought to his late residence in Grosvenor-square the same evening, whence they will be conveyed for interment in tho family vault at Ewell Grange, in Worcestershire. Lord Plymouth was in his 44th year, having been born, July, 1782. He was named Other Archer Windsor. Other
6557-593: Was promoted to replace him. Edwin Hughes served as Sergeant-Instructor with the Worcestershire Yeomanry starting from the day after his discharge from the 13th Hussars until his discharge for 'old age' on 5 January 1886. Edwin Hughes was the oldest survivor of the Charge of the Light Brigade . In 1871 control of the yeomanry was taken from the lords lieutenant and they came under the Secretary of State for War; in
6640-590: Was quickly reformed and brought up to strength. It had become clear during the war that cavalry was obsolete and, in 1922, it was announced that the Worcestershires were to serve as two horsed batteries in the Royal Field Artillery (RFA): 397 at Worcester and 398 at King's Heath , Birmingham . Together with 399 and 400 batteries from the Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars they formed 100th (Worcestershire and Oxfordshire Yeomanry) Brigade, RFA . The horses were replaced by artillery tractors in 1922. In 1924
6723-479: Was raised in the summer of 1796 under the command of Spooner, and Capt Somers Cocks was promoted to major to command what was now a squadron. A further Act of Parliament in 1798 permitted local associations to raise additional troops of volunteer cavalry, whose service was restricted to operations within their county. With the threat of a French invasion having receded after the signing of the Peace of Amiens in 1802,
6806-538: Was the English Yeomanry Regiments were called upon and their response was immediate. Lord Windsor , the Commanding Officer asked for volunteers for a newly formed Imperial Yeomanry Cavalry and was able to select 129 men from the 3,021 men who offered their services. The Worcestershire contingent formed the 16th Company of the 5th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry Cavalry under the command of Colonel Frederick Meyrick. The squadron's orders were to protect
6889-540: Was to search Tel Aviv in three days, arresting men suspected of subversive activities and discovering hidden dumps of arms. Yeomanry Yeomanry is a designation used by a number of units and sub-units in the British Army Reserve which are descended from volunteer cavalry regiments that now serve in a variety of different roles. In the 1790s, following the French Revolution and
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