Suffolk Yeomanry 1908-1914

This post will look at numbering in the Suffolk Yeomanry (The Duke of York's Own Loyal Suffolk Hussars) between 1908 and 1914.

In common with many Yeomanry regiments, the Suffolk Yeomanry can trace its origins back to the French Revolutionary Wars and 1793 when it was formed as a volunteer cavalry unit, The Loyal Suffolk Hussars. When it became the Suffolk Yeomanry in 1908, it continued with the numbering series it had used when it was the Suffolk Imperial Yeomanry. The majority of the men who joined in 1908 were former Imperial Yeoman, joining the newly constituted regiment with their old Imperial Yeomanry numbers. For example, Walter Robert Falgate, born in 1879, joined the Suffolk Yeomanry on the 25th May 1908 but his number dates to 22nd October 1902 when he joined the Imperial Yeomanry. He was finally discharged as no longer physically fit for war service - and with the rank of regimental Sergeant Major - in October 1916.

By 1914 the Suffolk Yeomanry were headquartered at Bury St Edmunds, with its four squadrons disposed as follows:

A Squadron: Cambridge, with a drill station at Ely
B Squadron: Bury St Edmunds, with drill stations at Eye, Thetford, Sudbury and Stowmarket
C Squadron: Ipswich, with drill stations at Felixstowe, Framlingham and Woodbridge
D Squadron: Beccles, with drill stations at Bungay, Halesworth, Lowestoft and Leiston

The regiment formed part of the Eastern Mounted Brigade which was administered from Colchester.

1282 joined on 8th March 1909
1335 joined on 7th January 1910
1392 joined on 10th February 1911
1453 joined on 9th March 1912
1524 joined on 4th November 1913
1568 joined on 13th April 1914
1610 joined on 12th August 1914
1643 joined on 2nd September 1914
1782 joined on 4th December1914

Two reserve units, the 2/1st and 3/1st, were formed during the First World War and both drew their numbers from the same series above.

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