This post will look at numbering in the West Somerset Yeomanry between 1908 and 1914.
The regiment can trace its origins back to 1793 when it was raised as the Somersetshire Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry. When it became the West Somerset Yeomanry in 1908, it continued with the numbering series it had used when it was the West Somerset Imperial Yeomanry. Most of the men who joined in 1908 were former Imperial Yeoman - albeit joining the newly constituted regiment with new numbers which had started at 1. For instance, Samuel David who joined on 21st April 1908 was given the number 216 even though he had been a serving Imperial Yeoman with the number 623.
By 1914 the West Somerset Yeomanry were headquartered at Taunton, with its four squadrons disposed as follows:
A Squadron: Wellington
B Squadron: Taunton
C Squadron: Bridgwater
D Squadron: Yeovil
The regiment formed part of the 2nd South Western Mounted Brigade which was administered from Exeter.
417 joined on 18th February 1909
445 joined on 29th January 1910
558 joined on 25th January 1911
619 joined on 13th March 1912
686 joined on 13th February 1913
792 joined on 5th January1914
888 joined on 4th August 1914
1065 joined on 1st September 1914
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.
Image borrowed from britisharmedforces.org
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