1st & 2nd Lovat's Scouts 1908-1914

These two regiments both had their origins in Imperial Yeomanry formations and of the two, certainly regarding numbering, the 1st Lovat's Scouts is easier to deal with.

My database begins in 1908 with three digit numbers which were probably originally issued to men joining the Imperial Yeomanry. By 1909 however, we're into four figures, thus:

1750 joined on 27th February 1909
1835 joined on 14th January 1910
1903 joined on 25th February 1911
2017 joined on 27th January 1912
2067 joined on 14th March 1913
2181 joined on 5th May 1914
2216 joined on 14th August 1914
2282 joined on 11th September 1914
2504 joined on 15th October 1914

The 2nd Lovat's Scouts are much harder to fathom due to the fact that this regiment was administered by three separate county associations, each of which issued men with numbers from different series. I have found very few early numbers for men who joined the Inverness Squadron or the Sutherland Squadron, more for men who joined the two Cromarty Squadrons which appear to have commenced their numbering at 4000 in 1908:

4010 joined on 14th January 1909
4076 joined on 25th March 1910
4125 joined on 9th March 1911
4180 joined on 7th May 1912
4125 joined on 21st February 1913
4265 joined on 23rd March 1914
4285 joined on 7th August 1914
4311 joined on 22nd September 1914

I am not sure how many of these three separate number series carried on beyond August 1914 but on the evidence I have in my database I have only seen numbers in the 5000 range and above.

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Lothians and Border Horse 1908-1914

The Lothians and Border Horse started numbering from 1 when it was formed out of its Imperial Yeomanry predecessor in April 1908. Charles Walter Grieve was given the new number 262 when he signed up on the 4th May 1908. In fact he was already a serving member with the Lothians and Border Horse Imperial Yeomanry and had been given the number 371 when he originally enlisted as 20-year-old in 1903. Then, his trade had been given as "Gentleman".

The regiment formed part of the Lowland Mounted Brigade which was administered from Edinburgh. Its own headquarters was also in Edinburgh with its four squadrons disposed as follows:

A Squadron: Dunbar
B Squadron: Edinburgh
C Squadron: Hawick
D Squadron: Edinburgh

899 joined on 6th January 1909
1095 joined on 22nd February 1910
1190 joined on 27th October 1911
1268 joined on 15th April 1912
1401 joined on 8th May 1913
1520 joined on 26th July 1914
1586 joined on 31st August 1914
1650 joined on 3rd September 1914
1859 joined on 21st October 1914
1844 joined on 7th November 1914

A 2/1st unit was formed in 1914 and 3/1st unit in April 1915. Both these second and third line units shared their number sequence with the 1/1st.

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2nd County of London Yeomanry (Westminster Dragoons)

This regiment continued with its existing numbering series when it was formed out of the Imperial Yeomanry in April 1908.  The regiment formed part of the London Mounted Brigade which was administered from the Duke of York's Headquarters in Chelsea. The regiment itself was headquartered at the Duke of York's Headquarters in Elverton Street, Westminster

474  joined on 28th April 1908
1281 joined on 8th July 1909
1384 joined on 4th October 1910
1420 joined on 1st February 1911
1546 joined on 11th June 1912
1600 joined on 16th January 1913
1727 joined on 25th February 1914
1831 joined on 6th August 1914
2209 joined on 11th September 1914

A 2/2nd unit was formed in September 1914 and 3/2nd unit in April 1915. Both these second and third line units shared their number sequence with the 1/2nd.

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1st County of London Yeomanry (Middlesex, Duke of Cambridge's Hussars)

This regiment continued with its existing numbering series when it was formed out of the Imperial Yeomanry in April 1908.  The regiment formed part of the London Mounted Brigade which was administered from the Duke of York's Headquarters in Chelsea. The regiment itself was also headquartered in Chelsea and recruited for all four squadrons from Chelsea
2254  joined on 7th April 1908
2713 joined on 18th February 1910
2912 joined on 6th March 1911
3004 joined on 10th January 1912
3166 joined on 31st March 1913
3296 joined on 23rd March 1914
3324 joined on 11th August 1914
3541 joined on 15th September 1914

A 2/1st unit was formed in September 1914 and 3/1st unit in 1915. Both these second and third line units shared their number sequence with the 1/1st.

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City of London Yeomanry (Rough Riders) 1908-1914

This regiment continued with its existing numbering series when it was formed out of the Imperial Yeomanry in April 1908.  The regiment formed part of the London Mounted Brigade which was administered from the Duke of York's Headquarters in Chelsea. The regiment itself was headquartered in Finsbury Square and recruited for all four squadrons from Finsbury Square.

1424 joined on 29th June 1908
1705 joined on March 11th 1910
1963 joined on 21st June 1912
2061 joined on 14th February 1913
2153 joined on 18th February 1914
2183 joined on 6th April 1914
2406 joined on 3rd September 1914
2744 joined on 19th October 1914
2778 joined on 6th November 1914
1849 joined on 15th December 1914

A 2/1st unit was formed in August 1914 and 3/1st unit in 1915. Both these second and third line units shared their number sequence with the 1/1st.

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Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars 1908-1914

The Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars continued with its existing numbering sequence when it was formed in April 1908, most of the men joining that year being former Imperial Yeoman.

By August 1914 the regiment formed part of the 2nd South Midland Brigade which was administered from Oxford. Its own headquarters was also at Oxford with its four squadrons disposed as follows:

A Squadron: Oxford
B Squadron: Woodstock
C Squadron: Henley-on-Thames
D Squadron: Banbury

1276 joined on 26th may 1908
1441 joined on 18th February 1909
1552 joined on 8th February 1910
1641 joined on 7th February 1911
1748 joined on 6th March 1912
1838 joined on 8th April 1913
1864 joined on 22nd January 1914
1955 joined on 7th August 1914
2019 joined on 3rd September 1914
2269 joined on 10th October 1914
2306 joined on 2nd November 1914
2385 joined on 5th December 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.

 

The Oxfordshire Hussars in the Great War 

 

 

This from the Naval & Military Press:

"The Oxford Hussars originated as the Oxfordshire Yeomanry, a unit raised in the Napoleonic Wars. By 1914, the unit formed part of the territorial army and were immediately mobilized on the outbreak of the Great War. The regiment saw early service in the autumn of 1914 in the doomed attempts to save Dunkirk and Antwerp from the German advance, and then fell into the routing of trench warfare, holding the line at Messines, just south of the Ypres salient. After experiencing a German gas attack in the second battle of Ypres in April 1915, which they warded off with primitive respirators, the unit continued to serve in the salient, seeing action at St Julien and Bellewaarde Wood, and later at Vermelles. Aftyer years of frustration caused by the paralysis of trench warfare the Hussars came into their own again with the resumption of the war of movement at the end of the war in 1918. This is an exceptionally lively history, full of character sketches of notable members of the regiment and gives a clear picture of the role of a British cavalry unit in and out of the trenches. Illustrated with 27 photographs and 13 maps."

Note that Appendix A of this regimental history provides useful information on the regiment's fatalities, often giving location of death not recorded elsewhere:

 

CLICK HERE TO ORDER

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Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry 1908-1914

This post will look at numbering in the Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry between 1908 and 1914.

The Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry saw no need to start a new regimental numbering system from April 1908 and simply continued with the series that had been in use for years previously. Most of the enlistments in 1908 were men who were already serving as Imperial Yeomen.

By 1914 the regiment was headquartered at Penrith with its four squadrons disposed as follows:

A Squadron: Kendal, with drill stations at Carnforth, Kirkby Lonsdale, Ulverston & Windermere
B Squadron: Penrith, with drill stations at Keswick, Temple Sowerby and Cockermouth 
C Squadron: Whitehaven, with drill stations at Workington, Maryport and Barrow-in-Furness 
D Squadron: Carlisle, with drill stations at Wigton and Aleton

The regiment formed part of the Welsh Border Mounted Brigade which was administered from Shrewsbury.

1623 joined on 11th April 1908
1710 joined on 6th January 1909
1778 joined on 15th February 1910
1856 joined on 27th January 1911
2056 joined on 23rd November 1912
2094 joined on 1st February 1913
2221 joined on 3rd March 1914
2252 joined on 5th August 1914
2273 joined on 10th September 1914
2472 joined on 9th October 1914
2600 joined on 2nd November 1914
2788 joined on 8th December 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.

I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.

Montgomeryshire Yeomanry 1908-1914

This post will look at numbering in the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry between 1908 and 1914.

The regiment saw no need to begin a new regimental number series when it became the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry in 1908 and instead continued with the number series that had been in uses when it was the Montgomeryshire Imperial Yeomanry.

By 1914 the regiment was headquartered at Welshpool with its four squadrons disposed as follows:

A Squadron: Llanfyllin
B Squadron: Welshpool
C Squadron: Newtown
D Squadron: Llandindrod Wells

The regiment formed part of the 1st South Wales Mounted Brigade which was administered from Pembroke.

1140 joined on 27th May 1908
1639 joined on 26th April 1909
1700 joined on 9th March 1910
1798 joined on 23rd May 1911
1843 joined on 13th February 1912
1911 joined on 20th February 1913
2059 joined on 21st March1914
2276 joined on 25th August 1914
2360 joined on 7th September 1914
2708 joined on 12th October 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.

I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.

Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry (Prince of Wales's Own Royal Regiment) 1908-1914

This post will look at numbering in the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry (Prince of Wales's Own) between 1908 and 1914.

The regiment started numbering from in April 1908 albeit most of the men who joined that year were already serving yeomen with the Wiltshire Imperial Yeomanry.

By 1914 the regiment was headquartered at Chippenham with its four squadrons disposed as follows:

A Squadron: Warminster
B Squadron: Chirton
C Squadron: Chippenham
D Squadron: Swindon

The regiment formed part of the 1st South Western Mounted Brigade which was administered from Salisbury.

16 joined on 6th April 1908
283 joined on 27th March 1909
378 joined on 23rd May 1910
458 joined on 11th April 1911
584 joined on 9th March 1912
647 joined on 21st January 1913
784 joined on 25th February 1914
871 joined on 8th August 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.

I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.

Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons 1908-1914

This post will look at numbering in the Yorkshire Dragoons (Queen's Own) between 1908 and 1914.

In common with many yeomanry regiments, the Yorkshire Dragoons saw no need to start a completely new regimental numbering system from April 1908 and simply continued with the series that had been in use for years previously. Most of the enlistments in 1908 were by men who were already serving as Imperial Yeomen.

By 1914 the regiment was headquartered at Doncaster with its four squadrons disposed as follows:

A Squadron: Sheffield
B Squadron: Wakefield
C Squadron: Doncaster
D Squadron: Huddersfield

The regiment formed part of the Yorkshire Mounted Brigade which was administered from York.

1592 joined on 4th June 1908 (but the number dates to 1903)
2261 joined on 2nd March 1909
2384 joined on 15th April 1910
2449 joined on 1st March 1911
2543 joined on 19th February 1912
2671 joined on 7th April 1913
2752 joined on 1st January 1914
2814 joined on 3rd August 1914
3199 joined on 2nd November 1914
3358 joined on 11th December 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.

I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.

Yorkshire Hussars (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own) 1908-1914

This post will look at numbering in the Yorkshire Hussars (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own) between 1908 and 1914.

Numbering in the regiment from April 1908 was a continuation of the numbering which had been in place in the regiment's previous incarnation as Imperial Yeomanry. For example, 515 John Palliser joined the regiment on 17th April 1908. However this was the number he had been given when he had originally attested with the Imperial Yeomanry two years earlier on the 1st April 1906.

By 1914 the regiment was headquartered at York with its four squadrons disposed as follows:

A Squadron: Leeds
B Squadron: York
C Squadron: Knaresborough
D Squadron: Middlesbrough

The regiment formed part of the Yorkshire Mounted Brigade which was administered from York.

1732 joined on 30th January 1909
1845 joined on 1st April 1910
1914 joined on 1st March 1911
2020 joined on 1st March 1912
2090 joined on 1st February 1913
2281 joined on 11th April 1914
2292 joined on 7th August 1914
2306 joined on 1st September 1914
2739 joined on 12th October 1914
2797 joined on 16th November 1914
2827 joined on 1st December 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.

I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.

East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry 1908-1914

When Gerald Lisle des Goutles Bown joined the East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry on 15th April 1908 he was already a serving member of the East Riding of Yorkshire Imperial Yeomanry having joined the regiment in February 1903. Given that the regiment recruited at around 100 men per annum between 1908 and 1913, I presume the number he was issued with - 233 - was his original Imperial Yeomanry number.

By 1914 the regiment was headquartered at Beverley with its four squadrons disposed as follows:

A Squadron: Hull
B Squadron: Beverley
C Squadron: Fulford
D Squadron:: Driffield

The regiment formed part of the Yorkshire Mounted Brigade which was administered from York.

872 joined on 9th March 1909
977 joined on 10th March 1910
1019 joined on 3rd January 1911
1122 joined on 1st March 1912
1206 joined on 22nd February 1913
1319 joined on 26th March 1914
1372 joined on 4th August 1914
1611 joined on 3rd 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.

I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.

Staffordshire Yeomanry (Queen's Own Royal Regiment) 1908-1914

The Staffordshire Yeomanry did not start numbering from 1 in 1908 but instead continued with the numbering sequence it had been using when it was the Staffordshire Imperial Yeomanry. Lionel Bates was given the number 2074 when he joined the regiment in May 1908. This though, was the number he'd been given when he joined the Staffordshire Imperial Yeomanry on the 16th November 1907.

By 1914 the regiment was headquartered at Bailey Street, Stafford, with its four squadrons disposed as follows:

A Squadron: Walsall, with drill stations at West Bromwich, Tamworth, Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield
B Squadron: Stoke-on-Trent, with drill stations at Stafford, Leek, Cannock and Newcatle-under-Lyme
C Squadron: Burton-on-Trent, with a drill station at Uttoxeter
D Squadron: Wolverhampton, with a drill station at Himley

The regiment formed part of the North Midland Mounted Brigade which was administered from Leicester.

2367 joined on 2nd September 1909
2394 joined on 27th January 1910
2476 joined on 7th January 1911
2617 joined on 2nd April 1912
2684 joined on 9th January 1913
2835 joined on 27th March 1914
2847 joined on 5th August 1914
2949 joined on 21st 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.

I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.

Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry 1908-1914

This post will look at numbering in the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry between 1908 and 1914.

The majority of the men who joined the regiment in 1908 were former Imperial Yeoman, joining the newly constituted regiment with their old Imperial Yeomanry or indeed, pre Imperial Yeomanry numbers. For example, 523 Albert Hilton, born in Manchester around 1871 joined the regiment on the 8th April 1908 but his number dates to 3rd October 1895.

By 1914 the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry were headquartered at Lancaster House, Whalley Road, Whalley Range, Manchester, with its four squadrons disposed as follows:

A Squadron: Oldham, with a drill station at Rochdale
B Squadron: Bolton, with a drill station at Liverpool
C Squadron: Manchester
D Squadron: Preston, with a drill station at Blackpool

The regiment formed part of the Welsh Border Mounted Brigade which was administered from Shrewsbury.

2818 joined on 7th April 1909
2911 joined on 18th April 1910
2959 joined on 9th January 1911
3059 joined on 1st February 1912
3175 joined on 10th February 1913
3294 joined on 25th February 1914
3339 joined on 2nd August 1914
3634 joined on 7th October 1914
3874 joined on 16th 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.

I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.

Leicestershire Yeomanry (Prince Albert's Own) 1908-1914

This post will look at numbering in the Leicestershire Yeomanry between 1908 and 1914.

In common with many Yeomanry regiments, the Leicestershire Yeomanry can trace its origins back to the French Revolutionary Wars and 1794 when it was formed as a volunteer cavalry unit. It was re-raised in 1803 as the Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry and by 1908 had become the Leicestershire Yeomanry (Prince Albert's Own).

The majority of the men who joined in that year were former Imperial Yeoman, joining the newly constituted regiment with their old Imperial Yeomanry numbers. 

By 1914 the regiment was headquartered at Leicester, with its four squadrons disposed as follows:

A Squadron: Melton Mowbray
B Squadron: Leicester
C Squadron: Loughborough
D Squadron: Lutterworth

The regiment formed part of the North Midland Mounted Brigade which was administered from Leicester.

1504 joined on 28th May 1908
1620 joined on 6th April 1909
1649 joined on 1st February 1910
1753 joined on 27th January 1911
1846 joined on 5th March 1912
1950 joined on 19th May 1913
2043 joined on 4th April 1914
2101 joined on 6th August 1914
2161 joined on 21st September 1914
2200 joined on 10th October 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.

The photo above shows C Squadron, Leicestershire Yeomanry assembled outside the Bull's Head stable yard on 6th August 1914. 1756 Henry Thirlby Hack MM who I interviewed at his home in Sutton Bonington in 1985 stands in the third row from the front, second from the left. On the far left of the second row is Sergeant Major Diggle. His son, 1760 Bertie Diggle, would be killed in action at Frezenberg near Ypres on 13th may 1915.  Pictured below, Thirlby Hack in bath-chair recovering from his wounds in England after the same action at Frezenberg. Thirlby's number indicates that he joined the regiment in February 1911 (although he recalled his joining date as 1910). He can be forgiven, he was recalling events seven decades later.

Read the interview I conducted with Henry Thirlby Hack MM on my World War 1 veterans' blog.

 

 

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2nd Scottish Horse 1908-1914

I have considerable gaps in my database for this regiment which I'll fill as and when more information comes to light.

The Scottish Horse were raised for the Boer War and fought as one regiment during that conflict. It was comprised of volunteers from Australia, Scotland and South Africa. By 1908 it had expanded into two regiments: The 1st Scottish Horse and the 2nd Scottish Horse, with the 2nd Scottish Horse spread across the counties of Aberdeenshire, Argyllshire, Elgin and Nairn and disposed as follows:

Headquarters: Aberdeen
A Squadron: Elgin
B Squadron: Kintore
C Squadron: Aberdeen
D Squadron: Connell

Numbering in this regiment is complex and there appear to have been at least threes series - and possibly four - in use at the same time. This is not uncommon for those regiments which would have been administered by more than one County Association

Although there is a lot of guesswork on my behalf at this point in time, it would appear that :

a) numbers did not start from 1 in 1908 but continued with the numbering sequence that had been in use in Imperial Yeomanry days
b) numbers up to 2000 were used for men from Aberdeenshire
c) numbers between 2001 and 4000 were allocated to men from the City of Aberdeen

I also have numbers in the 4000+ range which, pre August 1914, appear to have been issued to men from Argyll.

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.

I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.

1st Scottish Horse 1908-1914

I have gaps in my database for this regiment which I'll fill as and when more information comes to light.

The Scottish Horse were raised for the Boer War and fought as one regiment during that conflict. It was comprised of volunteers from Australia, Scotland and South Africa. By 1908 it had expanded into two regiments: The 1st Scottish Horse and the 2nd Scottish Horse, with the 1st Scottish Horse designated as the county regiment for Perthshire and disposed as follows:

Headquarters: Dunkeld
A Squadron: Blair Atholl
B Squadron: Dunkeld
C Squadron: Coupar Angus
D Squadron: Dunblane

The regiment did not start numbering from 1 in 1908 but continued with the numbering series which had been used by the Imperial Yeomanry.

1664 joined on 25th May 1908
3623 joined on 11th February 1911
3463 joined on 20th February 1912
3295 joined on 20th December 1913
3300 joined on 24th January 1914
3531 joined on 7th August 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.

I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.

West Somerset Yeomanry 1908-1914

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

I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.

North Somerset Yeomanry 1908-1914

This post will look at numbering in the North Somerset Yeomanry between 1908 and 1914.

The regiment was originally raised as the North Somerset Yeomanry Cavalry in 1814.  As the North Somerset Yeomanry it started numbering from 1 in 1908, albeit the majority of the men who attested that year had seen prior service with the Imperial Yeomanry.

By 1914 the regiment was headquartered at Bath with its four squadrons disposed as follows:

A Squadron: Bath, with drill stations at Bathampton, Farmborough, Frome, Mells and Road (now Rode)
B Squadron: Weston-Super-Mare, with drill stations at Axbridge, Clevedon, Langford and Nailsea
C Squadron: Shepton Mallet, with drill stations at Queen Camel, Ston Easton, Wells, Wincanton and Castle Cory
D Squadron: Bristol, with drill stations at Queen Charlton, Barrow Gurney and Keynsham

The regiment formed part of the 1st South Western Mounted Brigade which was administered from Salisbury in Wiltshire.

24 joined on 6th April 1908
166 joined on 11th April 1909
250 joined on 11th March 1910
339  joined on 25th May 1911
369 joined on 24th February1912
464 joined on 24th March 1913
563 joined on 10th March 1914
616 joined on 10th August 1914
722 joined on 4th September 1914
876 joined on 13th November 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.

I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.

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.

Image courtesy Hussards Photos which really is a mine of information and well worth book-marking.

I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.