Norfolk Yeomanry

Last updated

Norfolk Yeomanry (The King's Own Royal Regiment)
65th (Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, RA
Norfolk Yeomanry Badge and Service Cap.jpg
Badge with the royal cypher of George VI and service cap as worn at the outbreak of the Second World War
Active1794 – present
CountryUnion flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg  Kingdom of Great Britain (1794–1800)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom (1801–Present)
BranchFlag of the British Army.svg  British Army
Type Yeomanry
Artillery
Size Regiment
Garrison/HQ Norwich
Swaffham
Engagements First World War
Second World War

The Norfolk Yeomanry was a volunteer cavalry (Yeomanry) regiment of Britain's Territorial Army accepted onto the establishment of the British Army in 1794. After seeing action in the Second Boer War, it served dismounted at Gallipoli, in Palestine and on the Western Front during the First World War. Between the wars it converted to the Royal Artillery (TA), and served as an anti-tank regiment in France, the Western Desert, Italy and North West Europe during the Second World War. After the war it served as a TA air defence unit and then as an Army Air Corps unit.

Contents

History

Formation and early history

A volunteer unit, the Norfolk Rangers, was raised as a home defence force in the county of Norfolk in 1782, during the American Revolutionary War, by the Hon George Townshend. Lord Ferrers of Chartley (later 2nd Marquess Townshend). It consisted of a troop of cavalry and an infantry company. The unit was accepted as Yeomanry Cavalry in 1794, and during the Napoleonic Wars there were three regiments, the 1st West Norfolk, 2nd Mid Norfolk, and 3rd East Norfolk. Along with many other Yeomanry regiments, these were disbanded in 1828. A revived Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry was formed in 1831 but disbanded in 1849. [1] [2]

Second Boer War

The success of the Imperial Yeomanry, raised as volunteer mounted infantry during the Second Boer War, led to a number of new regiments joining the order of battle of the traditional yeomanry cavalry regiments in 1901. [3] Among these was the Norfolk Imperial Yeomanry (King's Own), raised at the express wish of the newly crowned King Edward VII (who lived at Sandringham House in Norfolk). The regiment took the Royal cypher as its badge. [1] [4] The cadre for the new unit was provided by the Norfolk squadron of the Suffolk Yeomanry (the Duke of York's Own Loyal Suffolk Hussars), and it formed four squadrons and a machine gun section. [2]

Territorial Force

When the Yeomanry were subsumed into the new Territorial Force (TF) under the Haldane Reforms of 1908, [5] [6] the regiment was renamed the Norfolk Yeomanry (King's Own Royal Regiment) (Dragoons) and was distributed as follows: [1] [2] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

It formed part of the Eastern Mounted Brigade. [12]

First World War

Mobilisation

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 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. [13]

1/1st Norfolk Yeomanry

On the outbreak of war in August 1914 the Eastern Mounted Brigade became part of the 1st Mounted Division and served with it in coastal defence at Woodbridge, Suffolk, until September 1915, when it was sent to reinforce the Allied force at Gallipoli. [15] [16]

Gallipoli

The Eastern Mounted Brigade left 1st Mounted Division and embarked without their horses at Liverpool on the RMS Olympic, sailing on 25 September 1915 for Lemnos.The Norfolk Yeomanry, with 25 officers & 504 men, were under the command of Lt-Col A. F. Morse. Having arrived at Mudros harbour on 1 October, the brigade had to remain on board until 8 October, when the Norfolk and Suffolk Yeomanry transhipped to the Abassieh, but bad weather prevented them from landing at ANZAC Cove until 10 October. [15] [17]

On arrival the brigade was attached to the 54th (East Anglian) Division, with the Norfolk Yeomanry joining the 1/8th Hampshire Regiment and the 1/4th Essex Regiment on 14 October for instruction in trench warfare in the Hill 60 area. After a week they relieved the 1/6th Essex and took over the Norfolk Street sector until they were relieved in turn by the 1/4th Norfolk Regiment and returned to the New Bedford Road rest camp on 26 October. Throughout November the regiment took turns in the trenches to the right of Hill 60, suffering a trickle of casualties. By the end of the month casualties amounted to 200 out of 500 other ranks, mostly from sickness. [17]

The decision having been made to abandon the campaign, the first party of the Norfolk Yeomanry was evacuated to Mudros on 14 December, the remainder following five days later, these detachments being among the last to be evacuated from the Suvla beachhead on 20 December. [17]

Egypt and Palestine
The "Broken Spur" insignia of the 74th (Yeomanry) Division British 74th (Yeomanry) Division Insignia.png
The "Broken Spur" insignia of the 74th (Yeomanry) Division

The regiment landed in Egypt in February 1916, where the South-Eastern and Eastern Mounted Brigades were merged to form the 3rd Dismounted Brigade and were engaged on digging defences for the Suez Canal. In July they were moved to Sollum and Mersa Matruh on the Egyptian coast as part of the Western Frontier Force defending Egypt against the Senussi. [18] In early 1917 the dismounted brigades were moved from Western Egypt and organised into 74th (Yeomanry) Division, with the Norfolk Yeomanry being redesigned from 7 February as the 12th (Norfolk Yeomanry) Battalion, Norfolk Regiment in 230th Infantry Brigade. [19] [20] The 12th Norfolks went into the trenches at Deir el Balah on 12 April in preparation for the advance into Palestine. The 74th Division remained in reserve during the Second Battle of Gaza (17–19 April), and afterwards 230th Bde held the line of Wadi Ghuzzee during May before moving into divisional reserve in June. [7] [20] [21]

The 74th Division began a period of intense infantry training in August. The Third Battle of Gaza opened on the night of 30 October with the Yeomanry taking up positions on the far side of Wadi Ghuzzee. 230th Brigade supported the attack at 08.30, the Norfolks on the left. All the battalions came under shrapnel fire and progress through the gullies was slow. The brigade came within 1000 yards of the Turkish position by 10.40, by which time the men were crawling beneath machine-gun fire. But covered by their own artillery and machine-gun barrage, they cleared the opposing trenches soon after 12.15. The Yeomanry began consolidating the position, but were still under long-range fire from the next Turkish position, so 230th Bde was sent forward to take this position as well. By now the objective of Beersheba had fallen to the Australian Light Horse. [22]

The next phase of the battle, as far as 74th Division was concerned, came on 6 November, when it attacked towards the railway line. The advance had to be made over open country to the enemy position which was at least 4000 yards away, but the attack was remarkable for the speed at which the battalions advanced, taking several enemy gun positions. After the victory, the division was left to clear the battlefield, and only caught up with the rest of the army on 23 November, when it began attacking into the hill country. [23]

The division was relieved on 4/5 December and shifted round to attack towards Jerusalem from the west. The night approach for the attack on 8 December was difficult and the troops were late in jumping off (at 05.35). They then had to descend into a steep wadi and climb the other side. The Norfolks on the left took 35 minutes to climb the slope, where they found the Turks had abandoned their trenches but were holding walls and rocks just behind the crest. The Yeomanry worked their way forward over a mile and a half of difficult country and reached the village of Beit Iksa by 11.30. Here they were held up by flanking fire from Nebi Samwil, and established an outpost line. The following morning the enemy had disappeared, and the advance was made with hardly a shot fired, while Jerusalem fell into British hands. [24]

The Nablus Road, Ain Sinai and Yebrud (photo taken by 230th Bde). Nablus road; Ain Sinai and Yebrud (1918) (IWM Q12647).jpeg
The Nablus Road, Ain Sinai and Yebrud (photo taken by 230th Bde).

The offensive was renewed between 28 and 31 December, with the brigades alternating in the lead. After the Capture of Jericho the British forces continued the advance north until 8 March 1918, when the division attacked the Tell Azur position. The 12th Norfolks were in reserve as the brigade crossed the Nablus Road and advanced over broken ground. They then took over the advance, but did not arrive until the afternoon because of the difficult approach. Their task was to scramble down a rough slope before crossing a bridge and then climbing a formidable terraced hill, beyond the crest of which lay the objective (Hill K12), and it was decided to wait until dusk. The battalion lost formation in the dark and the descent was swept with machine gun fire, but the Norfolks found a single practicable path down the slope. At midnight the climb began, with the Turks throwing grenades down on them until they reached the crest. The advance towards K12 was resumed at 06.00 on 9 March but was halted by machine gun fire and exhaustion. Supporting troops continued the advance, but it ended on 12 March and the line achieved was consolidated. [25]

Colonel J.F. Barclay led a raid with two companies of his Norfolks on the night of 23/24 March, but the success of the German spring offensive on the Western Front meant that active operations in Palestine had to be shut down, and reinforcements sent to France. [26]

France and Flanders

On arrival in France, the 74th Division conformed to the smaller establishment of divisions in the British Expeditionary Force, releasing three spare battalions, including the 12th Norfolks, which on 20 June were formed into 94th (Yeomanry) Brigade in the 31st Division. [7] [20] [27] [28]

The 12th Norfolks fought with 31st Division in the following actions of the Hundred Days Offensive: [27]

  • La Becque (28 June)
  • Capture of Vieux Merquin (18 August)
  • Fifth Battle of Ypres (28 September–2 October) [little bit in Edmonds]
  • Tieghem (31 October).

2/1st Norfolk Yeomanry

The 2nd Line regiment was formed in 1914 and by January 1915 it was in the 2/1st Eastern Mounted Brigade in the Huntingdon area. [29] On 31 March 1916, the remaining Mounted Brigades were ordered to be numbered in a single sequence; [30] the brigade was numbered as 13th Mounted Brigade and joined 4th Mounted Division in the Wivenhoe area. [29]

In July 1916, the regiment was converted to a cyclist unit in 5th Cyclist Brigade, 2nd Cyclist Division, still in the Wivenhoe area. In November 1916, the division was broken up and regiment was merged with the 2/1st Suffolk Yeomanry to form 7th (Suffolk and Norfolk) Yeomanry Cyclist Regiment in 3rd Cyclist Brigade, in the Ipswich area. In March 1917 it resumed its identity as 2/1st Norfolk Yeomanry, still at Ipswich in 3rd Cyclist Brigade. By July 1917 the regiment had moved to Woodbridge. In May 1918 the regiment moved to Ireland and was stationed at Castlereagh and Gort, still in 3rd Cyclist Brigade, until the end of the war. [29]

3/1st Norfolk Yeomanry

The 3rd Line regiment was formed in 1915 and in the summer it was affiliated to a Reserve Cavalry Regiment in Eastern Command. In the summer of 1916 it was attached to the 3rd Line Groups of the East Anglian Division. Early in 1917 the regiment was disbanded and its personnel were transferred to the 2nd Line regiment and the 4th (Reserve) Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment at Halton Park, Tring. [29]

Between the wars

On 31 January 1920 the War Office announced that recruitment would begin for the reconstituted Territorial Army (as it was now known), but that only 16 out of the 55 existing Yeomanry regiments would be retained in their traditional mounted role. [31] The remainder were converted to other roles, and in 1922 the Norfolk Yeomanry became 108th (Norfolk Yeomanry) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (RFA), with two batteries (429th and 430th) based at Swaffham. [32] [33] [34] The Commanding Officer (CO) was Lieutenant-Colonel Viscount Bury, MC. The following year the regiment was joined by two Suffolk Yeomanry batteries transferred from 103rd (Suffolk) Brigade, RFA, and after the RFA was merged into the Royal Artillery (RA) in 1924 the unit was constituted as follows: [32] [34] [35]

108th (Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Field Brigade, RA

The unit was an 'Army' field brigade in 54th (East Anglian) Divisional Area. Lt-Col O. Birkbeck became CO on 24 October 1926, succeeded by Lt-Col B.M.M. Edwards, MC, on 24 October 1931 and by Lt-Col Sir Charles Rowley, Bt, on 24 October 1935. [34] [35]

In 1938 the RA was reorganised, 'brigades' became 'regiments', and some field regiments were converted to the anti-tank (A/T) role. 108th Field Brigade became 55th (Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, RA and the batteries were renumbered 217–220. [32] [34] The unit became the divisional A/T regiment of 54th (East Anglian) Division. [36] [37]

Second World War

Mobilisation

By 1939, it became clear that a new European war was likely to break out and, as a direct result of the German invasion of Czechoslovakia on 15 March, [38] the doubling of the Territorial Army was authorised, with each unit and formation forming a duplicate. [39]

When the TA was mobilised on 1 September, the Norfolk and Suffolk Yeomanry 'Duplicate and Original Regiments' were on annual training at Chiseldon Camp, and the 'Norfolk Duplicate Batteries' and 'Lowestoft Contingent' returned to Swaffham. The following day, orders were issued to split the unit into 55th (Suffolk Yeomanry) A/T Rgt at Bury St Edmunds as part of 54th Division, and 65th (Norfolk Yeomanry) A/T Rgt at Swaffham as part of the duplicate 18th Infantry Division then in process of formation. Under the command of Lt-Col W.N. Arnold, the new regiment was organised as follows: [32] [40] [41]

65th (Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment

  • HQ at Swaffham
  • 257 Bty at Norwich and Wymondham
  • 258 Bty at Norwich
  • 259 Bty at Swaffham
  • 260 Bty at King's Lynn

The unit was usually abbreviated as '65 (NY) A/T Rgt' or more familiarly (especially within 7th Armoured Division) as simply the Norfolk Yeomanry. At this date the standard British Army A/T gun was the 2-pounder on a scale of 12 guns per battery. [42]

The 'Double T' (for the Tyne and Tees rivers) insignia of 50th (Northumbrian) Division 50 inf div -vector.svg
The 'Double T' (for the Tyne and Tees rivers) insignia of 50th (Northumbrian) Division

The regiment left 18th Division in November 1939 to reinforce 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, which was preparing to join the British Expeditionary Force in France. [43] After training around Tewkesbury, the regiment embarked on the Ulster Monarch on 9 February 1940, and by the end of the month was concentrated at Crèvecœur-le-Grand. [40] [44] [45]

Battle of France

When the Battle of France began on 10 May, the BEF started to advance north into Belgium in accordance with 'Plan D', but the German Army broke through the Ardennes, outflanking the BEF and forcing it to withdraw again. By 19 May the regiment was defending Vimy Ridge near Arras, with 257 Bty detached to 'Polforce' guarding the Canal Line. [45] [46]

Arras

On 21 May the BEF counter-attacked at Arras, striking south against the German forces cutting westwards towards the sea. Major-General G. Le Q. Martel of 50th Division attacked with two columns, each consisting of a tank regiment and an infantry battalion with artillery support. 260 Battery under Major Forrester accompanied the Right Column. The advance began at 14.30, without time for reconnaissance, but the column fought its way through Duisans successfully. Two A/T Troops and two companies of the 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry were left to hold the village and deal with the prisoners, while the column pushed on. Warlus and then Berneville were cleared, but then the advance guard ran into troops of the 7th Panzer Division and 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf, came under heavy machine-gun and mortar fire, and were pushed back to the main body, which was subjected to a 20-minute attack by aircraft. This was followed by German tank attacks, which were driven off by 260 A/T Bty's guns. The divisional historian claimed that 'upwards of twenty tanks were knocked out and left burning n the ground'. Right Column could advance no further, and withdrew with French support in the evening. [47] [48] 2nd Lieutenant Spens distinguished himself in this action and was awarded the Military Cross (MC). 260 Battery withdrew to Givenchy, where it was badly bombed on 22 May. [45]

Dunkirk

After the check at Arras, the German columns resumed their advance to the sea, cutting the BEF off from the bulk of French forces. The decision was made to withdraw to Dunkirk and try to evacuate the BEF from there (Operation Dynamo). Most of the regiment withdrew to Wattignies while 259 Bty remained in action on the La Bassée–Béthune Canal, where Bombardier Pointer withdrew his gun and tractor under fire and was awarded the Military Medal (MM). 50th Division was bombed all day on 25 May, 258 and 260 Btys suffering such losses in manpower and equipment as they fell back through Poperinghe that they were amalgamated (as 260 Bty). The next day, while most of the regiment withdrew towards Ypres, 259 Bty was sent with 1st Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers of 25th Brigade to form a defensive line facing south on the Canal de Lawe from Lestrem to Vieille-Chapelle to cover the BEF's withdrawal. [45] [49] [50]

By 29 May the Germans were closing up to the Dunkirk perimeter where the regiment acted as rearguard. The detached 259 Bty was evacuated on 29 and 30 May. The bulk of the regiment destroyed its equipment and got away in boats from Dunkirk on 31 May; 260 Bty followed on 2 June. [45] [49] [51]

Home Defence

The regiment reformed at Knutsford in Cheshire, [45] and then manned coastal defences at Bridport in Dorset, building pillboxes, laying wire entanglements and cooperating with the newly formed Local Defence Volunteers (later Home Guard). In mid-July the regiment was equipped with a collection of obsolete guns: [40]

As the month progressed, ten mobile 6-pounders were issued to the regiment, and at the end of the month 257 Bty at Durweston received its first eight replacement 2-pounder A/T guns. Training and reorganisation continued through the summer under the command of Lt-Col K.W. Hervey, despite air raids and false invasion alarms. Then on 8 November the regiment was ordered to leave 50th Division and begin mobilisation for overseas service. [43] [40] The last of its new guns having been delivered by 1 December, the regiment proceeded to Swansea Docks and sailed for the Middle East on 18 December. [52]

Western Desert

The regiment served in the Western Desert Campaign, joining the 7th Armoured Division ('The Desert Rats') with which it served in Italy and North West Europe until the end of the war in Europe. [53]

Post war

When the TA was reconstituted in 1947, the regiment was reformed in the Anti-Aircraft (AA) role as 389th (The King's Own Regiment, Norfolk Yeomanry) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA, with RHQ still at Swaffham. It formed part of 98th (AA) Army Group Royal Artillery in the field army, but this was disbanded in 1948. [1] [32] [54] [55] The abolition of Anti-Aircraft Command in 1955 resulted in a large number of disbandments and mergers among TA AA units. The 389th LAA Rgt merged with 284th (1st East Anglian) (Mixed) Heavy AA Rgt, to form 284th (The King's Royal Regiment, Norfolk Yeomanry) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA, of which the old 284th formed RHQ (at Norwich) and Q Btys, and the Norfolk Yeomanry provided P and R Btys. [32] [55] [56] [57]

In 1961 this regiment in turn later merged with 358th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Field Rgt, RA becoming 308th (Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Field Regiment, RA, with RHQ moving to Ipswich. [32] [58] In 1967 this became 202 (The Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Battery Royal Artillery (Volunteers), a battery within the newly raised 100th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers). [59]

In 2006, 202 (The Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Battery Royal Artillery (Volunteers) re-roled to become No. 677 (Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Squadron AAC (Volunteers) and is part of 6 Regiment Army Air Corps (Volunteers). [59] Squadron Headquarters and A Flight are at Bury St Edmunds, B Flight at Norwich and C Flight at Ipswich. [60]

Insignia

The regimental badge was the Royal Cypher, and this was retained after the conversion to Royal Artillery. Before the Second World War, the regiment wore Norfolk Yeomanry buttons, cavalry shoulder chains and yellow Gorget patches on the blue patrol jacket. Royal Artillery collar badges were worn on service dress. The officers' field service cap was canary yellow over blue. After the war, other ranks wore the Norfolk Yeomanry badge with a yellow backing on khaki Berets. Combined Norfolk and Suffolk Yeomanry cap and collar badges were introduced in 1961. [32] [61]

Uniforms

The first uniform adopted for the Norfolk Yeomanry, in 1901, was a relatively simple combination of dark blue patrol jacket, khaki helmet and khaki or dark blue breeches. Gorget patches and other facings were canary yellow. In 1905 a black leather helmet was adopted for other ranks and an enameled aluminum one for officers. After this date all ranks wore a yellow horse-hair plume for parade. [62] With King George as Colonel-in Chief and the King of Norway as Honorary Lt-Colonel, the Norfolk Yeomanry achieved a higher public profile than most yeomanry units and a special levee-dress uniform combining both dragoon and lancer features was authorized for officers. [63] After 1914 the standard khaki service and (subsequently battledress) became normal wear, although the combination of blue and yellow survived in items such as the officer' field service cap. [64]

Memorial

The regimental war memorial in Norwich Cathedral bears the names of 196 officers and men of the Norfolk Yeomanry who died during the First World War. The Muckleburgh Collection at Weybourne in Norfolk, has displays of Norfolk Yeomanry memorabilia. [65]

Battle honours

The Norfolk Yeomanry has been awarded the following battle honours: [2]

First World War

Ypres 1918, France and Flanders 1918, Gallipoli 1915, Egypt 1915–17, Gaza, Jerusalem, Tell 'Asur, Palestine 1917–18

Second World War

None awarded to artillery. The Royal Artillery was present in nearly all battles and would have earned most of the honours awarded to cavalry and infantry regiments. In 1833, William IV awarded the motto Ubique (meaning "everywhere") in place of all battle honours. [66]

Notable members

Among those who served in the K.O.R.R. were:

Honorary Colonels and Commanding Officers

List of
Colonels-in-Chief		List of
Honorary Colonels		List of
Commanding Officers/
Officers Commanding
Norfolk (King's Own) Imperial Yeomanry
(1901–1908)		 King Haakon VII of Norway (1902–08) [32] [34] Major H. A. Barclay (1901–13) [73]
King's Own Royal Regiment (Norfolk Yeomanry)
(including 108th (Suffolk & Norfolk Yeomanry) Brigade, RFA,
65th (Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, RA
389th (Norfolk Yeomanry) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA)
1908-1961		 King George V [34] King Haakon VII of Norway (1908–57) [32] [34]
King Olav V of Norway (1957–61) [32] 		Viscount Bury (1920–26) [34] [70]
Sir Charles Rowley, Bt (1935–39) [34] [70]
W.N. Arnold (1939–40) [74]
K.W. Hervey (1940–42) [75]
G. Colchester (1942)
R.F. Wright (1943)
W.B. Stewart (1944)

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suffolk Yeomanry</span> Military unit

The Duke of York's Own Loyal Suffolk Hussars was a Yeomanry regiment of the British Army. Originally formed as a volunteer cavalry force in 1793, it fought in the Second Boer war as part of the Imperial Yeomanry. In the World War I the regiment fought at Gallipoli, in Palestine and on the Western Front. The unit was subsequently converted into a Royal Artillery unit, serving in the anti-tank role North Africa, Italy and France during World War II. The lineage is maintained by No. 677 Squadron AAC.

The Sussex Yeomanry is a yeomanry regiment of the British Army dating from 1794. It was initially formed when there was a threat of French invasion during the Napoleonic Wars. After being reformed in the Second Boer War, it served in the First World War and the Second World War, when it served in the East African Campaign and the Siege of Tobruk. The lineage is maintained by 1 Field Troop, 579 Field Squadron (EOD), part of 101 (London) Engineer Regiment (Volunteers).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry</span> Military unit

The Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry was a Yeomanry Cavalry regiment of the British Army with its origins in 1798. The regiment provided troops for the Imperial Yeomanry during the Second Boer War and served on the Western Front in the First World War, latterly as infantry. The regiment converted to artillery in 1920 and served as such in the early years of the Second World War, before becoming part of the Chindits in Burma. Postwar it served as a gunner regiment until 1971 when the title disappeared.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Wessex Artillery</span> Military unit

The 1st Wessex Artillery was a volunteer unit of the British Army that existed under various titles from 1860 to 1971, including active service in Mesopotamia in World War I and North Africa and Italy in World War II.

The Berkshire Royal Horse Artillery was a Territorial Force Royal Horse Artillery battery that was formed in Berkshire in 1908. It saw active service during the First World War in the Middle East, notably at Aden and in particular in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, from 1915 to 1918. A second line battery, 2/1st Berkshire RHA, served on the Western Front in 1917 and 1918 as part of an Army Field Artillery Brigade. After the Armistice, it was reconstituted as a Royal Field Artillery battery of the Territorial Army (TA), later being expanded into a full heavy anti-aircraft (HAA) regiment that served during the Second World War in the Battle of Britain and Blitz, in the assault landings in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. Postwar, it continued in the TA until 1968.

The London Heavy Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery was a unit of the British Territorial Force formed in 1908. It fought on the Western Front during World War I, and its successors served in the Mediterranean and North-West Europe theatres during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Essex Artillery Volunteers</span> Military unit

The 1st Essex Artillery Volunteers was a unit of Britain's part-time auxiliary forces raised in Essex in 1860 in response to an invasion scare. It served under various designations as field artillery in Palestine during World War I. During World War II its units served as mountain artillery in Italy and as jungle artillery and medium artillery in Burma. Postwar it became an airborne unit until it was merged with other units in the 1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Devonshire Artillery Volunteers</span> Military unit

The 1st Devonshire Artillery Volunteers and its successor units served in the British Army's Reserve Forces from 1859 to 1961. During World War I it carried out garrison duty in British India but went on to see active service in the Third Anglo-Afghan War. Converting to an air defence role before World War II its units participated in the Norwegian campaign and the Dunkirk evacuation, the Battle of Britain and then the campaigns in North Africa, Italy, and Burma

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Norfolk Artillery Volunteers</span> British Territorial Army Volunteer Artillery regiment

The 1st Norfolk Artillery Volunteers was a unit of Britain's Volunteer Force raised in the County of Norfolk in 1859 as a response to a French invasion threat. It became part of the Territorial Force in 1908 and served under various designations as field artillery in Palestine during World War I, and as heavy anti-aircraft artillery in North Africa and Italy during World War II. It disappeared in a merger in 1955.

The 1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteers was a unit of Britain's Volunteer Force and Territorial Army from 1860 until 1955. Raised at Lowestoft in Suffolk, it served under various designations, as field artillery in Palestine during World War I and as heavy anti-aircraft artillery defending the UK during World War II.

The 1st Kent Artillery Volunteers was a part-time unit of the British Army's Royal Artillery from 1860 to 1956. Primarily serving as coastal artillery defending the Port of Dover and other harbours in South-East England, the unit's successors also served in the heavy artillery role on the Western Front during World War I and as anti-aircraft artillery during the Blitz and later in the North African and Italian campaigns of World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Ayrshire and Galloway Artillery Volunteers</span> Military unit

The 1st Ayrshire and Galloway Artillery Volunteer Corps was formed in 1859 as a response to a French invasion threat. It transferred to the Territorial Force (TF) in 1908 and its successor units fought with the 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division in Palestine during World War I, and in North West Europe and Burma during World War II. It continued in the Territorial Army (TA) until amalgamation in 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Midland (Warwickshire) Royal Garrison Artillery</span> Military unit

The South Midland (Warwickshire) Royal Garrison Artillery was a volunteer artillery unit of Britain's Territorial Force formed in 1908. It served in Home Defence and provided heavy artillery support to the armies on the Western Front and Italian Front in World War I. In the interwar years it became 204 (Warwickshire) Battery serving in various regiments and formations before being expanded into a full regiment. In World War II it served in the heavy anti-aircraft (HAA) role defending its home area of the West Midlands against German air attack, and then defended Calcutta against Japanese attacks. It continued in the postwar Territorial Army until 1955.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Welsh Brigade, Royal Field Artillery</span> Military unit

The 2nd Welsh Brigade was a Royal Field Artillery unit of Britain's Territorial Force (TF) formed in 1908 that served in Palestine during World War I. Between the wars it converted to the anti-aircraft (AA) role and was captured in Java during World War II. Its successor unit continues in Britain's Army Reserve today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Glamorganshire Artillery Volunteers</span> Military unit

The 1st Glamorganshire Artillery Volunteers was formed in 1859 in response to a French invasion threat. Raised as a coast artillery unit, it later became part of the Royal Field Artillery in the Territorial Force and served during both World Wars until amalgamated in 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pembroke Royal Garrison Artillery</span> Military unit

The Pembroke Royal Garrison Artillery was a part-time unit of the British Army that defended the coast of West Wales during both world wars. Although it never saw action in its coastal defence role, it manned a number of siege batteries of heavy howitzers for service on the Western Front and Italian Front in World War I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Scottish Royal Garrison Artillery</span> Military unit

The North Scottish Royal Garrison Artillery and its successors were Scottish part-time coast defence units of the British Army from 1908 to 1961. Although the unit saw no active service, it supplied trained gunners to siege batteries engaged on the Western Front during World War I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Hampshire Artillery Volunteers</span> Military unit

The 1st Hampshire Artillery Volunteers and its successors were part-time coast defence units of the British Army from 1860 to 1967. Although the units saw no action, they protected the Portsmouth area in both World Wars and supplied trained gunners to siege batteries engaged on the Western Front during World War I. The unit continued in the Territorial Army after World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Dorsetshire Artillery Volunteers</span> Military unit

The 1st Dorsetshire Artillery Volunteers and its successors were part-time coast defence units of the British Army from 1859 to 1956. Although these units saw no action, they protected the Dorset Coast, including the naval base of Portland Harbour, in both World Wars and also supplied trained gunners to siege batteries engaged on the Western Front during World War I. The unit continued in the Territorial Army after World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery</span> Military unit

The 1st Suffolk & Harwich Volunteer Artillery, later the Essex & Suffolk Royal Garrison Artillery was an auxiliary coastal artillery unit of the British Army first raised in 1899. It defended the ports and naval bases around the estuaries of the Rivers Orwell and Stour. Although the unit saw no active service, it supplied trained gunners to siege batteries engaged on the Western Front during World War I. It was greatly expanded in World War II to defend the invasion-threatened East Anglian Coast from Harwich to Great Yarmouth. Postwar it continued in the coast and air defence roles until it disappeared in a series of amalgamations from the 1950s.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Mileham, pp. 100–1.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Norfolk Yeomanry at Regiments.org.
  3. ↑ Dunlop, pp. 104–18, 134–5.
  4. ↑ "No. 27317". The London Gazette . 24 May 1901. p. 3562.
  5. ↑ Dunlop, Chapter 14.
  6. ↑ Spiers, Chapter 10.
  7. 1 2 3 Baker, Chris. "Norfolk Yeomanry". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  8. ↑ Norfolk Yeomanry at Regimental warpath.
  9. ↑ Yeomanry at British Army 1914.
  10. ↑ Norfolk at Drill Hall Project.
  11. ↑ Norfolk at Great War Centenary Drill Halls.
  12. ↑ Eastern Mounted Bde at Regimental Warpath.
  13. ↑ Rinaldi 2008 , p. 35
  14. ↑ Conrad, Mark (1996). "The British Army, 1914".
  15. 1 2 Becke, Pt 2a, pp. 1–7.
  16. ↑ 1st Mounted Division at Long, Long Trail.
  17. 1 2 3 Westlake, p. 271.
  18. ↑ Ward, pp. 18–20.
  19. ↑ Ward, pp. 25–6.
  20. 1 2 3 Becke, Pt 2b, pp. 117–122.
  21. ↑ Ward, pp. 30, 39–47.
  22. ↑ Ward, pp. 66–7, 85–93.
  23. ↑ Ward, pp. 96–111.
  24. ↑ Ward, pp. 124, 129–35.
  25. ↑ Ward, pp. 142–51, 170–80.
  26. ↑ Ward, pp. 183–45
  27. 1 2 Becke, Pt 3b, pp. 11–9.
  28. ↑ Ward, p. 204.
  29. 1 2 3 4 James 1978 , p. 25
  30. ↑ James 1978 , p. 36
  31. ↑ Sainsbury, p. 31.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Litchfield, pp. 186–7.
  33. ↑ Litchfield, Appendix VII.
  34. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Monthly Army List, various dates.
  35. 1 2 Titles and Designations.
  36. ↑ Sainsbury, p. 60.
  37. ↑ Farndale, Annex K.
  38. ↑ Mileham 1994 , p. 51
  39. ↑ "History of the Army Reserve". MOD . Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  40. 1 2 3 4 5 65 (NY) A/T Rgt War Diary 1939–40, The National Archives (TNA), Kew, file WO 166/1637. This authoritative source contradicts the statement by Mileham (pp. 101, 112) and Regiments.org that the Suffolk and Norfolk batteries were not split until 1942 and the statement by Litchfield that the 65th did not regain its Norfolk Yeomanry title until that year.
  41. ↑ 65 A/T Rgt at RA 1939–45.
  42. ↑ Farndale, p. 4.
  43. 1 2 Joslen, pp. 81–1.
  44. ↑ Farndale, p 17.
  45. 1 2 3 4 5 6 65 (NY) A/T Rgt War Diary 1940, TNA file WO 167/586.
  46. ↑ Ellis, France & Flanders, Chapter VIII.
  47. ↑ Ellis, France & Flanders, Chapter VI.
  48. ↑ Farndale, p. 52.
  49. 1 2 Farndale, p. 84.
  50. ↑ Ellis, France & Flanders, Chapter XII.
  51. ↑ Ellis, France & Flanders, Chapter XIV.
  52. ↑ 65 (NY) A/T Rgt War Diary 1940–1, TNA file WO 169/1521.
  53. ↑ Joslen p. 9
  54. ↑ Litchfield, Appendix 5.
  55. 1 2 372–413 Rgts RA at British Army 1945 on.
  56. ↑ Litchfield, p. 185.
  57. ↑ 266–288 Rgts RA at British Army 1945 on.
  58. ↑ Litchfield, p. 218.
  59. 1 2 "Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 30 December 2006. Retrieved 5 November 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  60. ↑ "677 Sqn AAC (V)". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  61. ↑ Anon, Badges.
  62. ↑ Smith, R.J. (December 1987). The Yeomanry Force at the 1911 Coronation. p. 21. ISBN   0-948251-26-3.
  63. ↑ R.G. Harris, plate 17, "50 Years of Yeomanry Uniforms" Frederick Muller Ltd, London 1972
  64. ↑ See illustration above
  65. ↑ "Muckleburgh Collection" . Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  66. ↑ "Royal Regiment of Artillery at regiments.org by T.F.Mills". Archived from the original on 29 June 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
  67. ↑ "No. 28340". The London Gazette . 18 February 1910. p. 1211.
  68. ↑ "A Brief Biography of Captain W. E. Johns Part One". Wejohns.com. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  69. ↑ "No. 27348". The London Gazette . 23 August 1901. p. 5596.
  70. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Burke's Peerage.
  71. ↑ Parliament War Memorial List.
  72. ↑ 55 A/T Rgt at RA Netherlands.
  73. ↑ "No. 27320". The London Gazette . 4 June 1901. p. 3775.
  74. ↑ Farndale, p. 16.
  75. ↑ Farndale, Annex J.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.