Hertfordshire Yeomanry facts for kids

The Hertfordshire Yeomanry was a special cavalry unit of the British Army. It started way back in the late 1700s! These soldiers first rode into action as mounted cavalry in the Second Boer War and World War I. Later, they changed to become an artillery unit, using big guns.

During World War II, three different regiments of the Hertfordshire Yeomanry served. One of them was even captured when Singapore fell. The unit continued to exist in different forms after the war, with its history carried on by a group called 201 (Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Battery. This unit was active until 2014.

Quick facts for kids Hertfordshire Yeomanry
Active	1794–1824 1831–2014
Country	Kingdom of Great Britain (1794–1800)  United Kingdom (1801–2014)
Branch	Territorial Army
Type	Yeomanry
Role	Boer War Yeomanry World War I Yeomanry World War II Artillery Postwar Artillery
Size	Boer War One Regiment World War I Three Regiments World War II Three Regiments Postwar Part of one Battery
Engagements	Second Boer War World War I Gallipoli Suez Canal Palestine World War II Battle of France Malaya Tunisia Italy Normandy North West Europe
Battle honours	See Battle Honours below

Early Days: French Wars and Local Defence (1794-1824)

When Britain got involved in the French Revolutionary Wars in 1794, the Prime Minister, William Pitt the Younger, suggested that counties should create volunteer cavalry units. These units, called the Yeomanry, would help defend the country if there was an invasion. They could also help local leaders keep peace if there was trouble.

Hertfordshire quickly formed its own Yeomanry troops. By the end of 1794, there were five independent groups, each with about 50 horsemen. These groups were spread across the county.

Later, in 1798, with the threat of invasion growing, more local volunteer cavalry units were formed. There wasn't much difference between the Yeomanry and these new volunteers. They all helped protect the area. For example, some Yeomanry troopers even helped local firefighters during the Great Fire of Stevenage.

After a short period of peace, the war started again in 1803, and the Hertfordshire units reformed. They continued to serve, but as the threat of French invasion lessened, their numbers slowly went down. By 1824, all the Hertfordshire Yeomanry troops had been disbanded.

Reforming and Growing (1831-1900)

The Yeomanry became less important after the French wars ended. However, in 1830, there was a lot of unrest across Britain. This led to the Yeomanry being brought back. New troops were formed in Hertfordshire starting in December 1830.

Soon, there were several troops across the county. Some were called "Light Dragoons" and others "Heavy Dragoons," which meant they had different types of cavalry roles. These troops eventually came together to form two main groups: the South Herts Yeomanry Cavalry and the North Hertfordshire Yeomanry Cavalry.

In 1870, these two groups officially joined together to become the Hertfordshire Yeomanry. Their main office was first in Hertford and later moved to St Albans. The unit was then known as "Dragoons." Over time, the unit started recruiting more from the southern part of the county and the North London suburbs.

Serving Overseas: The Imperial Yeomanry (1900-1908)

A typical Imperial Yeoman on campaign

In 1899, during the Second Boer War in South Africa, the British government realized they needed more soldiers than just the regular army. So, they created the Imperial Yeomanry (IY). This new force was made up of volunteers from existing Yeomanry units and civilians. They were trained to fight as Mounted infantry, meaning they rode horses but fought on foot.

The Hertfordshire Yeomanry formed its own group called the 42nd (Hertfordshire) Company. This company, along with a machine gun section, arrived in South Africa in March 1900. They saw a lot of action, especially around Krugersdorp and Potchefstroom.

After a year of service, the 42nd Company returned home in May 1901. They earned the Hertfordshire Yeomanry its first special recognition, known as a Battle honour: South Africa 1900–01.

One amazing volunteer from the 42nd Company was Dr. Arthur Martin-Leake. He was a doctor who joined as a regular soldier. He later became a medical officer and won the Victoria Cross (VC) for bravely rescuing wounded soldiers under fire. He even won a second VC award, which is incredibly rare!

Because the mounted infantry idea worked so well, all Yeomanry regiments back home, including the Hertfordshires, were changed into Imperial Yeomanry units.

Becoming the Territorial Force (1908-1914)

In 1908, the Imperial Yeomanry became part of a new force called the Territorial Force (TF). This force was mainly for defending Britain at home. The Hertfordshire Yeomanry, which also recruited from North London, set up its main office in Hertford.

The unit had several squadrons (smaller groups of cavalry) located in different towns like Watford, Hertford, St Albans, and High Barnet. These squadrons also had smaller detachments in other nearby areas. The Hertfordshire Yeomanry trained with the TF's Eastern Mounted Brigade.

World War I Service (1914-1918)

When World War I began on August 4, 1914, the Hertfordshire Yeomanry quickly got ready. They gathered their men and horses and moved to their war station in Essex.

Even though the Territorial Force was meant for home defense, many units, including the Herts Yeomanry, volunteered to serve overseas. Because so many men volunteered, the War Office created "2nd-Line" units. This meant that for every unit sent overseas (the "1st-Line"), a new unit was formed back home (the "2nd-Line") to train new recruits and replace soldiers who went overseas. Later, "3rd-Line" units were also created for training.

1/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry: Overseas Service

1/1st Herts Yeomanry and the Bikaner Camel Corps on a reconnaissance into the Sinai Desert, February 1915.

The 1/1st Herts Yeomanry was sent to Egypt in February 1915. They helped chase away Turkish forces who had attacked the Suez Canal, earning them the battle honours Suez Canal and Egypt 1915.

In August 1915, the unit was sent to the Gallipoli Campaign in Turkey. They fought as dismounted troops (meaning they fought on foot, not on horseback). They were involved in the tough Battle of Scimitar Hill and then served in the trenches. Many soldiers got sick or were wounded, so the unit had to combine with another temporarily.

After being evacuated from Gallipoli, the regiment returned to Egypt in November 1915 and got their horses back. In 1916, the regiment was split up, with different squadrons (groups of soldiers) joining various infantry divisions:

• A Squadron served with the 54th (East Anglian) Division in the First and Second Battles of Gaza.
• B Squadron went to the Western Front in France, joining different corps cavalry regiments.
• D Squadron went to the Mesopotamian campaign (modern-day Iraq). They were among the first British units to enter Baghdad in 1917.

Later, in August 1917, both A and B Squadrons of the 1/1st Herts Yeomanry served together in the XXI Corps Cavalry Regiment in Palestine. They fought in the final Battle of Megiddo and then made an amazing march up the coast, helping to free ports in Ottoman Syria.

2/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry: Home Defence

The 2nd-Line regiment was formed in Hertford in September 1914. It trained recruits and was well-equipped. It spent time training in different parts of England, including Epsom Downs and Thetford. Its main job was to be a mobile reserve in case of an invasion of Britain.

In July 1916, many cavalry divisions were changed into Bicycle infantry divisions. The 2/1st Herts Yeomanry was one of the few regiments chosen to remain mounted for a while. However, by August 1917, they also gave up their horses and became a cyclist battalion.

This unit then joined a special "Hush Brigade" that was being put together for operations in Murmansk, Russia. They trained for beach landings, even practicing wading ashore with their bicycles on their shoulders! However, this mission was cancelled. The regiment then spent the rest of the war training and sending soldiers to the Western Front as infantry reinforcements. They were disbanded in January 1919.

3/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry: Training Recruits

The 3rd-Line regiment was formed in Hertford in December 1914. Its main job was to train new recruits and send them as reinforcements to the 1st-Line unit serving overseas. They worked closely with other reserve cavalry regiments, providing basic and advanced training.

By February 1917, the need for cavalry training was reduced. The 3/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry was then combined with another reserve cavalry regiment, which continued to train reinforcements for dragoon (cavalry) units.

Between the Wars: Becoming Artillery (1920-1939)

After World War I, the War Office decided that fewer mounted Yeomanry regiments were needed. Many of them, including the Hertfordshire Yeomanry, were changed into artillery units.

In 1920, the Hertfordshire Yeomanry combined with two artillery batteries from Hertfordshire to form a complete field artillery brigade. This new unit was called the 86th (East Anglian) (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. The soldiers wore the Royal Artillery badge, but also kept the Hertfordshire Yeomanry's special "hart" (male deer) badge on their uniform.

The brigade had its headquarters in Hertford and four batteries located in St Albans, Hertford, Watford, and Hitchin. In 1924, the Royal Field Artillery became part of the Royal Artillery (RA). In 1938, these "brigades" were renamed "regiments."

World War II Service (1939-1945)

Before World War II started, the Territorial Army quickly grew in size. The Hertfordshire Yeomanry actually contributed to four different artillery regiments during the war:

• 86th (East Anglian) (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment
• 135th Field Regiment
• 79th (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Anti-Aircraft Regiment (which focused on shooting down enemy planes)
• 191st (Hertfordshire and Essex Yeomanry) Field Regiment

86th Field Regiment: Fighting in Europe

Sexton 25-pdr self-propelled guns of 86th Field Regiment firing against enemy positions in April 1945

The 86th (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment was called into action in September 1939. They were equipped with howitzers and guns. They trained in the UK until 1944, learning to use self-propelled guns (guns that could move on their own, like tanks).

This regiment was part of the forces preparing for the Allied invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord). They even practiced firing their guns from landing craft as they approached the beach! The regiment was among the first units to land on D-Day (June 6, 1944). They then supported various army groups throughout the fighting in North West Europe, including the liberation of Antwerp, the Market Garden operation, and the advance across Germany.

135th Field Regiment: Captured in Singapore

The 135th Field Regiment was formed at the start of the war. They were sent overseas in October 1941, heading for the Middle East. However, news of the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor and Malaya changed their course. The ship carrying this regiment was sent directly to Singapore.

The regiment fought bravely in the final stages of the disastrous Malayan campaign and the defense of Fortress Singapore. Sadly, they were captured when Singapore fell on February 15, 1942.

As prisoners of war, many of the men from the 135th Field Regiment were forced to work on the infamous Burma Railway. This railway was built under terrible conditions. The regiment's commanding officer, Lt-Col Philip Toosey, was the senior Allied officer in the prison camp. He was a strong leader who helped his men survive.

191st Field Regiment: More European Action

In 1942, the 191st (Hertfordshire and Essex Yeomanry) Field Regiment was formed using experienced soldiers from the 86th (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) and another regiment. This unit also served in the campaign in North West Europe, supporting battles in Normandy and the liberation of Le Havre. It was later broken up in December 1944 to provide more infantry soldiers.

79th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment: Defending the Skies

The 79th (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment was formed in 1939 in Watford. Their job was to defend against enemy aircraft. They served in the Battle of France, during The Blitz (the bombing of British cities), and in campaigns in North Africa (Operation Torch) and Italy. They were put on hold in early 1945.

After the Wars (Postwar)

After World War II, the regiment was reformed as the 286 (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment in 1947. It later combined with other units, including the 79th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment.

In 1961, it joined with the 305th (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Light Regiment to become the 286th (Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment. This unit was disbanded in 1967 but reformed in 1971 as 201 (Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Battery. This battery continued the proud history of the Hertfordshire Yeomanry until it was put on hold in 2014.

Traditions and Symbols

Uniforms and Badges

The Hertfordshire Yeomanry wore different uniforms over the years. In their early days, they wore blue coats with red cuffs and collars. They also wore special helmets with feathers.

A very important symbol for the regiment was the Hart (a male deer). This animal is often used as a symbol for things related to Hertfordshire. The Hart was used on their badges, like on their helmets and shako plates (a plate on the front of a military cap).

When the regiment became Imperial Yeomanry in 1906, they adopted a standard khaki uniform. Later, after 1908, they wore the regular khaki service dress of the British Army, with their special regimental badges. When they became an artillery unit, they wore the Royal Artillery's "gun" cap badge, but still kept their Hart badge on their shoulder straps or collars. They even unofficially wore the black beret of the Royal Armoured Corps with the silver Hart badge.

Flags and Standards

The Hertfordshire Yeomanry had special flags, called standards or guidons. These flags often had the county's coat of arms (which features a hart) or the royal cypher (the King's symbol).

In 1909, the regiment received an official guidon. This red flag had a circle with "HERTS YEOMANRY" written on it, surrounded by a wreath. It also had their battle honour, South Africa 1900–01. After 1924, more battle honours from World War I were added to the flag. However, since the regiment became an artillery unit, this guidon was never paraded (shown off) because artillery units don't carry battle honours on flags; their guns are considered their "colours."

Battle Honours

The Hertfordshire Yeomanry earned several special recognitions for their bravery in battle, called Battle Honours:

• Second Boer War: South Africa 1900–01
• World War I: Suvla, Scimitar Hill, Gallipoli 1915, Suez Canal, Egypt, 1915–16, Megiddo, Sharon, Damascus, Palestine, 1918

Memorials

There are three stone tablets in the War Memorial Chapel of St Albans Cathedral that remember the soldiers of the Hertfordshire Yeomanry:

• The first tablet remembers the nine soldiers who died during the Second Boer War.
• A second tablet, unveiled in 1921, remembers the 64 men who died in World War I.
• The third tablet, unveiled in 1954, remembers the men from all four Hertfordshire Yeomanry artillery regiments who died during World War II.

Images for kids

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  Hertfordshire Yeomanry in the 1890s.

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  A mounted trooper of the Hertfordshire Yeomanry in 1896.

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  Yeomanry House, Hertford, RHQ of the Hertfordshire Yeomanry from 1910.