Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry |
|
|---|---|
| Active | 1796–1999 |
| Country |  Kingdom of Great Britain (1796–1800) United Kingdom (1801–1999) |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Yeomanry |
| Role | Boer War Imperial Yeomanry First World War Yeomanry Infantry Second World War Royal Artillery Post War Royal Armoured Corps |
| Size | First World War Three Regiments Second World War Two Regiments Post War One Squadron |
| Part of | Territorial Force |
| Engagements | First World War Battle of Gallipoli Second World War Operation Aerial Operation Vitality Operation Infatuate Operation Blackcock Operation Torch Longstop Hill Battle of Centuripe the Viktor Line (Battle of Termoli) Barbara Line River Sangro (Gustav Line) Battle of Monte Cassino Gothic Line battle of Argenta gap |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
William Douglas-Hamilton, 12th Duke of Hamilton |
The Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry was a special type of army unit called a yeomanry regiment in the British Army. It started way back in 1796. This regiment fought in some big wars, including the Second Boer War, the First World War, and the Second World War.
In 1956, it joined with two other units, the Lanarkshire Yeomanry and the 1st/2nd Lothians and Border Horse, to form the Queen's Own Lowland Yeomanry. Later, in 1992, a part of the Scottish Yeomanry, called B (Lanarkshire and Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry) Squadron, continued its history until 1999.
Contents
History of the Regiment
How the Regiment Started
In 1793, the Prime Minister, William Pitt the Younger, suggested that counties in England should create groups of volunteer cavalry soldiers. These soldiers, called Yeoman Cavalry, would help defend the country if it was invaded. They could also help local leaders keep peace if there was trouble.
The Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry first formed in 1796 as "The Glasgow Light Horse." It was later disbanded in 1822. However, it was brought back in 1848 as "The Glasgow and Lower Ward of Lanarkshire Yeomanry Cavalry." The next year, Queen Victoria added "Queen's Own Royal" to its name.
Fighting in the Second Boer War
In 1899, the British government decided to let volunteer soldiers join the Second Boer War in South Africa. After some tough defeats, they realized they needed more troops. So, they created a new force called the Imperial Yeomanry (IY).
Existing Yeomanry regiments were asked to send companies of about 115 men. These men were trained as Mounted infantry, meaning they rode horses but fought on foot. Many British citizens also volunteered to join this new force.
The Queen's Own Glasgow Yeomanry sent soldiers to the 6th (Scottish) Battalion of the Imperial Yeomanry. They formed several companies, including the 18th (Queen's Own Royal Glasgow and Lower Ward of Lanark) Company.
This idea of mounted infantry worked well. Because of this, the existing Yeomanry regiments, including the Glasgow Yeomanry, became part of the Imperial Yeomanry. In 1908, the "Imperial" part of the name was dropped when they joined the Territorial Force (TF).
The First World War Role
When the First World War began in August 1914, the Territorial Force was meant for home defense. But many members volunteered to serve overseas. So, TF units were split into three groups:
- 1st Line: For overseas service.
- 2nd Line: For home service, for those who couldn't or didn't want to go overseas.
- 3rd Line: A reserve group to train new soldiers.
1/1st Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry (1st Line)
When the war started, the 1/1st Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry was part of the Lowland Mounted Brigade. They helped defend the coast in Scotland. In May 1915, the unit was split up.
Its headquarters and C Squadron went to Egypt in June 1915. They later joined the 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division at Gallipoli. There, they fought as dismounted soldiers in the Gallipoli Campaign. In 1916, the headquarters moved to France.
A Squadron joined the 24th Division in France in September 1915. B Squadron joined the 9th (Scottish) Division in France in May 1915.
In France, the 1st Line regiment was later dismounted, meaning they no longer fought on horseback. Many of their soldiers joined the 18th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. This new battalion was renamed the 18th (Royal Glasgow Yeomanry) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.
2/1st Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry (2nd Line)
The 2nd Line regiment was formed in Glasgow in 1914. It stayed in Scotland for a while. In March 1916, its headquarters and two squadrons joined the 65th (2nd Lowland) Division in Essex. They later became a single squadron. In 1917, they moved to Ireland.
3/1st Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry (3rd Line)
The 3rd Line regiment was formed in 1915. It trained new soldiers at Aldershot. Many of these new soldiers likely joined the 5th (Reserve) Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry.
Between the World Wars
After the First World War, the Territorial Army (TA) was reformed in 1920. Most Yeomanry regiments changed their role. In 1922, the Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry became an artillery unit. It was called the 101st (Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
In 1938, the regiment changed its role again. It became an anti-tank unit, called the 54th (Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, RA. When the Territorial Army grew bigger, this regiment also formed a duplicate unit, the 64th (Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, RA.
Fighting in the Second World War
54th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
This regiment was called into action in 1939. It went to France in June 1940 as part of the British Expeditionary Force. After being evacuated from France during Operation Aerial, the regiment trained in Scotland.
Two of its batteries were sent to Normandy about a week after D day. They landed in France using special floating harbors called Mulberry harbours. The regiment fought in Operation Goodwood and battles near Caen. In August 1944, it became part of the First Allied Airborne Army.
In October 1944, the regiment returned to France. They helped the First Canadian Army open the important port of Antwerp. They were involved in the Battle of the Scheldt, including Operation Vitality, Operation Infatuate, and capturing the island of Walcheren. In January 1945, they took part in Operation Blackcock, clearing an area between two rivers.
64th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
This regiment was called up in September 1939. It stayed in the United Kingdom until July 1942. Then, it became part of the new 78th "Battleaxe" Infantry Division. This division was created for Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa.
The regiment landed in Algiers in November 1942. It then fought in the Tunisia Campaign and the Allied invasion of Sicily. After that, it fought its way up Italy during the Italian Campaign. By May 1945, it was in Austria as the war in Europe ended.
The 64th Anti-Tank Regiment took part in many important battles. These included Longstop Hill in Tunisia, the Battle of Centuripe in Sicily, and battles along the Viktor Line, Barbara Line, and River Sangro in Italy. They also fought in the famous Battle of Monte Cassino, the Gothic Line, and the Battle of the Argenta Gap.
After the Wars
In 1947, the 64th Anti-Tank Regiment was disbanded. The 54th Anti-Tank Regiment was reformed in the Territorial Army. It went back to its old name, the Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry. It became a yeomanry regiment in the Royal Armoured Corps.
In 1956, it joined with the Lanarkshire Yeomanry and the 1st/2nd Lothians and Border Horse to form the Queen's Own Lowland Yeomanry.
The regiment's history was continued in 1992 by B (Lanarkshire and Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry) Squadron. This squadron was part of the Scottish Yeomanry. However, that unit was disbanded in July 1999.
Battle Honours and Distinctions
The Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry earned special recognition for its bravery in battles. These are called battle honours:
- Second Boer War
- First World War
- Loos
- Ypres 1917
- '18
- Passchendaele
- Somme 1918
- Bapaume 1918
- Ancre 1918
- Coutrai
- France and Flanders 1915–18
- Second World War
The Royal Artillery, which the regiment was part of, fought in almost every major battle. Instead of individual battle honors, they were given the motto Ubique (meaning "everywhere") by King William IV in 1833.
The regiment also received an Honorary Distinction. This was a special badge of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. It included the years "1940 '42–45" and four scrolls: "North-West Europe", "North Africa", "Sicily", and "Italy".
Uniform and Insignia
Before 1902, the regiment wore a dark blue uniform with red details, similar to what cavalry soldiers called dragoons wore. They also had a silver spiked helmet with black feathers for formal occasions.
After the Boer War, khaki uniforms were used for everyday service at home. However, officers still wore the fancy dark blue uniform for special events. Other soldiers wore a simpler dark blue uniform with a peaked cap and red stripes on their collars and trousers.
In 1943, the 64th (QORGY) Anti-Tank Regiment wore a special patch on their right arm. It was a diamond shape, split vertically into red and blue (the colors of the Royal Artillery). On it, the letters "GY" were embroidered.
See also
- Imperial Yeomanry
- List of Yeomanry Regiments 1908
- Yeomanry
- Yeomanry order of precedence
- British yeomanry during the First World War
- Second line yeomanry regiments of the British Army
- List of British Army Yeomanry Regiments converted to Royal Artillery
