Queen's Own Yeomanry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Queen's Own Yeomanry |
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Cap badge
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| Active | 1971–present |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Yeomanry |
| Role | Light Cavalry Regiment |
| Size | Regiment 368 personnel |
| Part of | Royal Armoured Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Regimental Headquarters - Fenham Barracks, Newcastle upon Tyne A Squadron - York B squadron - Wigan C Squadron - Chester D Squadron - Newcastle |
| Colours | Prussian Blue & Cavalry Gold |
| March | D'ye Ken John Peel |
| Commanders | |
| Commanding Officer | Lt Col Neil Potter TD VR |
| Royal Honorary Colonel | The Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO CD |
| Insignia | |
| Tactical Recognition Flash |  |
The Queen's Own Yeomanry (QOY) is a special part of the Army Reserve. It is a light armoured reconnaissance regiment. This means they are trained to scout ahead and gather information. They use fast, light vehicles to do this.
Contents
- History of the Queen's Own Yeomanry
- Joining the Queen's Own Yeomanry
- How the Queen's Own Yeomanry is Organised
- Order of Precedence for Parades
- The Regimental Guidon
- Armoured Vehicles Used by the QOY
- Uniform of the Queen's Own Yeomanry
- How the Queen's Own Yeomanry was Formed (Lineage)
- Freedoms Given to the Regiment
History of the Queen's Own Yeomanry
The Queen's Own Yeomanry started on April 1, 1971. It was formed from five older yeomanry units. These units were located across England and Scotland.
During the Cold War, the QOY was based in Germany. Their job was to scout for the British Army there. Later, the regiment's locations changed. They now cover East Scotland and Northern Ireland. Soldiers from the QOY have served in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 2020, some changes happened. Three squadrons moved to a new unit. The QOY then gained two squadrons from another regiment. The unit now works closely with the Light Dragoons. They both use a vehicle called the Jackal 1.
Joining the Queen's Own Yeomanry
The regiment welcomes soldiers from many areas. Most of their recruits come from certain counties. These include Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, and County Durham. They also recruit from Lancashire, Cheshire, Northumberland, and Merseyside.
How the Queen's Own Yeomanry is Organised
The Queen's Own Yeomanry is part of a larger group. This group is called the 4th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters North East. The regiment is also part of the Royal Armoured Corps. It has four main parts, called squadrons:
- A (Yorkshire Yeomanry) Squadron
- B (The Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry) Squadron
- C (Cheshire Yeomanry (The Earl of Chester's)) Squadron
- D (Northumberland Hussars) Squadron
Order of Precedence for Parades
When British Army regiments parade, they line up in a special order. This is called the order of precedence. The most senior unit stands on the far right. This order shows their history and importance.
| Preceded by Royal Wessex Yeomanry |
British Army Order of Precedence |
Succeeded by Scottish & North Irish Yeomanry |
The Regimental Guidon
A Guidon is a special flag given by The Queen. It is made of crimson silk. It has gold embroidery and fringes. The flag shows the regiment's battle honours. These are special awards for bravery. The regiment's emblem is also in the middle.
On September 22, 2007, a new Guidon was presented. Prince Charles gave it to the regiment. This happened at Alnwick Castle. It was the first Guidon the QOY had received since it was formed.
Armoured Vehicles Used by the QOY
In late 2013, the regiment got new vehicles. They started using the RWMIK. This is a light armoured vehicle. It is based on a Land Rover Defender. It carries machine guns and special cameras. These cameras include thermal imaging.
In 2018, the regiment got even newer vehicles. They now use the Jackal 1. This helps them work better with the Light Dragoons.
Uniform of the Queen's Own Yeomanry
Badges on the Uniform
The whole regiment wears a special cap badge. It shows a running fox. This design comes from an old unit. However, each squadron has its own unique collar badges and buttons.
Stable Belt and Shoulder Flash
Soldiers wear a special Stable Belt or shoulder flashes. These show they are part of the QOY. The belt and flashes are Prussian blue. They have two yellow stripes. These stripes are called cavalry gold.
How the Queen's Own Yeomanry was Formed (Lineage)
This table shows how the Queen's Own Yeomanry was formed. It combines different older units over time.
| 1908 Haldane Reforms | 1956 Post-War Mergers | 1966 Defence White Paper | 1990 Options for Change | 1999 Strategic Defence Review | 2015 Army 2020 |
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| Yorkshire Hussars (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own) | Queen's Own Yorkshire Yeomanry | Y Squadron, Queen's Own Yeomanry | A Squadron, Queen's Own Yeomanry | ||
| Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons | |||||
| East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry | |||||
| Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry | D Squadron, Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry | B Squadron, Queen's Own Yeomanry | |||
| Cheshire Yeomanry (Earl of Chester's) | C Squadron, Queen's Own Yeomanry | C Squadron, Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry | C Squadron, Queen's Own Yeomanry | ||
| Northumberland Hussars | HQ Squadron, Queen's Own Yeomanry | D Squadron, Queen's Own Yeomanry | C&S Squadron, Queen's Own Yeomanry | ||
Freedoms Given to the Regiment
The regiment has received special honours called "Freedom of the City." This means they can march through a city with their flags flying. It is a sign of respect from the city.
1971: Newcastle upon Tyne (This was first given to an older unit in 1969).- December 3, 2009: York.
May 3, 2014: South Ayrshire.- October 12, 2019: C Squadron received the freedom of Chester. This was for their 225th anniversary. They had received this honour before in 1996 and 1997.
