Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry
Active	15 May 1794 – 7 June 1920
Country	Kingdom of Great Britain (1794–1800) United Kingdom (1801–1920)
Branch	British Army
Type	Yeomanry
Size	Regiment
Garrison/HQ	Exeter
Engagements	Second Boer War First World War Gallipoli 1915 Egypt 1916–17 Palestine 1917–18 France and Flanders 1918

The Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry was a special type of volunteer cavalry unit in the British Army. It was first created in 1794. This unit fought in the Second Boer War and the First World War. In 1920, it joined with another unit, the Royal North Devon Yeomanry, to become the Royal Devon Yeomanry.

History of the Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry
Regimental Museum
Battle Honours
List of Colonels
See also

History of the Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry

How the Unit Started

In 1793, the British government worried about an invasion from French Revolutionary forces. Britain didn't have enough soldiers to defend itself. So, in 1794, the government decided to create more local defense groups. These volunteer groups included mounted soldiers, known as "Gentlemen and Yeomanry Cavalry."

The Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry began on May 15, 1794. It was first called the 1st Devon Troop. By 1803, it became a larger unit, the 1st Devonshire Yeomanry Cavalry. A key person in setting up this force was Colonel John Rolle, 1st Baron Rolle.

Even after the Napoleonic Wars ended in 1815, the government kept the Yeomanry. They were used to help local police keep order, as there weren't many organized police forces back then. When police forces were created later (in London in 1829 and in counties by 1855), the Yeomanry was needed less often. The last time they were called out in Devon was in 1867 during food riots in Exeter.

The government sometimes didn't want to pay for the Yeomanry. This led to many units being shut down between 1827 and 1828. However, the 1st Devonshire Yeomanry Cavalry was allowed to continue, even without pay for a few years.

In 1871, the unit was renamed the Royal 1st Devonshire Yeomanry Cavalry. Its main base was in Exeter. In 1893, the troops were reorganized into smaller groups called squadrons.

Fighting in the Second Boer War

In December 1899, the British Army faced difficulties in the Second Boer War in South Africa. The government realized they needed more soldiers than just the regular army. So, on December 24, 1899, they allowed volunteer forces to join the war. This led to the creation of the Imperial Yeomanry.

Existing Yeomanry units were asked to provide companies of about 115 men each. Many British citizens also volunteered to join this new force. The Royal 1st Devonshire Yeomanry Cavalry and the Royal North Devon Yeomanry worked together. They formed the 27th (Devonshire) Company. This company arrived in South Africa on March 23, 1900.

On April 17, 1901, the unit was renamed the Royal 1st Devon Imperial Yeomanry. It was reorganized into four squadrons and a machine gun section. On April 1, 1908, it got its final name, the Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry. It became part of the Territorial Force, trained like hussars (light cavalry). The unit's base was at Dix's Field in Exeter.

Here's how the unit was organized:

	Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry
HQ	Exeter
A Squadron	Thorverton (detachments at Crediton, Tiverton, Rackenford, Cullompton, Bampton)
B Squadron	Ottery St Mary (detachments at Exmouth, Exeter, Axminster, Sidmouth, Dawlish)
C Squadron	Totnes (detachments at Moretonhampstead, Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot, Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, Plymouth)
D Squadron	Bodmin (Cornwall) (detachments at Launceston, Camelford, Liskeard, Truro, Helston, Penzance (all in Cornwall))

The First World War

When the First World War started on August 4, 1914, the Territorial Force was meant for home defense. Its members didn't have to serve overseas. However, many volunteered to fight abroad. So, in 1914, Territorial Force units were split.

1st Line units were ready for overseas service.
2nd Line units stayed home for those who couldn't or wouldn't go overseas.
Later, a 3rd Line was formed. This group trained new soldiers to replace those in the 1st and 2nd Lines.

1st Line: 1/1st Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry

At the start of the war, the regiment was part of the 2nd South Western Mounted Brigade. It got ready for war on August 4, 1914. The brigade then moved to the Colchester area. In September 1915, the soldiers gave up their horses and fought on foot.

Gallipoli 1915

In September 1915, the regiment left Colchester. They sailed from Liverpool on the RMS Olympic on September 25. They arrived at Mudros on October 1, then moved to Suvla Bay. The regiment landed in Gallipoli on October 9. They helped dig trenches with the 11th (Northern) Division. In November, they were in the front lines. On December 19, they were moved to Imbros.

Egypt 1916–17

On December 30, 1915, the regiment arrived in Alexandria. Their job was to help defend Egypt. In February 1916, their brigade joined the 2nd Dismounted Brigade. They guarded the Suez Canal and were part of the Western Frontier Force. On January 4, 1917, the regiment combined with the 1/1st Royal North Devon Yeomanry. They formed the 16th (Royal 1st Devon and Royal North Devon Yeomanry) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment.

Palestine 1917–18

This new battalion fought in the invasion of Palestine in 1917 and 1918. They took part in the Second and Third Battles of Gaza. This included capturing Beersheba. In late 1917, they helped capture and defend Jerusalem. In March 1918, they fought in the Battle of Tell 'Asur. By April 30, 1918, they had left Egypt to move to France.

France and Flanders 1918

On May 7, 1918, the 16th Battalion landed in Marseilles, France. They served in France and Flanders for the rest of the war. From September 1918, they were part of the Hundred Days Offensive. This included battles like the Second Battle of the Somme and battles along the Hindenburg Line. By the end of the war, they were near Tournai, Belgium.

2nd Line: 2/1st Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry

The 2nd Line regiment was formed in September 1914. It was based at Teignmouth. In May 1915, it moved to Woodbury. In September 1915, it went to Colchester. There, it took over the horses from the 1st Line regiment, which was now fighting on foot.

In November 1916, it became a cyclist unit. It combined with the 2/1st Royal North Devon Yeomanry. They formed the 4th (Royal 1st Devon and North Devon) Yeomanry Cyclist Regiment. In March 1917, it went back to being called 2/1st Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry. It stayed in Norfolk until May 1918. Then, it moved to Ireland and stayed there until the war ended.

3rd Line: 3/1st Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry

The 3rd Line regiment was formed in Exeter in 1915. Its job was to train new soldiers. In 1916, it stopped using horses. It was later disbanded in early 1917. Its soldiers either joined the 2nd Line regiment or another unit.

After the War

On February 7, 1920, the regiment was reformed in the Territorial Army. Its headquarters remained in Exeter. After the war, it was decided that only a few Yeomanry regiments would remain as cavalry. The rest would take on other roles.

So, on June 7, 1920, the regiment joined with the Royal North Devon Yeomanry. They formed the Royal Devon Yeomanry. At the same time, they became part of the Royal Artillery. They were renamed 11th (Devon) Army Brigade, RFA.

Regimental Museum

You can learn more about the Royal Devon Yeomanry at the Royal Devon Yeomanry Museum. It's part of the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon in Barnstaple.

Battle Honours

The Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry earned special recognition for its bravery in battles. These are called battle honours. The ones in bold were proudly displayed on the unit's flags:

Second Boer War	South Africa 1900–01
First World War	Somme 1918, Bapaume 1918, Hindenburg Line, Épéhy, France and Flanders 1918, Gallipoli 1915, Egypt 1916–17, Gaza, Jerusalem, Tell 'Asur, Palestine 1917–18

List of Colonels

Col. Baldwin III Fulford (1801-1871) of Great Fulford, Devon.