Royal East Kent Yeomanry Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Royal East Kent Yeomanry
Active	1794 – 20 August 1920
Country	Kingdom of Great Britain (1794–1800) United Kingdom (1801–present)
Branch	British Army
Type	Yeomanry Infantry
Size	Regiment Three Regiments (First World War)
Peacetime HQ	Canterbury
Motto(s)	"Liberty, Loyalty, Property"
Engagements	South Africa 1900–01 First World War Gallipoli 1915 Egypt 1916–17 Palestine 1917–18 France and Flanders 1918

The Royal East Kent Yeomanry was a special part of the British Army, like a group of soldiers, that started way back in 1794. This regiment, which was a type of volunteer cavalry called Yeomanry, fought in important wars. They took part in the Second Boer War in South Africa and later in the huge First World War.

History of the Royal East Kent Yeomanry
Battle Honours
Uniform
See also

History of the Royal East Kent Yeomanry

How the Regiment Started

The Royal East Kent Yeomanry began in 1794. It was made up of several small groups of soldiers based in different towns in Kent, England. This was during a time when Britain was worried about attacks from France, known as the French Revolutionary Wars.

In 1830, a leader named George Finch-Hatton, 10th Earl of Winchilsea, took command. As years passed, the regiment often helped protect Queen Victoria and her family. Because of this special duty, their name changed in 1856 to the Royal East Kent Regiment of Mounted Rifles. In 1873, it changed again to the Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles (The Duke of Connaught's Own).

Fighting in the Second Boer War

In 1899, Britain decided to let volunteer soldiers join the fight in the Boer War in South Africa. The British government needed more troops after some tough defeats. So, they created a new group called the Imperial Yeomanry.

Existing Yeomanry regiments, like the Royal East Kent, were asked to send companies of about 115 men each. Many British citizens also volunteered to join. The first group of volunteers, over 10,000 men, arrived in South Africa in early 1900.

The Royal East Kent Yeomanry sent soldiers to two companies, the 33rd and 53rd. These Imperial Yeomanry soldiers were trained to fight on horseback but also on foot, like Mounted infantry. This new way of fighting worked well. Because of this success, all Yeomanry regiments became Imperial Yeomanry in 1901. The East Kent unit was then called the Royal East Kent Imperial Yeomanry (Duke of Connaught's Own).

Later, in 1908, when the Yeomanry became part of the Territorial Force, the word 'Imperial' was removed from their name. At this time, the regiment was based in Canterbury.

The First World War (1914-1918)

When the First World War started in August 1914, the Territorial Force was mainly for defending Britain. However, many soldiers volunteered to fight overseas. So, the units were split into three 'Lines'.

1st Line: These soldiers went to fight abroad.
2nd Line: These soldiers stayed in Britain for home defense.
3rd Line: This group trained new soldiers to replace those fighting.

1st Line: 1/1st Royal East Kent Yeomanry

The 1st Line regiment was ready for war on August 4, 1914. They stayed in the Canterbury area until September 1915. Then, they left Kent and sailed from Liverpool to Lemnos, an island near Turkey.

On October 8, they landed in Gallipoli, a place where a very tough battle was happening. They were part of the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division. By December 30, they had to leave Gallipoli.

In February 1916, the regiment moved to Egypt to help defend the Suez Canal. In January 1917, the 1/1st Royal East Kent Yeomanry joined forces with another regiment, the 1/1st Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry. They became the 10th (Royal East Kent and West Kent Yeomanry) Battalion, Buffs (East Kent Regiment).

This new battalion became part of the 74th (Yeomanry) Division. With this division, they 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 and fighting for Jerusalem.

In April 1918, the division was sent to France. They landed in Marseilles and trained for fighting on the Western Front. This included learning about gas defence.

From September 1918, they joined the Hundred Days Offensive. This was a major push that helped end the war. They fought in the Second Battle of the Somme and battles along the Hindenburg Line. By the time the war ended, they were near Tournai, Belgium. The division was officially disbanded in July 1919.

2nd Line: 2/1st Royal East Kent Yeomanry

The 2nd Line regiment was formed in 1914 and stayed in Britain. In 1915, they were in Canterbury. In July 1916, they changed from mounted soldiers to cyclist units. They were based near Manningtree.

In November 1916, this regiment merged with the 2/1st Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry. They formed the 9th (East Kent and West Kent) Yeomanry Cyclist Regiment. In March 1917, they went back to being the 2/1st Royal East Kent Yeomanry at Woodbridge. In April 1918, they moved to Ireland and stayed there until the war ended.

3rd Line: 3/1st Royal East Kent Yeomanry

The 3rd Line regiment was formed in 1915. Their job was to train new soldiers. In 1916, they were based at Crowborough. This regiment was disbanded in early 1917. Its soldiers either joined the 2nd Line regiment or another battalion.

After the First World War

After the First World War, it was decided that only a few of the oldest Yeomanry regiments would remain as cavalry (soldiers on horseback). Most others would change to different roles.

So, on August 20, 1920, the Royal East Kent Yeomanry joined with the West Kent Yeomanry. They formed a new regiment called the Kent Yeomanry. At the same time, they changed their role to field artillery, which meant they would operate cannons. They became the 6th (Kent) Army Brigade, RFA.

Battle Honours

The Royal East Kent Yeomanry Memorial, Canterbury

Battle honours are special awards given to military units for their bravery and success in battles. The Royal East Kent Yeomanry earned these honours:

Second Boer War

South Africa 1900–01

First World War

Uniform

From 1856, the Royal East Kent Yeomanry was known as Mounted Rifles. They wore a unique uniform for a Yeomanry unit: rifle green. By the early 1900s, their formal uniform looked a lot like the one worn by the 60th Rifles.

It included dark green tunics (jackets) with red parts and tight-fitting rifle green trousers with black and scarlet stripes. All soldiers had black braiding, like fancy ropes, across the front of their tunics. Their hat was a scarlet peaked cap with a black band. From 1903 to 1920, for training and active duty, they wore the standard khaki field uniform of the British Army, with their own regimental badges.

Royal East Kent Yeomanry facts for kids

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