Hi, I've been reading a history of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry and it made me wonder what was the last cavalry regiment in the British Army to mechanise? I know that the Royal Scots Greys did not convert until after the Syrian campaign. Were there any other (yeomanry?) regiments who retained their horses longer, or were they the last?
Not sure if these were the last. A relative found a number of photos one of which is below. We think it was taken in Palestine some time post 1939. He lived on the Worcestershire/Warwickshire border and believe that he was in the Warwickshire Yeomanry who mechanised in Palestine 1941. Unfortunately we don't have any later photos of him. I've posted this before as there is a thread about the Warwickshire Yeomanry on the forum.
Wiki concurs with the Palestine point: "The remaining two regular cavalry regiments were based in Palestine, and following the outbreak of war retained their horses until 1940 (the Royal Dragoons) and 1941 (the Royal Scots Greys)."
Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry - Wikipedia "Between the wars, the Regiment continued as a cavalry unit, mobilising in that role in 1939, upon the outbreak of World War II, to move to Palestine, as part of the 5th Cavalry Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division. In 1940 it was converted to artillery and took part in the defence of both Tobruk and Benghazi as well as the battle of Crete. In 1941, the Regiment converted to armour initially with M3 Grant and M4 Sherman medium tanks and Crusader cruiser tanks, and was assigned to the 8th Armoured Brigade." Then - 5th Cavalry Brigade (United Kingdom) - Wikipedia Has... Of the three regiments with the brigade when it was broken up: The Cheshire Yeomanry was the last but one mounted cavalry regiment in the British Army.[29] It formed 5th Lines of Communications Signal Regiment in North Africa until 1944 and later 17th Lines of Communications Signal Regiment in the North West Europe campaign.[30] The Yorkshire Dragoons had the distinction of being the last active Cavalry unit of the British Army,[31] then had a number of different roles Anti-Tank Artillery during the Second Battle of El Alamein, then converted into an Infantry unit part of 18th Infantry Brigade. They were later redesignated as 9th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.[32] The North Somerset Yeomanry formed 4th Air Formations Signal Regiment (to provide communications between the Army and the RAF) in North Africa and later in Sicily and Italy.[33] It was redesignated as 14th Air Formations Signal Regiment and served throughout the North West Europe campaign
I see now that the Yorkshire Dragoons' wikipedia article says(emphasis mine) "On 13 February 1942 came the news that they were to be reroled and on 1 March the men said goodbye to their horses; by a matter of a day, the Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons gained the distinction of being the last active cavalry regiment in the British Army.[74]"
An American friend did his PhD at Cambridge on a topic akin to The British Army: from horses to mechanization, so I've emailed him this link to view.
Upcoming from Helion: Fighting Vichy from Horseback | Wolverhampton Military Studies | Helion & Company Publisher Blurb
A bit off topic but I found this recently while researching the BEF base areas. An interesting example of troop movement via Marseilles was 1 Cavalry Division on the way to the Middle East. Ship to Cherbourg, train to Marseilles, ship to Middle East. Sailing from Southampton on 18/19 January 1940.. Headquarters 1 Cavalry Division. (Part). 10 Officers and 36 Other Ranks. Headquarters 5 Cavalry Brigade. (Part). 10 Officers and 36 Other Ranks. Yorkshire Hussars. (Part). 14 Officers and 426 Other Ranks. Nottinghamshire Yeomanry. (Part). 14 Officers and 426 Other Ranks. Yorkshire Dragoons. (Part). 14 Officers and 426 Other Ranks. 107 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. 28 Officers and 485 men. 2 Squadron, 1 Cavalry Division Signals. (Part). 7 Officers and 199 Other Ranks. 1 Cavalry Division Ammunition and Petrol Company. 8 Officers and 360 Other Ranks. 168 Cavalry Field Ambulance. 7 Officers and 157 Other Ranks. 1 Cavalry Division Workshops. 6 Officers and 199 Other Ranks. Ordnance Field Park, Corps Section. 3 Officers and 57 Other ranks. Ordnance Field Park, Divisional Section. 1 Officer and 14 Other Ranks. 1 Cavalry Division Postal Unit. 1 Officer and 23 Other Ranks. An irrelevant and irreverent aside. John Masters writes about meeting the Yeomanry when he was in Syria with his Indian troops. He found the Yeomanry willing and cheerful but the officers were of the pre war county hunting class. Story one. On the eve of departure the Brigadier asked the Colonel if everything was packed and ready to go, In reply the Colonel listed the champagne and claret to be taken. The Brigadier said that he was thinking more of ammunition and equipment. ‘Oh! I leave all that sort of thing to the Adjutant you know’ said the Colonel. Story two. When introducing his officers the Colonel could not remember all of their names. ‘Damn it’ he said ‘I’ll be forgetting the names of me hounds next’? Story three. When Masters suggested that the Yeomanry might send out a patrol to guard the flank the Colonel said ‘Good idea. I thought we might send Rodney.’ ‘Rodney. Do you think he will do it?’ said the Adjutant. ‘Oh! I think he might if we explain how terribly keen we are on it.’ said the Colonel. Probably not true but I rather hope it was. Mike
According to a footnote in Everything Worked Like Clockwork by Roger Salmon, on page 218: His source is The Cheshire (Earl of Chester's) Yeomanry, 1898-1967: The Last Regiment to Fight on Horses by Sir Richard Verdin.
There's a section here... Horses in warfare - Wikipedia On "Modern uses" - "Many nations still maintain small numbers of mounted military units for certain types of patrol and reconnaissance duties in extremely rugged terrain, including the conflict in Afghanistan" There was a time I think on D-Day in Normandy 1944 when Stanley Christopherson (SRY) spotted a fully saddled horse at Le Buhot which came into Regimental use... ;-)
A few thoughts on final days of mounted units from book "Animals at War" here: Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons Regards ...
Great thread here: and I can give a definitive answer. The Scots Greys did NOT fight on horseback in WW2. 3 regiments of yeomanry did however - in operation exporter. See Fighting Vichy from Horseback | Military History Book | Helion & Company