List of Imperial Yeomanry units of the Second Boer War

Following a string of defeats during Black Week in early December 1899, the British government realised that it would need more troops than just the Regular army to fight the Second Boer War, particularly mounted troops. On 13 December, the War Office decided to allow volunteer forces to serve in the field, and a Royal Warrant was issued on 24 December that officially created the Imperial Yeomanry (IY). This was organised as service companies of 121 officers and men enlisted for one year. Existing Yeomanry and fresh volunteers quickly filled the new force, which was equipped to operate as Mounted infantry. The companies were organised into battalions, often of companies from the same region.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Besides the companies raised directly by the Yeomanry Cavalry regiments, a number of companies and battalions were formed by enthusiasts. These included Paget's Horse, the Sharpshooters and the Roughriders, all recruited in London,[2][8] and the specialists of Lovat's Scouts.[9] On arrival in South Africa, the companies were frequently used piecemeal in various ad hoc columns, and some of the battalions (for example 12th Battalion[6]) never operated as formed units. At the end of their year of service, recruitment of a Second Contingent was authorised in January to replace the time-expired men in the original units and to form new units. A Third Contingent was recruited from late 1901 onwards, largely as new units, while the existing battalions were consolidated.[10]

The following units of Imperial Yeomanry were formed between 1990 and 1902:[11][12][13][14][15]

Company Sponsor Assigned battalion 1900 Assigned battalion 1901 Assigned battalion 1902
First Contingent
1st (Wiltshire) Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry 1st 1st 1st
2nd (Wiltshire) Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry 1st 1st 1st
3rd (Gloucestershire) Royal Gloucestershire Hussars 1st 1st 1st
4th (Glamorgan) Windham Wyndham-Quin, MP 1st 1st 1st
5th (Warwickshire) Warwickshire Yeomanry 2nd 2nd 2nd
6th (Staffordshire) Staffordshire Yeomanry 4th 4th 4th
7th (Leicestershire) Leicestershire Yeomanry 4th 4th 4th
8th (Derbyshire) Derbyshire Yeomanry 4th 4th 4th
9th (Yorkshire (Doncaster)) Yorkshire Hussars 3rd 3rd 3rd
10th (Sherwood Rangers) Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry 3rd 3rd 3rd
11th (Yorkshire Dragoons) Yorkshire Dragoons 3rd 3rd 3rd
12th (South Nottinghamshire) South Nottinghamshire Hussars 3rd 3rd 3rd
13th (Shropshire) Shropshire Yeomanry 5th 5th 5th
14th (Northumberland) Northumberland Hussars 5th 5th 5th
15th (Northumberland) Northumberland Hussars 5th 5th 5th
16th (Worcestershire) Worcestershire Yeomanry 5th 5th 5th
17th (Ayrshire and Lanarkshire) Ayrshire Yeomanry
Lanarkshire Yeomanry
6th (Scottish) 6th (Scottish)
18th (Queen's Own Royal Glasgow and Lower Ward of Lanark) Queen's Own Royal Glasgow and Lower Ward of Lanarkshire Yeomanry 6th (Scottish) 6th (Scottish)
19th (Lothians and Berwickshire) Lothians and Berwickshire Yeomanry 6th (Scottish) 6th (Scottish)
20th (Fife and Forfarshire Light Horse) 1st Fifeshire Mounted Rifles
1st Forfarshire Light Horse Volunteers
6th (Scottish) 6th (Scottish)
21st (Cheshire) Cheshire Yeomanry 2nd 2nd 2nd
22nd (Cheshire) Cheshire Yeomanry 2nd 2nd 2nd
23rd (Lancashire) Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry 8th 8th 8th
24th (Westmorland and Cumberland) Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry 8th 8th 8th
25th (West Somerset) West Somerset Yeomanry 7th 7th 7th
26th (Dorsetshire) Dorsetshire Yeomanry 7th 7th 7th
27th (Devonshire) Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry 7th 7th 7th
28th (Bedfordshire) (Compton's Horse) Lord Alwyne Compton 4th 4th 4th
29th (Denbighshire) Denbighshire Hussars 9th (Welsh) 9th (Welsh) 9th (Welsh)
30th (Pembrokeshire) Pembroke Yeomanry 9th (Welsh) 9th (Welsh) 9th (Welsh)
31st (Montgomeryshire) Montgomeryshire Yeomanry 9th (Welsh) 9th (Welsh) 9th (Welsh)
32nd (Lancashire) Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry
Lancashire Hussars
2nd 2nd 2nd
33rd (East Kent) Royal East Kent Yeomanry 11th 11th 11th
34th (Middlesex) Middlesex Yeomanry 11th 11th
35th (Middlesex) Middlesex Yeomanry 11th 11th
36th (West Kent) West Kent Yeomanry 11th 11th 11th
37th (Buckinghamshire) Royal Bucks Hussars 10th 10th
38th (High Wycombe) Royal Bucks Hussars 10th 10th
39th (Berkshire) Berkshire Yeomanry 10th 10th
40th (Oxfordshire) Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars 10th 10th
41st (Hampshire) Hampshire Carabiniers 12th[6] ?Independent 4th
42nd (Hertfordshire)[6] Hertfordshire Yeomanry 12th ?Independent
43rd (Suffolk)[3] Loyal Suffolk Hussars 12th ?Independent
44th (Suffolk)[3] Loyal Suffolk Hussars 12th ?Independent
45th (Dublin Hunt) Earl of Longford 13th (Irish) 13th (Irish)
46th (1st Belfast) 13th (Irish) 13th (Irish)
47th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Earl of Donoughmore 13th (Irish) 13th (Irish)
48th (North Somerset) North Somerset Yeomanry 7th 7th 7th
49th (Montgomeryshire) Montgomeryshire Yeomanry 9th (Welsh) 9th (Welsh) 9th (Welsh)
50th (Hampshire) Hampshire Carabiniers 17th 17th
51st (Paget's Horse)[8] George Paget 19th (Paget's Horse)[8] 19th (Paget's Horse)
52nd (Paget's Horse)[8] George Paget 19th (Paget's Horse) 19th (Paget's Horse)
53rd (East Kent) Royal East Kent Yeomanry 14th 14th 11th
54th (2nd Belfast) 13th (Irish) 13th (Irish)
55th (Northumberland) Northumberland Hussars 14th 14th 5th
56th (Buckinghamshire) Royal Bucks Hussars 15th 15th
57th (Buckinghamshire) Royal Bucks Hussars 15th 15th
58th (Berkshire) Berkshire Yeomanry 15th 15th
59th (Oxfordshire) Queen's Own Oxfordshire Yeomanry 15th 15th
60th (North Irish Horse (Belfast)) 17th 17th
61st (South Irish Horse (Dublin)) 17th 17th
62nd (Middlesex) Middlesex Yeomanry 14th 14th 11th
63rd (Wiltshire) Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry 16th 16th 1st
64th Company Not formed
65th (Leicestershire) Leicestershire Yeomanry 17th 17th
66th (Yorkshire) Yorkshire Dragoons
Yorkshire Hussars
16th 16th 3rd
67th (Sharpshooters) Earl of Dunraven 18th (Sharpshooters) 18th (Sharpshooters) 18th (Sharpshooters)
68th (Paget's Horse)[8] George Paget 19th (Paget's Horse) 19th (Paget's Horse)
69th (Sussex) Sussex Yeomanry 14th 14th 7th
70th (Scottish) (Sharpshooters) Earl of Dunraven 18th (Sharpshooters) 18th (Sharpshooters) 18th (Sharpshooters)
71st (Sharpshooters) Earl of Dunraven 18th (Sharpshooters) 18th (Sharpshooters) 18th (Sharpshooters)
72nd (Rough Riders) Earl of Lathom 20th (Rough Riders) 20th (Rough Riders)
73rd (Paget's Horse)[8] George Paget 19th (Paget's Horse) 19th (Paget's Horse)
74th (Dublin) 16th 16th 8th
75th (Sharpshooters) Earl of Dunraven 18th (Sharpshooters) 18th (Sharpshooters) 18th (Sharpshooters)
76th (Rough Riders) Earl of Lathom 20th (Rough Riders) 20th (Rough Riders) 22nd (Roughriders)
77th (Manchester) Lancashire Hussars 8th 8th 4th
78th (Rough Riders) Earl of Lathom 20th (Rough Riders) 20th (Rough Riders) 22nd (Roughriders)
79th (Rough Riders) Earl of Lathom 20th (Rough Riders) 20th (Rough Riders)
Second Contingent
80th (Sharpshooters) Earl of Dunraven 21st (2nd Sharpshooters) 21st (2nd Sharpshooters)
81st (Sharpshooters) Earl of Dunraven 21st (2nd Sharpshooters) 21st (2nd Sharpshooters)
82nd (Sharpshooters) Earl of Dunraven 21st (2nd Sharpshooters) 21st (2nd Sharpshooters)
83rd (Sharpshooters) Earl of Dunraven 21st (2nd Sharpshooters) 21st (2nd Sharpshooters)
84th (Rough Riders) Earl of Lathom 22nd (Rough Riders)
85th (Rough Riders) Earl of Lathom 22nd (Rough Riders)
86th (Rough Riders) Earl of Lathom 22nd (Rough Riders) 24th (Metropolitan Mounted Rifles)
87th (Rough Riders) Earl of Lathom 22nd (Rough Riders) 24th (Metropolitan Mounted Rifles)
88th (Welsh Yeomanry) Montgomeryshire Yeomanry 9th (Welsh) 9th (Welsh)
89th (Montgomeryshire) Montgomeryshire Yeomanry 9th (Welsh) 9th (Welsh)
90th (Sharpshooters) Earl of Dunraven 23rd (3rd Sharpshooters) 23rd (3rd Sharpshooters)
91st (Sharpshooters) Earl of Dunraven 23rd (3rd Sharpshooters)
92nd (Sharpshooters) Earl of Dunraven 23rd (3rd Sharpshooters)
93rd (Sharpshooters) Earl of Dunraven 23rd (3rd Sharpshooters) 23rd (3rd Sharpshooters)
94th (Metropolitan Mounted Rifles) 24th (Metropolitan Mounted Rifles) 24th (Metropolitan Mounted Rifles)
95th (Metropolitan Mounted Rifles) 24th (Metropolitan Mounted Rifles)
96th (Metropolitan Mounted Rifles) 24th (Metropolitan Mounted Rifles) 24th (Metropolitan Mounted Rifles)
97th (Metropolitan Mounted Rifles) 24th (Metropolitan Mounted Rifles)
98th (North Riding of Yorkshire Volunteer Artillery) 1st North Riding Artillery Volunteers 3rd
99th (Irish) 8th
100th (Northumberland) Northumberland Hussars 5th 5th
101st (Northumberland) Northumberland Hussars 5th 5th
102nd (Worcestershire) Worcestershire Yeomanry 5th
103rd (Warwickshire) Warwickshire Yeomanry 2nd 2nd
104th (Derbyshire) Derbyshire Yeomanry 4th 4th
105th (Northumberland) Northumberland Hussars 5th 8th
106th (Staffordshire) Staffordshire Yeomanry 4th 4th
107th (Lanarkshire) Lanarkshire Yeomanry 6th (Scottish)
108th (Royal Glasgow) Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry 6th (Scottish)
109th (Yorkshire Hussars) Yorkshire Hussars 3rd 3rd
110th (Northumberland) Northumberland Hussars 2nd 2nd
111th (Yorkshire Dragoons) Yorkshire Dragoons 3rd 3rd
112th (Middlesex) Middlesex Yeomanry 11th 11th
113th (Lovat's Scouts) Lord Lovat Independent Independent
114th (Lovat's Scouts) Lord Lovat Independent Independent
Third Contingent
115th (Sharpshooters) Earl of Dunraven 25th (Sharpshooters)
116th (Sharpshooters) Earl of Dunraven 25th (Sharpshooters)
117th (Sharpshooters) Earl of Dunraven 25th (Sharpshooters)
118th (Sharpshooters) Earl of Dunraven 25th (Sharpshooters)
119th (Younghusband's Horse) Lt-Col George Younghusband 26th (Younghusband's Horse)
120th (Younghusband's Horse) Lt-Col George Younghusband 26th (Younghusband's Horse)
121st (Younghusband's Horse) Lt-Col George Younghusband 26th (Younghusband's Horse)
122nd (Younghusband's Horse) Lt-Col George Younghusband 26th (Younghusband's Horse)
123rd 27th
124th 27th
125th 27th
126th 27th
127th (Westminster Dragoons) 28th (Westminster Dragoons)
128th (Westminster Dragoons) 28th (Westminster Dragoons)
129th (Westminster Dragoons) 28th (Westminster Dragoons)
130th (Westminster Dragoons) 28th (Westminster Dragoons)
131st (Irish Horse) 29th (Irish Horse)
132nd (Irish Horse) 29th (Irish Horse)
133rd (Irish Horse) 29th (Irish Horse)
134th (Irish Horse) 29th (Irish Horse)
135th 30th
136th 30th
137th 30th
138th 30th
139th (Fincastle's Horse) Lt-Col Viscount Fincastle 31st (Fincastle's Horse)
140th (Fincastle's Horse) Lt-Col Viscount Fincastle 31st (Fincastle's Horse)
141st (Fincastle's Horse) Lt-Col Viscount Fincastle 31st (Fincastle's Horse)
142nd (Fincastle's Horse) Lt-Col Viscount Fincastle 31st (Fincastle's Horse)
143rd 32nd
144th 32nd
145th 32nd
146th 32nd
147th 33rd
148th 33rd
149th 33rd
150th 33rd
151st 34th
152nd 34th
153rd 34th
154th 34th
155th 35th
156th 35th
157th 35th
158th 35th
159th 36th
160th 36th
161st 36th
162nd 36th
163rd 37th (Highland Horse)
164th 37th (Highland Horse)
165th 37th (Highland Horse)
166th 37th (Highland Horse)
167th 38th
168th 38th
169th 38th
170th 38th
171st 39th
172nd 39th
173rd 39th
174th 39th
175th (Irish Horse) 29th (Irish Horse)
176th (Irish Horse) 29th (Irish Horse)
177th (Fincastle's Horse) Lt-Col Viscount Fincastle 31st (Fincastle's Horse)
178th (Lovat's Scouts) Lord Lovat Independent Independent

The mounted infantry experiment was considered a success and the existing Yeomanry regiments at home were reorganised and renamed as Imperial Yeomanry in 1901. Fresh regiments were also raised, often on the basis of returned veterans, such as the City of London Yeomanry (Rough Riders) and the 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), the North Irish and South Irish Horse, and the Lovat Scouts.[13][15][16][17]

Notes

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  1. ^ Dunlop, pp. 104–12.
  2. ^ a b Money Barnes, pp. 242–5.
  3. ^ a b c Murphy, pp. 117–8.
  4. ^ Rogers, p. 228.
  5. ^ Ryan.
  6. ^ a b c d Sainsbury, pp. 89–102.
  7. ^ Spiers, p. 239.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Rose-Innes.
  9. ^ Frederick, pp. 42–3.
  10. ^ Dunlop, pp. 112–8.
  11. ^ Frederick, pp. 370–1.
  12. ^ IY at Anglo-Boer War.
  13. ^ a b IY at Regiments.org.
  14. ^ IY Companies at Roll of Honour.
  15. ^ a b Monthly Army List.
  16. ^ Dunlop, pp. 134–5.
  17. ^ Frederick, pp. 19–59.

References

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  • Col John K. Dunlop, The Development of the British Army 1899–1914, London: Methuen, 1938.
  • J.B.M. Frederick, Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978, Vol I, Wakefield: Microform Academic, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-007-3.
  • Maj R. Money Barnes, The Soldiers of London, London: Seeley Service, 1963.
  • Lt-Col C.C.R. Murphy, The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914–1927, London: Hutchinson, 1928/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2002, ISBN 978-1-84342-245-7.
  • Col H.C.B. Rogers, The Mounted Troops of the British Army 1066–1945, London: Seeley Service, 1959.
  • Tpr Cosmo Rose-Innes, With Paget's Horse to the Front, London: John McQueen, 1901/Leopold Classic Library, 2015, ASIN: B019SZWY6K.
  • Lt-Col Ernest Ryan, 'Arms, Uniforms and Equipment of the Yeomanry Cavalry', Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, September 1957, Vol 35, pp. 124–33.
  • Lt-Col J.D. Sainsbury, The Hertfordshire Yeomanry: An Illustrated History 1794–1920, Welwyn: Hertfordshire Yeomanry and Artillery Historical Trust/Hart Books, 1994, ISBN 0-948527-03-X.
  • Edward M. Spiers, The Army and Society 1815–1914, London: Longmans, 1980, ISBN 0-582-48565-7.

External sources

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