OUR HISTORY
The Leicestershire and Derbyshire Yeomanries 1794-2011. The Leicestershire and Derbyshire Yeomanries were formed in 1794 as part of the response to combat the threat of an invasion by Napoleon which never materialised. Originally the Derbyshire Yeomanry were raised as “The Derbyshire Fencible Cavalry”, latterly they were simply known as the Derbyshire Yeomanry and The Leicestershire Yeomanry as they were both known until 1957. The order to form the two regiments came to the then Lord Lieutenants who were The 5th Duke of Rutland in Leicestershire and the 5th Duke of Devonshire in Derbyshire on behalf of the government. Each regiment remained in service for the next hundred years and were there to assist the civil powers should it be necessary. The Leicestershire Yeomanry were accorded the additional title of “Prince Albert’s Own” in 1844 as they escorted Her Majesty Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort when they went from Belvoir Castle to Leicester. The first taste of active service came in 1900-1902 as part of the British Expeditionary Force ( 7th and 65th Imperial Yeomanry Companies) to South Africa during the Boer War as part . The battle honour “South Africa 1900-1902” was awarded for overseas service to both regiments. At the outbreak of the Great War the paths of both regiments was vastly different. The Leicestershire Yeomanry were mobilised and went to France and served on the western front for the duration. Their first and major encounter was in the Ypres salient at the battle of Frezenberg on 13th May 1915 when significant casualties were sustained by the regiment including the commanding officer and squadron leaders to mention but a few. The next few years saw the regiments being split up by squadron to bolster other line cavalry regiments until the armistice of 1918 and then finally they were reformed into the Territorial Army in 1920. At the outbreak of war in 1939 the Leicestershire Yeomanry was at Rufford Abbey in Nottinghamshire and whilst hoping to serve as cavalry were converted into 153 and 154 Regiments of Field Artillery in 1940. The 153 (Leicestershire Yeomanry) were part of the Guards Division and served in North West Europe while the sister regiment (154) as part of 10th Indian Division was in North Africa and Italy throughout the campaign. By comparison the Derbyshire Yeomanry were sent overseas to Egypt and from there served as part of the disastrous campaign at Gallipoli being awarded the battle honour of “Scimitar Hill”. After their return to Egypt they were sent as part of the Western Frontier Force to Senussi campaign before moving to Salonica and then finally to Macedonia where they were at the time of the cessation of hostilities. On the return to the United Kingdom they reformed as 24th (Derbyshire Yeomanry) Armoured Car Company before regaining full regimental status on the outbreak of war in 1939. On mobilisation the 1st and 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanries were formed. Both regiments served in North Africa taking part in the decisive battle of El Alamein and the advance to the west and the advance up Italy by the 1st Derbyshire while the 2nd Derbyshire returned home to be part of the 51st Highland Division and successful campaign in North West Europe until May 1945 After the end of the Second World War both regiments reformed as cavalry regiments and in 1957 as part of the defence cuts amalgamated to form The Leicestershire and Derbyshire Yeomanry (Prince Albert’s Own). This happy union lasted until 1967 when the regiment was reduced to cadre strength of seven men. In the early 1970’s the role of an infantry company beckoned and finally in 1992 the armoured role was re-established as an armoured squadron of the Royal Yeomanry. Currently the squadron is based in South Wigston, Leicester. In recent years the squadron has sent members on Operation Telic (Iraq) and more recently to Afghanistan but now in April a large detachment is going with the 9/12 Lancers (Prince of Wales’) under the command of 3 Commando Brigade. Subsequent to such a commitment it was decided in line with other regiments of the army to create a Welfare Fund to assist as necessary with battle casualties and also dependents. Indeed already the squadron has been warned off for future deployments.
Registered Charity No: 3011041
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