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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

D Sqdn, 1/1st Surrey Yeomanry


johntanner

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Can anyone help me with the dispositions of D Sqdn, 1/1st Surrey Yeomanry. James says that A and B Sqdns went to France and then Salonika. C went to Imbros, Egypt and then France before converting to infantry in 10th R. West Surry. But nothing on D. TLLT shows them as based at Clapham but repeats James' details with nothing on D.

What happened to them after mobilisation?

John

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No specific ref in War Diaries listing. All that I can suggest is that you get to see what WO95/4827 (1/1 Surrey Yeo. for Salonika,Macedonia etc) has to say about it's elements. Period covered is Dec 1916 to Apr 1919. There are WDs for two Squadrons shown but not your elusive D.

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May well have been disbanded. On mobilisation, I believe, Yeomanry regiments, which were organised on a 4-squadron basis, but I believe all moved to a 3-squadron organisation with one squadron being absorbed into the others.

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Steve,Sotonmate

Thanks for the suggestions. Family story is that he was on the Somme, which can only be C.

John

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No clues in either the A or B Sqdn diaries.

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As mentioned by Mr Broomfield, all Yeomanry regiments on mobilisation were reduced from four squadrons to three squadrons. They also had to change from Yeomanry drill to Cavalry drill which caused some initial chaos. In many instances the Yeomanry, like many other TF units, were under establishment so the men from the disbanded Squadron would typically make up the deficiencies in the other three Squadrons. It is also worth remembering that some men did not volunteer for overseas service and these men were eventually sent to the second line units. Rather confusingly some Yeomanry regiments broke up their C Sqns leaving D Sqn intact, only later to rename D Sqn as C Sqn - a source of further potential confusion. A and B Sqn of the Surrey Yeomanry formed a composite Squadron - Q Sqn - in late 1918.

The three Sqns of the Surrey Yeomanry were initially attached to three different Divisions.

A Sqn - 27th Div

B Sqn - 28th Div

C Sqn - 29th Div

The history does not mention D Sqn and has Chapters devoted to A and B Sqn , and C Sqn. It seems highly likely that D Sqn was broken up. The remaining 'home service' men formed the nucleus of the second line which was formed in Sep 1914 at Clapham where C Sqn and D Sqn had a drill station. D Sqn HQ was in Wimbledon pre-war.

As mentioned earlier on the thread, the published history is "The History and War Records of the Surrey Yeomanry" by E D Harrison-Ainsworth. It is one of the more common Yeomanry histories and is not particularly expensive. One of the better written yeomanry histories. MG

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Just thought I'd close this off, having got sight of his Victory Medal at work today: Pte. A B Clode, enlisted November 1914, to France with B Sqdn. 22 December 1914, discharged Oct 1916, 1915 trio and SWB.

Sorted, so thanks for everyone's help.

John

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