Yeomanry

[Jonathan Saunders]

Please excuse my ignorence on equestrian matters but were there any permanent dismounted duties that would enable a non-horse rider to be part of a Yeomanry unit?

Many thanks in advance.

[pwenlock]

Hi Jonathan

As most of the members of the Yeomanry were originally drawn from the landed gentry or farming stock, they were almost certain to be able to ride. When the Yeomanry was raised in 1795, a prerequisite of service was that you brought along your own mount or had the agreement of a horse owner to parade with their horse.

As WW1 went on many soldiers conscripted into the Yeomanry were unable to ride. There wasnt a test of riding ability to select soldiers conscripted to a Yeomanry unit and in many cases riding wasnt as required skill as the unit had given up there horses & were fighting in a dismounted role.

Yours aye

OxfordYeoman

[nfh249]

The East Riding Yeomanry camp rolls from before WW1 show they had many men enlisted for dismounted duties; cooks, waiters, orderlies, stretcher bearers and such like. I assume these men would have travelled in the supply wagons etc so wouldn't needed to have been able to ride a horse.

Men who couldn't ride or were unable to obtain a horse could attend camp on a bicycle and receive full pay.

There is a picture in the book, The Yeomanry Regiments I think (can't remember the authors name at the moment) which shows a specially designed carriage for dismounted soldiers in a yeomanry regiment - it appears that some regiments maintained a dismounted 'infantry' element, certainly before the war.

Regards,

Neil.

[ressmex]

The 1/1 Fife and Forfar Yeomanry began the Great war as mounted troops, they were sent to Galipoli via Egypt where they lost thier horses and equipment, they fought at Galipoli as infantry but retained their title until 1916 in Palistine they were then officially made infantry and were renamed 14th (F & F Yeo) battalion Royal Highland Regiment ( The Black Watch ) and remained so for the duration of the war. a bit difficult to ride in a kilt and a bit drafty.

TOM

[Jonathan Saunders]

Thanks Chaps. The answers were as expected but i didnt know for sure. Thanks for your confirming words.