Brief History 1798 - 2016

A quick summary of the history of The Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry is sometimes sought. This article, in less than 1000 words crafted by Capt Jimmy Aspinall, with input from Lt Col John Tustin, provides such a quick summary...

Brief History

of

B (DLOY) Sqn QOY

The Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry has its origins in the various troops of light horse raised in the eighteenth century in the county of Lancaster when Britain was under threat of invasion from Revolutionary France. The earliest of the troops was the Bolton Light Horse formed in 1798. In June 1828 the Lancashire Corps of Yeomanry Cavalry assembled. In 1834, by special act, King William IV granted the title “Duke of Lancaster’s Corps of Yeomanry Cavalry” and since that date the Sovereign, as the Duke of Lancaster, has traditionally been Colonel-in-Chief.

The Regiment sent mounted infantry for service in the Boer War, serving in the Imperial Yeomanry between 1900 and 1902; notably seeing action at Faber’s Putt.

In World War One the Regiment formed three units the 1/1st, 2/1st and the 3/1st.

1/1st Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry concentrated in Clitheroe on 17^th August 1914, organized into 3 sabre squadrons and RHQ. A Squadron joined 42^nd East Lancashire Division and sailed for Egypt in September and served throughout the conflict through Egypt and Palestine. D Squadron left for France in May 1915 shortly followed by C Squadron & RHQ. On 14 May 1916 all the units except A Squadron reformed in France within III Corps Cavalry. On 24 July 1917 they were dismounted and became G.H.Q troops. On 24 September 1917 after infantry training the regiment joined a battalion of the Manchester Regiment, which was re-designated 12th (Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry) Bn, the Manchester Regiment.

2/1st Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry formed in September 1914 and they remained in the United Kingdom until July 1916 when they converted into a Cyclist unit and moved to Ireland in May 1918.

3/1st Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry were formed in 1915. They also remained in United Kingdom until absorbed by the 6th Reserve Cavalry Regiment in early 1917.

During World War II the Regiment was mobilised as horsed cavalry but in 1940 they converted to form the 77th Medium and 78th Medium Regiments of Royal Artillery. The 78th went on to serve in Palestine, Syria and Italy as part of 6 AGRA. The 77th remained in Northern Ireland until early 1944 when it prepared for the invasion of Europe. Landing in Normandy on D Day plus 6 and attached to 8 AGRA it fought through Europe right up to the German/Danish border; notable actions occurred at the Odon Bridgehead, the battle for the Falaise Gap and the Arnhem Operation Market Garden in September 1944.

In 1947 after the war had ended the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry was reformed as an armoured regiment. In 1956 its role changed to reconnaissance, equipped with armoured cars, combining with the 40th/41st Royal Tank Regiment 1 April 1967. Two years later the combined Regiment was reduced to a cadre until 1971 when it was reformed as an infantry unit. On 1 April 1983 it re-joined the Royal Armoured Corps as a home defence reconnaissance unit equipped with Land Rovers. On 1 November 1992 the Regiment disbanded as a result of the Options for Change and units amalgamated with The Queen’s Own Mercian Yeomanry to form The Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry (RMLY). The only surviving Squadron based in Wigan became D (Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry) Squadron RMLY. In 1999 the RMLY absorbed C Squadron from The Queen's Own Yeomanry, bringing the strength to four squadrons plus the headquarters squadron.

Until the announcement in July 2013, that the RMLY will be restructured for the Army 2020 plan, its role had been Challenger 2 Tank War Establishment Reserves to the Regular Army. However during the RMLY period the Squadron has deployed a number of soldiers in support of Operations around the world, namely Op TELIC, HERRICK, TOSCA and at home Op OLYMPICS. Shortly before disbandment the RMLY role changed to one of Light Cavalry reconnaissance using the RWMIK (Refurbished Weapons Mounted Installation Kit) platform. D (DLOY) Squadron RMLY also formed part of 42 (NW) Bde Civil Contingency Reaction Force (CCRF), which was to assist the civil authorities in times of local or national emergency.

On disbandment of the RMLY the Regimental HQ moved to Edinburgh to form the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry. A Squadron subordinated to The Royal Yeomanry, while D and C Squadron subordinated to The Queen’s Own Yeomanry (QOY). On amalgamation with the QOY D (DLOY) Squadron RMLY became B (DLOY) Squadron QOY. B Squadron of the RMLY was to be removed from the Army ORBAT.

B (DLOY) Squadron QOY continues to be a Cavalry Squadron equipped with the RWMIK carrying out its light reconnaissance role. They operate ahead of the front line to gather intelligence on the enemy and environment. Whilst mounted in armoured landrovers carrying heavy machine guns, the reservist soldiers train to seek out the enemy, report their positions and fix them in place so that they can be destroyed. Training for this role is conducted at home and abroad in such place as Denmark, Germany and North Africa. To do this the soldiers need to be fit, adaptable and self-reliant, prepared to work in small teams in any weather conditions to get the job done. In addition to this, the soldiers are as confident sending a vital radio message over the latest Bowman communications systems while driving cross-country, as they are, carrying out a covert night patrol or manning an Observation Post; a mix of activities which few other units can match.

B (DLOY) Squadron are based in Wigan, however their regimental headquarters is located in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne with other Squadrons located in Chester, York and Newcastle. They are paired with B Squadron of The Light Dragoons - Regular Royal Armoured Corps Regiment.

More details are available in the on-line DLOY archives.