04. The Wigan "Star."
On 29th October 2018, The Queen’s Own Yeomanry regiment were invited to attend a special event at Wigan Town Hall and thereafter in Believe Square to celebrate the regiment’s achievements and outstanding contributions to the borough of Wigan and the UK.
As part of the celebrations, Wigan Council presented the regiment with a 'star' on the Wigan Walk of Fame on Believe Square. The leader of Wigan Council Councillor David Molyneux is the person solely responsible for deciding which worthy organisation or local person should receive this special award. The leader chose to award the regiment a star because of its long-lasting links with Wigan Borough.
The star now sits pride of place in Believe Square in the heart of Wigan town centre among other legends including Sir Ian McKellen, Roberto Martinez and community pillars such as Barbara Nettleton and Trish Green.
Leader of the council, Councillor David Molyneux said: “We are privileged to have such a strong connection with this regiment. In recognition of its extreme bravery, dedication and commitment, we wanted to present them with their own star, which will sit in Wigan for many years to come. The ongoing links the borough has with this regiment is testament to the strong-willed and patriotic nature of the borough’s people.”
He continued to say: “The Believe stars are an acknowledgement of support toward the local community and acts as a ‘thank-you’ for the positive change and pride people have brought to the borough. These stars demonstrate our commitment to supporting the armed forces community and what a better time to do this than during the centenary year of World War One.”
Wigan borough’s military relationship began in Anglo-Saxon times when it was the tradition that all able-bodied men were required to equip themselves with weapons to defend England from foreign invasion or from rebellion or disorder at home. Through the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the Tudor and Stuart kings organised these able-bodied men into county militias. Towards the end of the eighteenth century, faced with the threats of French invasion during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815) and of revolution at home, many volunteer cavalry (yeomanry) and infantry regiments were formed. In Wigan these included the Wigan Association Infantry and the Wigan Volunteers commanded by the Earl of Balcarres of Haigh Hall.
In 1828 The Wigan Light Horse amalgamated with Troops from Furness and Bolton, forming The Lancashire Yeomanry and in 1834 King William IV was pleased to approve that the Regiment should henceforth be dignified with the title “The Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry Cavalry.” In the 1840s, the Chartist disturbances caused many calls upon the Duke of Lancaster’s and other loyal yeomanry units following which there was a relatively quiet period until, in 1899, for the first time since the Crimean War, British soldiers faced a white enemy and the Imperial Yeomanry were formed and despatched to South Africa to fill the shortage of troops fighting the Boers. In 1908, these units were combined into the Territorial Force, and it reinforced the Regular Army in the First World War (1914-18),
In 1924, the Territorial Force was reorganised as the Territorial Army, which reinforced the Regular Army in the Second World War (1939-45). 1939 saw the dismounting of the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry and a variety of roles followed.
In 1986, Wigan’s ‘A’ Squadron DLOY was obliged to move from its old established drill hall in Powell Street to make way for much needed urban redevelopment. After a spell in temporary accommodation the squadron moved safely into Kearsley House, the squadrons present home in Canal Street.
In 1991 as part of “Options for Change” the DLOY were disbanded and removed from the order of battle, however the Wigan squadron survived these cuts and they amalgamated with the Queens Own Mercian Yeomanry to form the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry (RMLY). On 27th February 2008 at a very special meeting Wigan Council bestowed the Honorary Freedom of Wigan on the RMLY for its distinguished and eminent service to the town.
In July 2013, it was announced that the RMLY would be restructured under the Army 2020 plan. In 2014 the RMLY were disbanded, however once again the Wigan squadron survived and were resubordinated to The Queens Own Yeomanry. In that same year, the Territorial Army was reorganised as the Army Reserve.
The Wigan Squadron has supported many charitable causes over the years from the Mayors own charity to helping raise funds for Wigan & Leigh Hospice, Royal Albert Edward Infirmary along with other individual and local good causes.
Wigan Council began recognising pivotal people in Wigan Borough with stars in 2011.
Photographs:
Believe Square:
Rear L-R Standing: Captain Jimmy Aspinall PSAO, Major Phil Valentine 2i/c QOY, Councillor Sue Greensmith Mayor of Wigan, Colonel Ralph Assheton Hon Col B Sqn QOY, Councillor David Molyneux Leader Wigan Council.
Front Kneeling L-R: Trooper Chris Halsall, Sergeant Anthony Clayton
Town Hall:
L-R: Captain Jimmy Aspinall PSAO, Major Phil Valentine 2i/c QOY, Councillor Sue Greensmith Mayor of Wigan, Colonel Ralph Assheton Hon Col B Sqn QOY, Sergeant Anthony Clayton, Trooper Chris Halsall
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