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DUKE OF LANCASTER’S OWN YEOMANRY CAVALRY
A.H. ROYDS, W.E. ROYDS AND C. M. ROYDS
London Gazette entries show the following:-
A H ROYDS 1844 Captain Rochdale Troop. He raised the Rochdale Troop in February 1844.
1851 Resigned Commission
1890 Deceased
W E ROYDS 1844 Cornet Rochdale Troop
1852 Lt. Rochdale Troop
1857 Capt. DLOYC
1863 Capt. Supernumerary without pay
1871 Deceased
C M ROYDS 1861 Cornet DLOYC vice Dearden (J G) resigned
1863 Lt.
1878 Capt.
1916 Deceased
Albert Hudson Royds and William Edwards Royds were brothers. William Edward Royds was the father of Clement Molyneux Royds.
Both W E and C M Royds are featured on the 3rd page of the earliest known photograph of the Regiment in Brereton’s CHAIN MAIL.
Clement Molyneux Royds gave the portrait of James Griffith Dearden to the Rochdale Museum in 1914.
The Royds and Deardens were related by the marriage of James Dearden (born 1774) to his second wife Susannah, daughter and co-heiress of Robert Royds of Higher Town House, Lancashire. (A genealogical and heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain Vol.2 by John Burke)
Note: dated 8th Feb 2012, from John Anderson (Museum Trustee) regarding brass shoulder scales, on display in the Touchstones Museum, Rochdale
Photo: John Tustin
Good Morning Gentlemen,
I have finally had a little time to look into this and from what I can find out, I think that it is unlikely that the brass shoulder scales were worn by W.E.Royds, although he may have had them in his possession or donated them. Brass shoulder scales were worn by ORs with the scarlet dragoon coatee style uniform (1840 - 1857), the officers wearing gold bullion fringed epaulettes. The tailors book of the time does not record shoulder scales for Officers Undress, only twisted gold shoulder cords. However, Bob Smith shows a photograph of a pair of brass shoulder scales which he states are "probably ORs pattern but may be Officers Undress".
William Edward Royds appears in the Army List of 1867 under DLOY as Captain ( Supernum.) with date of rank 12Nov.57. Clement Molyneux Royds is listed as Lieutenant 25Sept.63. There is no reference to WER in the November 1878 Army List although CMR is listed as Captain 19Jan.78 and another Ernest E.M.Royds as Lieutenant 1June73.
It is probable that WER ,as an officer who was serving at the time of uniform change and possibly before 1857 as Lieutenant or Cornet, acquired the brass bandsman's shoulder scales during the change-over to the new post Crimea uniform ( black Albert patt. helmet and scarlet double breasted tunic with narrow gold shoulder cords - as the Dearden Uniform). The Royal Militia & Yeomanry Cavalry List April 1850 ( Arthur Sleigh) states that there were 31 NCOs,15 Band and 219 rank & file, so there was a band during the time of the dragoon coatee uniform.
refs: British Cavalry Uniforms since 1660 - M. Barthorp ; Uniforms of the British Army - Cavalry,WY Carman; Uniforms of the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry, Barlow & Smith - Ogilby Trust; Army List January 1867 ; Army List November 1878
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