Lancashire Hussars

Lancashire Hussars
Badge of the Lancashire Hussars
Active	1798–Present Day
Country	Great Britain
Branch	Army
Type	Yeomanry
Size	Regiment
Part of	Royal Armoured Corps Royal Artillery
Battle honours	Second World War: No battle honours were awarded. It is tradition within artillery units that the Regiment's guns represent its colours and battle honours.

The Lancashire Hussars were originally formed in 1798 as independent troops, before becoming the Lancashire Yeomanry Cavalry in 1828 and then being disbanded in 1832. In 1848, the regiment was reformed as the Lancashire Hussars, becoming the Lancashire Hussars Imperial Yeomanry in 1901 for service in South Africa and the Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry in 1908.

In accordance with the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 (7 Edw. 7, c.9) which brought the Territorial Force into being, the TF was intended to be a home defence force for service during wartime and members could not be compelled to serve outside the country. However, on the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, many members volunteered for Imperial Service. Therefore, TF units were split in August and September 1914 into 1st Line (liable for overseas service) and 2nd Line (home service for those unable or unwilling to serve overseas) units. Later, a 3rd Line was formed to act as a reserve, providing trained replacements for the 1st and 2nd Line regiments.

The 1/1st was formed in Liverpool in August 1914 and attached to the Welsh Border Mounted Brigade. In 1915, the Regiment was split up, the Regimental Headquarters and B Squadron joining the 31st Division and, after moving to France, being briefly attached to the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division. The rest of the Regiment was attached to 35th Division, (C Squadron) and 30th Division, (D Squadron).

The Regiment was reformed in May 1916 to form the VIII Corps Cavalry Regiment. In July 1917, the Regiment was dismounted and dispatched for training as infantry. This was completed in September 1917,when the men joined a battalion of the King's, which was redesignated as the 18th (Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry) Battalion, the King's (Liverpool) Regiment.