Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons
| Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons | |
|---|---|
Badge and service cap as worn at the outbreak of World War II
|
|
| Active | 1794–1956 |
| Country |
 Kingdom of Great Britain (1794–1800) United Kingdom (1801–1956) |
| Branch |
 British Army
|
| Type | Yeomanry |
| Size | Regiment |
| Engagements | |
| Battle honours | See battle honours below |
Second Boer War
First World War
The Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons was a yeomanry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1794 to 1956.
The regiment was formed as volunteer cavalry known as the South West Yorkshire Yeomanry Cavalry in 1794 during the French Revolutionary Wars. In 1844, it changed its name to the First West Yorkshire Yeomanry Cavalry. Finally, in 1897, after the Sheffield squadron had the honour of escorting Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, at Sheffield and being represented at the Royal celebration of that year, the regiment became known as the Queens Own Yorkshire Dragoons. It was converted to an armoured role during the Second World War. In 1956, it merged with the Yorkshire Hussars and the East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry to form the Queen's Own Yorkshire Yeomanry. Its lineage is continued today by the Queen's Own Yeomanry.
The regiment was formed in 1794 as the 1st or Southern Regiment of Yorkshire West Riding Yeomanry. Disbanded at the Peace of Amiens in 1802, it was subsequently reformed in 1803. In 1844, it was renamed the 1st West Yorkshire Yeomanry Cavalry. It became the Yorkshire Dragoons in 1889, and the title was augmented with "Queen's Own" after a Royal visit to Sheffield in 1897.
The Yeomanry was not intended to serve overseas, but due to the string of defeats during Black Week in December 1899, the British government realised they were going to need more troops than just the regular army. A Royal Warrant was issued on 24 December 1899 to allow volunteer forces to serve in the Second Boer War. The Royal Warrant asked standing Yeomanry regiments to provide service companies of approximately 115 men each for the Imperial Yeomanry. The regiment provided:
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