Royal East Kent Yeomanry
| Royal East Kent Yeomanry | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1794 – 20 August 1920 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 British Army
|
| Type |
Yeomanry Infantry |
| Size | Regiment Three Regiments (First World War) |
| Peacetime HQ | Canterbury |
| Motto(s) | "Liberty, Loyalty, Property" |
| Engagements | |
South Africa 1900–01
First World War
The Royal East Kent Yeomanry were formed in 1794, originally as a series of independent troops based in the important towns of Kent, England. In the latter part of the 19th century they frequently provided escorts for the Queen and members of the Royal Family, and as a result, in 1856 the East Kent Yeomanry became the Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles (Duke of Connaught's Own).
On 13 December 1899, the decision to allow volunteer forces serve in the Second Boer War was made. Due to the string of defeats during Black Week in December, 1899, the British government realized they were going to need more troops than just the regular army, thus issuing a Royal Warrant on 24 December 1899. This warrant officially created the Imperial Yeomanry.
The Royal Warrant asked standing Yeomanry regiments to provide service companies of approximately 115 men each. In addition to this, many British citizens (usually mid-upper class) volunteered to join the new regiment. Although there were strict requirements, many volunteers were accepted with substandard horsemanship/marksmanship, however they had significant time to train while awaiting transport.
The first contingent of recruits contained 550 officers, 10,371 men with 20 battalions and 4 companies, which arrived in South Africa between February and April, 1900. Upon arrival, the regiment was sent throughout the zone of operations.
The Royal East Kent Yeomanry provided troops for the 33rd Company, 11th Battalion.
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.
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Wikipedia