Surrey Yeomanry
| Surrey Yeomanry (Queen Mary's Regiment) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1794–present |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 British Army
|
| Type | Yeomanry |
| Role |
World War I Yeomanry Infantry World War II Artillery |
| Size |
World War I Three Regiments World War II Two Regiments |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Lt-Colonel Eric Richard Thesiger DSO TD |
The Surrey Yeomanry was a unit of the British Army formed as volunteer cavalry in 1794 during the French Revolutionary Wars. In 1901 the Regiment was granted the title Princess of Wales's which was changed to Queen Mary's when George V became the King. Converted to artillery in 1922, they were later reduced to battery strength and merged into the Queen's Regiment.
The Surrey Gentlemen and Yeomanry Cavalry was raised in 1794, but disbanded in 1828. A Southwark Troop was raised in 1831 and became a full Regiment in the same year. That too was disbanded in 1848.
The Surrey Imperial Yeomanry was raised in 1901 for service in the Second Boer War. From June 1902 it was known as the Surrey (the Princess of Wales′s) Imperial Yeomanry. In 1908 the Regiment became part of the Territorial Force, and like the other yeomanry regiment dropped the Imperial.
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.
On mobilisation the Surrey Yeomanry now known as the 1/1st Surrey Yeomanry was attached to the South Eastern Mounted Brigade of the 1st Mounted Division. In late 1914 the regiment was split up, with the Regimental Headquarters and A Squadron being attached to the 27th Division ; B Squadron joined the 28th Division while C Squadron joined the 29th Division. C Squadron would see service in the Dardanelles campaign at Gallipoli in 1916 moved to France as the XV Corps Cavalry squadron which lasted until July 1917 when they were dismounted and sent to be retrained as infantry, before being drafted into the 10th Battalion Royal West Surrey Regiment in September 1917. In December 1916 the regiments A and B Squadrons reformed to become the XVI Corps Cavalry Regiment in Salonika.
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Wikipedia