Yorkshire Hussars
| Yorkshire Hussars | |
|---|---|
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 | One Regiment |
| Engagements |
Second Boer War |
| Battle honours | See battle honours below |
Second Boer War
First World War
The Yorkshire Hussars was a unit of the British Army from 1794 to 1956.
The regiment was formed as volunteer cavalry in 1794 during the French Revolutionary Wars. It was converted to an armoured role during the Second World War. In 1956, it merged with two other Yorkshire yeomanry regiments 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 2nd or Northern Regiment of Yorkshire West Riding Yeomanry. It was disbanded at the Peace of Amiens in March 1802, but three troops offered to renew their services and reconstitute the regiment in July, and four more were added in October. On 11 January 1819, the regiment was converted to a hussar regiment as the Yorkshire Hussar Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry. In 1864, the title was augmented with "Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own".
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:
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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