Yeomanry Gunners - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Mike Jackson · #1 30-08-17, 10:22 AM

Militaria No 384 (September 2017) contains eight pages on the Loyal Suffolk Hussars, Norfolk Yeomanry (KORR) and Northumberland Hussars - all WW2 Anti-Tank Gunners who seem to have evaded RA Dress Regulations at every possible opportunity! Mike
Yeo.Loyal Suffolk Hussars.01.jpg

Alan O · #2 30-08-17, 10:43 AM

Mike

It's all very muddled.

Those regts you mention were authorised to wear the Yeomanry insignia pre war and continued to do so into WW2 and beyond.

There were a number of other Yeomanry gunners who wore RA badges at conversion and interwar and then re-adopted Yeo badges in mid WW2. An example of this is the Berkshire Yeomanry.

Others, such as the Worcestershire Yeomanry, saw the officers wear Yeomanry badges but the ORs wore RA badges.

Finally you get the other TF units who continued to wear their old TF badges even when they were RA and not infantry. Examples include the old 4th B Leicestershire who were a LAA Bty and the IOW Rifles who were known as the green gunners as they wore their old Hampshire TF Bn uniforms as RA.

There is scope for a serious piece of research to identify who wore what but there were lots of Yeo/RA conversions to research: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...oyal_Artillery

Alan

Peter Brydon · #3 30-08-17, 10:57 AM

Also a list at Appendix VII in Litchfield, The Territorial Artillery.

P.B.

GriffMJ · #4 30-08-17, 11:55 AM

Most Yeomanry regiments that became RA during WW2 did so somewhat reluctantly. Special dispensation was granted to Yeomanry Regiments so that "identity" was preserved. The term "Reluctant Gunners" was common.... because the Yeomanry were Cavalry first and foremost.

in the case of the Leicestershire PAO Yeomanry.... they were designated RAC up until the last minute (along with others) and then re assigned as RA.

1. Sept 1st 1939, part of 5th Cavalry Brigade.
2. Sept 22nd 1939, Divisional Cavalry of the 1st Cavalry Division.
3. Nov 25th 1939, "A shattering blow" in a letter from the War office declaring all un-brigaded Regiments to be converted to RA.

fougasse1940 · #5 30-08-17, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan O

There is scope for a serious piece of research to identify who wore what but there were lots of Yeo/RA conversions to research

Hopefully the person brave enough to tackle that research will include Yeo to RAC and Signals conversions as well.

Rgds, Thomas.

Peter Brydon · #6 30-08-17, 04:38 PM

Patrick Milehams book "The Yeomanry Regiments", whilst not what I would describe as comprehensive, does give a reasonable ( albeit brief ) account of the history of the Yeomanry Regiments ( including their conversions to other arms ) for the 200 years up to 1994.

P.B.

Mike Jackson · #7 30-08-17, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fougasse1940

Hopefully the person brave enough to tackle that research will include Yeo to RAC and Signals conversions as well.

Rgds, Thomas.

We covered the Middlesex Yeo and NSY in Militaria some time ago. Mike
Yeo_Middlesex Yeo_Sicily_Lt Gen Dempsey XIII Corps and Maj Priestly.jpg

fougasse1940 · #8 16-09-17, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Jackson

We covered the Middlesex Yeo and NSY in Militaria some time ago. Mike
Attachment 176953

And excellent coverage it undoubtedly was. Please do notify me when the article on the Cheshire Yeomanry appears.

Rgds, Thomas.

Eddie Parks · #9 17-09-17, 09:42 AM

During my time most RA officers avoided RA dress rules on every possible occasion. Cream corduroy trousers, BD trousers, blue/green/maroon/sand pullovers, issue jersey's HW with BD pockets, funny buttons, battery stable belts, the list is endless!

Eddie