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| Bedfordshire Volunteers |
Berkshire IY officers |
Derbyshire Volunteers |
Devon IY parade |
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1st Dublin Volunteers inspected
by the
Duke of Connaught |
IY inspection |
East Kent IY
officers |
East Kent Volunteers |
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| Fife and Forfar IY |
Gloucester IY
officers |
Hampshire IY
officers |
Hampshire Volunteers |
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| Herts IY officers |
North Somerset IY |
South Lancs IY |
West Kent IY |
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| Wiltshire IY officers |
Wiltshire IY |
Officers of
Paget's Horse |
Paget's Horse |
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Men of the 62nd Co,
14th Middlesex Btn |
R W
Oakden who
served in the 62nd Co |
R W Oakden |
|
The original proposal to organise regiments of Yeomanry for service in the
Boer War was made by Lord Chesham and other Yeomanry officers in Oct 1899. On 13 Dec 1899, the War Office decided it would allow a contingent of
volunteer forces based on the standing yeomanry regiments to serve overseas.
The Royal Warrant of 24 Dec 99 stated:
1. Her Majesty's Government have decided to raise for active service in
South Africa a mounted infantry force, to be named 'The Imperial Yeomanry'.
2. The force will be recruited from the Yeomanry, but Volunteers and
civilians who possess the requisite qualifications will be specially
enlisted in the Yeomanry for this purpose.
3. The force will be organized in companies of 115 rank and file, 1 one
captain and four subalterns to each company, preferably Yeomanry officers.
4. The term of enlistment for officers and men will be for one year, or not
less than the period of the war.
5. Officers and men will bring their own horses, clothing, saddlery and
accoutrements. Arms, ammunition, camp equipment and transport will be
provided by the government.
6. The men to be dressed in Norfolk jackets, of woollen material of neutral
colour, breeches and gaiters, lace boots, and felt hats. Strict
uniformity of pattern will not be insisted on.
7. Pay to be at Cavalry rates, with a capitation grant for horses, clothing,
etc.
8. Applications for enrolment should be addressed to Colonels commanding
Yeomanry regiments, or to general officers commanding districts, to whom
instructions will be issued.
9. Qualifications are: Candidates to be from 20 to 35 years of age, and of
good character. Volunteers or civilian candidates must satisfy the
Colonel of the regiment through which they enlist that they are good riders
and marksmen, according to the Yeomanry standard.
Under a Special Army Order of 4 Jan 00, a committee of Yeomanry officers was
constituted to administer the force. The committee was dissolved in May
1900, the administration being taken over by the War Office.
The standing Yeomanry regiments were asked to provide service companies of
around 121 men each. The new Imperial Yeomanry (IY) were to be raised on a county
basis with the core being the men of the existing volunteer units. The
remaining numbers were to be recruited from individuals that met the necessary
service criteria.
Simultaneously with the establishment of the IY, Volunteer Service Companies,
each of which contained 116 men, territorially affiliated the the Infantry, were
also established. 66 Volunteer Service Companies (7,427 men) served during
the Boer War.
The awards received by the IY were: 1 VC, 10 CB, 1 CMG, 96 DSO, 113 DCM.
There were 3 contingents:
A list of the men who served in the IY can be found here:
http://hometown.aol.co.uk/kevinasplin/home.html. The medal entitlement
can be found in the book "The Roll of the Imperial Yeomanry, Scottish Horse and
Lovat's Scouts. 2nd Boer War. Being an alphabetical list of the
39,800 men of these volunteer forces who enlisted for the 2nd Boer War.
Listing regimental details, clasps to Queen's South Africa Medal and casualty
status". Compiled by Kevin J Asplin. Second edition available from
DP&G Publishing, PO Box 186, Doncaster, S Yorkshire, DN4 0HN.
First Contingent.
Companies of volunteers (10,242 men)
formed from across the UK. They signed-up for 12 months service.
Some of the companies were newly raised, and others (one third) were sponsored
by part-time Yeomanry Cavalry regiments which were not liable for overseas
service.
1st Battalion.
1st (Wiltshire) Company, raised 1900
2nd (Wiltshire) Company, raised 1900
3rd (Gloucestershire) Company, raised 1900
4th (Glamorganshire) Company, raised 1900; perpetuated Aug 1901 by
Glamorganshire Imperial Yeomanry
63rd (Wiltshire) Company, transferred 1902 from 16th Battalion
2nd Battalion
5th (Warwickshire) Company, raised 1900
21st (Cheshire) Company, raised 1900
22nd (Cheshire) Company, raised 1900
32nd (Lancashire) Company, raised 1900; co-sponsored by Duke of Lancaster's
Own Yeomanry Cavalry, and Lancashire Hussars
103rd (Warwickshire) Company, raised 1901
110th (Northumberland) Company, raised 1901
3rd Battalion
9th (Yorkshire (Doncaster)) Company, raised 1900;
sponsored by Yorkshire Hussars.
10th (Sherwood Rangers) Company, raised 1900
11th (Yorkshire) Company, raised 1900; sponsored by Queen's Own Yorkshire
Dragoons
12th (South Nottingham) Company, raised 1900
66th (Yorkshire) Company, transferred 1902 from 16th Battalion
109th (Yorkshire Hussars) Company, raised 1901
111th (Yorkshire Dragoons) Company, raised 1901
4th Battalion
6th (Staffordshire) Company, raised 1900
7th (Leicestershire) Company, raised 1900
8th (Derbyshire) Company, raised 1900
28th (Bedfordshire) Company, raised 1900; also known as Compton's Horse;
perpetuated 19 Sept 1901 by Bedfordshire Imperial Yeomanry
41st (Hampshire) Company, transferred 1902 from 12th Battalion
104th (Derbyshire) Company, raised 1901
106th (Staffordshire) Company, raised 1901
5th Battalion
13th (Shropshire) Company, raised 1900
14th (Northumberland) Company, raised 1900
15th (Northumberland) Company, raised 1900
16th (Worcestershire) Company, raised 1900
55th (Northumberland) Company, transferred 1902 from 14th Battalion
100th (Northumberland) Company, raised 1901
101st (Northumberland) Company, raised 1901
102nd (Worcestershire) Company, raised 1901
6th (Scottish) Battalion
17th (Ayrshire and Lanarkshire) Company, raised 1900;
co-sponsored by Ayrshire Yeomanry Cavalry, and Lanarkshire Yeomanry Cavalry
18th (Queen's Own Royal Glasgow and Lower Ward of Lanark) Company, raised
1900
19th (Lothians and Berwickshire) Company, raised 1900
20th (Fife and Forfar Light Horse) Company, raised 1900; co-sponsored by 1st
Fifeshire Light Horse Volunteers, and 1st Forfarshire Light Horse Volunteers
107th (Lanarkshire) Company, raised 1901
108th (Royal Glasgow) Company, raised 1901
7th Battalion
25th (West Somerset) Company, raised 1900
26th (Dorsetshire) Company, raised 1900
27th (Devonshire) Company, raised 1900; co-sponsored by Royal 1st Devonshire
Yeomanry Cavalry, and Royal North Devonshire Hussars.
48th (North Somerset) Company, raised 1900
69th (Sussex) Company, transferred 1902 from 14th Battalion
8th Battalion
23rd (Lancashire) Company, raised 1900; co-sponsored
by Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry Cavalry, and Lancashire Hussars.
24th (Westmorland and Cumberland) Company, raised 1900
74th (Dublin) Company, transferred 1902 from 16th Battalion
77th (Manchester) Company, raised 1900, sponsored by Lancashire Hussars;
disbanded 1900
99th (Irish) Company.
105th (Manchester) Company, raised 1901
9th Battalion. Formed 1900 in Wales.
29th (Denbighshire) Company, raised 1900
30th (Pembrokeshire) Company, raised 1900
31st (Montgomeryshire) Company, raised 1900; re-formed 1901 in Second
Contingent.
36th (West Kent) Company, raised 1900
49th (Montgomeryshire) Company, raised 1900; re-formed 1901 in Second
Contingent.
88th (Welsh Yeomanry) Company, raised 1901 in Second Contingent; sponsored
by Montgomeryshire Yeomanry Cavalry
89th (Montgomeryshire) Company, raised 1901 in Second Contingent
10th Battalion
37th (Buckinghamshire) Company, raised 1900
38th (High Wycombe) Company, raised 1900
39th (Berkshire) Company, raised 1900
40th (Oxfordshire) Company, raised 1900
11th Battalion
33rd (Royal East Kent) Company, raised 1900
34th (Middlesex) Company, raised 1900
35th (Middlesex) Company, raised 1900
53rd (Royal East Kent) Company, transferred 1902 from 14th Battalion
62nd (Middlesex) Company, transferred 1902 from 14th Battalion
112th (Middlesex) Company, raised 1901
12th Battalion
41st (Hampshire) Company, raised 1900; transferred
1902 to 4th Battalion
42nd (Hertfordshire) Company, raised 1900
43rd (Suffolk) Company, raised 1900
44th (Suffolk) Company, raised 1900
46th (Belfast) Company, transferred 1902 from 13th Battalion
51st (Paget's Horse) Company, transferred 1902 from 19th Battalion
53rd (Royal East Kent) Company, transferred 1902 from 14th Battalion
73rd (Paget's Horse) Company, transferred 1902 from 19th Battalion
13th Battalion
45th (Dublin) Company, raised 1900
46th (Belfast) Company, raised 1900; transferred 1902 to 12th Battalion
47th (Duke of Cambridge's Own, or Lord Doughmore's) Company, raised 1900
54th (Belfast) Company, raised 1900
14th Battalion
53rd (Royal East Kent) Company, raised 1900;
transferred 1902 to 11th Battalion
55th (Northumberland) Company, raised 1900; transferred 1902 to 5th Battalion
62nd (Middlesex) Company, raised 1900; transferred 1902 to 11th Battalion
69th (Sussex) Company, raised 1900; transferred 1902 to 7th Battalion
15th Battalion
56th (Buckinghamshire) Company, raised 1900
57th (Buckinghamshire) Company, raised 1900
58th (Berkshire) Company, raised 1900
59th (Oxfordshire) Company, raised 1900
16th Battalion
63rd (Wiltshire) Company, raised Mar. 1900;
transferred 1902 to 1st Battalion
66th (Yorkshire) Company, raised 1900; co- sponsored by Yorkshire Hussars,
and Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons; transferred 1902 to 3rd Battalion
74th (Dublin) Company, raised 1900; transferred 1902 to 8th Battalion
17th Battalion
50th (Hampshire) Company, raised 1900
60th (North Irish Horse (Belfast)) Company, raised 7 Mar 1900 at Belfast;
perpetuated 7 Jan. 1902 by North of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry
61st (South Irish Horse (Dublin)) Company, raised 7 Mar 1900 at Dublin;
perpetuated 7 Jan. 1902 by South of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry
65th (Leicestershire) Company, raised 1900
18th Battalion (Sharpshooters). raised 30 Dec. 1899;
embarked at Southampton 6 Apr 1900; landed at Beira Apr. 1900 (joined Rhodesian
Field Force); First contingent returned to UK Jun 1901, replaced by second draft
Mar-Aug 1901; perpetuated Aug 1901 by 3rd County of London (Sharpshooters)
Imperial Yeomanry.
67th (Sharpshooters) Company, raised 1900
70th (Sharpshooters) Company, raised 1900
71st (Sharpshooters) Company, raised 1900
75th (Sharpshooters) Company, raised 1900
19th Battalion (Paget's Horse)
51st (Paget's Horse) Company, raised 1900; transferred
1902 to 12th Battalion
52nd (Paget's Horse) Company, raised 1900
68th (Paget's Horse) Company, raised 1900
73rd (Paget's Horse) Company, raised 1900; transferred 1902 to 12th Battalion
20th Battalion (Rough Riders). raised 17 Mar. 1900 in
London; disbanded July 1901; perpetuated 23 July 1901 by City of London Imperial
Yeomanry (Rough Riders).
72nd (Rough Riders) Company, raised 1900; disbanded
1900
76th (Rough Riders) Company, raised 1900; transferred 1902 to 22nd Battalion
78th (Rough Riders) Company, raised 1900; transferred 1902 to 22nd Battalion
79th (Rough Riders) Company, raised 1900; disbanded 1900
21st Battalion (2nd Sharpshooters), raised Jan. 1901;
embarked for South Africa Mar. 1901; perpetuated Aug. 1901 by 3rd County of
London (Sharpshooters) Imperial Yeomanry.
80th (Sharpshooters) Company, raised 1901
81st (Sharpshooters) Company, raised 1901
82nd (Sharpshooters) Company, raised 1901
83rd (Sharpshooters) Company, raised 1901
22nd Battalion (Rough Riders), raised 27 Mar. 1901 in
London for Second Contingent; disbanded 1902 and perpetuated 23 July 1901 by
City of London Imperial Yeomanry (Rough Riders).
76th (Rough Riders) Company, transferred 1902 from
20th Battalion
78th (Rough Riders) Company, transferred 1902 from 20th Battalion
84th (Rough Riders) Company, raised 1901
85th (Rough Riders) Company, raised 1901
86th (Rough Riders) Company, raised 1901
87th (Rough Riders) Company, raised 1901
23rd Battalion (3rd Sharpshooters). raised Jan. 1901;
embarked for South Africa Mar. 1901; perpetuated Aug. 1901 by 3rd County of
London (Sharpshooters) Imperial Yeomanry.
90th (Sharpshooters) Company, raised 1901
91st (Sharpshooters) Company, raised 1901
92nd (Sharpshooters) Company, raised 1901
93rd (Sharpshooters) Company, raised 1901
24th Battalion (Metropolitan Mounted Rifles), raised 30
Mar. 1901 in London; perpetuated 24 Aug. 1901 by 2nd County of London Imperial
Yeomanry.
94th (Metropolitan Mounted Rifles) Company, raised
1901
95th (Metropolitan Mounted Rifles) Company, raised 1901
96th (Metropolitan Mounted Rifles) Company, raised 1901
97th (Metropolitan Mounted Rifles) Company, raised 1901
25th Battalion (Sharpshooters), raised 1901
115th (Sharpshooters) Company, raised 1901
116th Company, raised 1901
117th (Sharpshooters) Company, raised 1901
118th (Sharpshooters) Company, raised 1901
26th Battalion (Younghusband's Horse), raised 1901
119th Company
120th (Younghusband's Horse) Company
121st Company
122nd Company
27th Battalion, raised 1901
123rd Company
124th Company
125th Company
126th Company
28th Battalion (Westminster Dragoons), raised 1901
127th (Westminster Dragoons) Company
128th (Westminster Dragoons) Company
129th (Westminster Dragoons) Company
130th (Westminster Dragoons) Company
29th Battalion (Irish Horse), raised 1901
131st (Irish Horse) Company
132nd (Irish Horse) Company
133rd (Irish Horse) Company
134th (Irish Horse) Company
175th (Irish Horse) Company
176th (Irish Horse) Company
30th Battalion, raised 1901
135th Company
136th Company
137th Company
138th Company
31st Battalion (Fincastle's Horse), raised 1901
139th (Fincastle's Horse) Company
140th (Fincastle's Horse) Company
141st (Fincastle's Horse) Company
142nd (Fincastle's Horse) Company
177th (Fincastle's Horse) Company
32nd Battalion, raised 1901
143rd Company
144th Company
145th Company
146th Company
33rd Battalion, raised 1901
147th Company
148th Company
149th Company
150th Company
34th Battalion, raised 1901
151st Company
152nd Company
153rd Company
154th Company
35th Battalion, raised 1901
155th Company
156th Company
157th Company
158th Company
36th Battalion, raised 1901
159th Company
160th Company
161st Company
162nd Company
37th Battalion, raised 1901
163rd Company
164th Company
165th Company
166th Company
38th Battalion, raised 1901
167th Company
168th Company
169th Company
170th Company
39th Battalion, raised 1901
171st Company
172nd Company
173rd Company
174th Company
13th (Lovat's Scouts) Company [independent], raised Feb.
1900 at Inverness as Lovat's Scouts. Formed 113th Coy in Second Contingent.
Disbanded Aug. 1902 at Beaufort. Perpetuated 1 Mar 1903 by 1st Lovat's Scouts
Imperial Yeomanry.
114th (Lovat's Scouts) Company [independent], raised Feb. 1900 at Inverness as
Lovat's Scouts. Formed 114th Coy in Second Contingent. Disbanded Aug. 1902 at
Beaufort. Perpetuated 1 Mar 1903 by 2nd Lovat's Scouts Imperial Yeomanry.
178th (Lovat's Scouts) Company.
Second Contingent. Spring 1901. 16,597 men, of which only 655 re-enlisted
from First Contingent, formed in UK, some forming new companies, others
replenishing old companies as they returned from South Africa.
Apr 1901. As the First Contingent Imperial Yeomanry
returned from South Africa, the part-time Yeomanry Cavalry in the UK were
reorganised as 'Imperial Yeomanry' in mounted infantry regiments of 596 all
ranks (four squadrons and a machine gun section). They were equipped with
carbines and bayonets, but swords were later permitted for certain ceremonial
and escort functions. Some of the new regiments were raised from South
African veterans.
Third Contingent.
Dec 1901. 7,239 men arrived in
South Africa.
1902. The last contingent of Imperial Yeomanry from
South African War were disbanded. The Yeomanry were integrated into the
Territorial Force, dropping the 'Imperial' title, and many reverted to their
traditional cavalry roles.
