The Yorkshire Hussars (Alexandra Princess of Wales's Own).

[leigh kitchen]

The Yorkshire Hussars were formed in 1794, one of the Volunteer Yeoman Cavalry units intended to defend Britain against a feared invasion by the revolutionary French, also be called upon to deal with civil disorder within the country.

Originally the The 2nd or Northern Regiment of West Riding Cavalry they were designated Hussars in 1819.

In 1864 the tile "Princess of Wales's Own" was conferred on the regiment

The regiment fought in the South African War of 1899, providing the 9th Company of the 3rd Battalion of Imperial Yeomanry, & along with men of the Yorkshire Dragoons, formed the 66th Company

At the outbreak of WWI, the regiments four squadrons were based at Leeds, York, Knarlsborough, & Middlesborough. On 1st September, the regiment formed a first line regiment of Yorkshire Hussars who volunteered to serve abroad, designated 1/1st Yorkshire Hussars, the 2/1st Yorkshire Hussars, mainly compried of men in their late 40's, carried out castal defence duties until sent to Ireland in 1918, & the 3/1st Yorkshire Hussars was formed to provide drafts.

In 1915, the 1/1st Yorkshire Hussars were were divided between various divisions for service in France, B Squadron deploying to France in February 1915 with 46th (North Midland) Division, C Squadron in April 1915 with 49th (West Riding) Division, & A and HQ Squadrons in April 1915 with 50th (Northumbrian) Division.

A Squadron saw action at the 2nd Battle of Ypres , B at the Battle of Loos and C at the Battle of Aubern Ridge.

On 16th May 1916, the 1/1st Yorkshire Hussars reassembled as Corps Cavalry to XVII Corps and were present at the Battle of Arras.

The Regiment was reorganised and reroled in August 1917, following six weeks of infantry training at Etaples, the bulk of the regiment were drafted to the 9th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment.

Titled The "9th (Yorkshire Hussars) Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment", they wore The Yorkshire Hussars cap-badge and West Yorkshire Regiment collar-badges.

The Battalion fought in the 3rd Battle of Ypres & remained on the Western Front until the end of the war.

Following WWI & with the reforming of the Territorials, the Hussars reformed as cavalry, & as one of the fourteen senior regiments of Yeomanry remained a horsed unit.

The 3rd senior regiment, it formed along with the Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons (the 9rd senior) & the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry the 5th Cavalry Brigade.

From January 1940 until October 1941 the Hussars served in the 5th and 6th Cavalry Brigades, 1st Cavalry Division in Palestine. The Division was renamed the 10th Armoured Division, & the Hussars converted from horse to armour, training with Stuart tanks as part of 9th Armoured Brigade.

In March 1942 they became the Armoured Striking Force, based in Cyprus, equipped with Cruiser and Valentine tanks

They moved to Egypt in January 1943, & were equipped with Crusader & Sherman tanks.

Returning to England in November 1943, in 1944 they converted to an Infantry Division Recce Regiment, attached to 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, before transferring to the 61st (South Midland) Division.

From April until August 1944, the Hussars split into squadrons, to take over & run embarkation camps in the Sussex area, preparing for D-Day.

In August the regiment reunited as a Recce Holding Unit, conducting refresher training of tank trained personnel & drafting of recovered wounded Recce personnel.

In June 1945, he Hussars reorganised as a Light Armoured Regiment, equipped with Churchill tanks, & was placed in suspended animation in March 1946.

In 1956 the regiment was reduced to a Squadron & amalgamated with other units to form The Queen's Own Yorkshire Yeomanry.

Reduced to a cadre in 1967 the Yorkshire Squadron of the Queen's own Yeomanry was formed in April 1971 as a sabre squadron.

In its amalgamated form, it is currently "Y" (Yorkshire) Squadron of The Queen's Own Yeomanry.

The Yorkshire Hussars Battle Honours:

South Africa 1900-2

Cambrai 1918

Arras 1918 Selle

Scarpe 1918

Valenciennes

Drocourt

Queant

Sambre

Hindenburg Line

France & Flanders 1915-18

Canel Du Nord

Syria 1941

Edited December 4, 2008 by leigh kitchen

[leigh kitchen]

This sergeant of the Yorkshire Hussars wears Full Dress, which was retained & worn by the regiment to a greater extent than most others, it was worn at Church Parades & at camps as well as on ceremonial occassions.

The jacket & overalls are dark blue, decorated with 18 rows of double silver cord across the chest (photographs taken during the early part of the 20th century show a differing number of rows on the jackets of Other Ranks), The busby bag is red, the burush plume black over red.

Worn at the front of the busby is the White Rose of York, worn by Other Ranks & which was the regiments badge until 1864 when the title "Princess of Walse's Own" was conferred & the POW's Plume, Coronet & Motto introduced, the officer's badge changing to the POW's crest, later combining them with the Rose.

The sergeants arm badge of Princess of Wales's Crest was worn above the rank chevrons until 1900, when they were placed on the chevrons.

The photograph appears to be dated "March 16/21".

Edited December 4, 2008 by leigh kitchen

[Graham Stewart]

"Titled The "9th (Yorkshire Hussars) Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment", they wore The Yorkshire Hussars cap-badge and West Yorkshire Regiment collar-badges."

Leigh,

Are you sure about the badge bit? The reason I query is because when the Northumberland Hussars were absorbed by the 9th Bn, Northumberland Fusilies to become the 9th(Northumberland Hussars)Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers the cap badge remained NF and the collar badges remained Northumberland Hussars and the cavalry bandolier was also worn by the transferred members.

[leigh kitchen]

As I've read, it varied from unit to unit, some yeomanry conversions to infantry wearing their orignal yeomanry cap badge, some that of their "new" infantry regiment. I'll check where the info re this unit came from.