Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry
Encyclopedia
The Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry is a unit of the Territorial Army ('TA') that was formed in 1961 as the Kent and County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) by the amalgamation of two yeomanry
regiments, the 297 (Kent Yeomanry) Regt, Royal Artillery and the 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry
. It served initially as an armoured reconnaissance regiment until 1967 and the re-organisation of the TA, when it was disbanded and reconstituted as three separate units:
In 1969, the artillery battery was converted to a squadron of the Royal Signals
as part of 71 Signal Regiment. In 1971, this was given the name '265 (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Squadron'. The infantry company remained part of the Queen's Regiment, but no longer remained as part of the Sharpshooters. In 1987, a third squadron, 'HQ (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Squadron', 71 Signal Regiment was raised. This structure was maintained until 2006; in February, 'HQ' and '265' Squadrons were amalgamated into 265 (Kent and County of London) Support Squadron (Sharpshooters). In August, 'C' Squadron, along with the rest of the Royal Yeomanry, was rebadged under the new single RY cap badge.
'C' Squadron has adopted the title "Kent & Sharpshooters Yeomanry" and wears the cap badge and shoulder flashes of the Royal Yeomanry, and the collar dogs of the KSY.
265 Squadron maintains the title "Kent & County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters)" and wears the cap badge of the Royal Signals and shoulder flashes marked 'KCLY'.
Yeomanry
Yeomanry is a designation used by a number of units or sub-units of the British Territorial Army, descended from volunteer cavalry regiments. Today, Yeomanry units may serve in a variety of different military roles.-History:...
regiments, the 297 (Kent Yeomanry) Regt, Royal Artillery and the 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry
3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry
The 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry was formed in July 1944 by the amalgamation at Carpiquet Airfield in Normandy of the two existing Sharpshooters' regiments: the 3rd County of London Yeomanry and 4th County of London Yeomanry , both of which were veterans of the 8th Army...
. It served initially as an armoured reconnaissance regiment until 1967 and the re-organisation of the TA, when it was disbanded and reconstituted as three separate units:
- 'C' Squadron, Royal YeomanryRoyal YeomanryThe Royal Yeomanry is an armoured regiment of the Territorial Army consisting of five squadrons and a military band:*A Squadron *B Squadron...
- 'R' Battery, The London and Kent Regiment, Royal ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
- 'A' Company, 8th Battalion, The Queen's RegimentThe Queen's RegimentThe Queen's Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1966 through the amalgamation of the four regiments of the Home Counties Division...
In 1969, the artillery battery was converted to a squadron of the Royal Signals
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
as part of 71 Signal Regiment. In 1971, this was given the name '265 (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Squadron'. The infantry company remained part of the Queen's Regiment, but no longer remained as part of the Sharpshooters. In 1987, a third squadron, 'HQ (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Squadron', 71 Signal Regiment was raised. This structure was maintained until 2006; in February, 'HQ' and '265' Squadrons were amalgamated into 265 (Kent and County of London) Support Squadron (Sharpshooters). In August, 'C' Squadron, along with the rest of the Royal Yeomanry, was rebadged under the new single RY cap badge.
Present day
Today, the two squadrons remain as Sharpshooters, one of several old yeomanry regiments to maintain more than one unit within the Territorial Army.'C' Squadron has adopted the title "Kent & Sharpshooters Yeomanry" and wears the cap badge and shoulder flashes of the Royal Yeomanry, and the collar dogs of the KSY.
265 Squadron maintains the title "Kent & County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters)" and wears the cap badge of the Royal Signals and shoulder flashes marked 'KCLY'.
List of Hon. Colonels
- 1992–1999: Brigadier Arthur GoochSir Arthur Gooch, 14th BaronetBrigadier Sir Arthur Brian Sherlock Heywood Gooch, 14th Baronet DL, is an English baronet and retired regular officer of the British Army...
- Major GeneralMajor GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Barney W. White-Spunner