Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
Encyclopedia
The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars (RGH) was a unit of the British Army
.
Raised in 1795 following William Pitt
's 1794 order to raise volunteer bodies of men to defend Great Britain
, through various re-organisations, the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars remain today on the establishment of the Territorial Army as C (RGH) Sqn Royal Wessex Yeomanry
. Their main function is to provide Tank Replacement Crew for the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank
. They also train in a forward reconnaissance role on the Land Rover Defender. They continue to have strong ties with the King's Royal Hussars
.
. By 1797, troops had been raised at Minchinhampton
, Wotton Under Edge, Stow on the Wold, Henbury
, Bristol
, and Gloucester
. In 1798 Stroud
had also raised a troop. Following the 1802 Peace of Amiens, all except the Cheltenham Troop under Major Snell were disbanded.
Following the end of the Napoleonic Wars
, all Yeomanry Troops were disbanded, either voluntarily or by order, in 1827. In 1830, responding to unrest amongst agricultural workers, Yeomanry Troops were raised again. The First Troop was established by Mr Codrington of Dodington Park, quickly followed by troops from Fairford
, Cirencester
, Stroud
, Tetbury
, Gloucester
, and Bristol
. In 1834 the captains of all Gloucestershire troops met in Petty France
and combined to form one regiment, known as the Gloucestershire Yeomanry Cavalry. The Marquis of Worcester
was appointed as the first Commanding Officer and the band was established.
.
on board the SS Minneapolis, disembarking in Alexandria
on 24 April, and making camp at Chatby Beach. On 11 August, the RGH received orders to embark for Gallipoli
, less four officers and 100 other ranks who remained to tend the horses. They dis-embarked at Suvla Bay and were brigaded in 1st South Midland Brigade as part of the British 2nd Mounted Division
. On return to Egypt, they took part in many of the battles that formed the Sinai and Palestine Campaign
, primarily as part of the Imperial Mounted Division. As part of the Imperial Mounted Division, the RGH would have been present at the Battle of Beersheba.
During The Great War the RGH were placed under command of the following formations:
three lines of RGH existed.
as an Armoured Replacement Squadron. It is also the parent unit of the army section of Pate's Grammar School
Combined Cadet Force
whose members wear the cap badge of the RGH.
was presented to the RGH by Col the Duke of Beaufort
, representing HM The Queen
at Badminton House in 27 May 1962.
s and Corporal
s in the RGH have slightly different badges of rank compared to other similar units within the British Army. A Lance Corporal has two chevrons and a Corporal has two chevrons topped with a cloth crown. This crown is lost when the Corporal is promoted to Sergeant. In keeping with all armoured and cavalry units, rank is only worn on the right sleeve.
The origin of this arrangement is unclear. Suggestions vary from 'Queen Victoria preferred all NCOs to wear two chevrons minimum' to the practice of Lance Corporals removing the single chevron from the left sleeve of the dolman as this would be covered by the pelisse. As the RGH does not form part of the Household Division and the pelisse was not worn by NCOs from 1882 (and cavalry wear rank on only one arm in the first instance), both these explanations are probably incorrect.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.
Raised in 1795 following William Pitt
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
's 1794 order to raise volunteer bodies of men to defend Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, through various re-organisations, the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars remain today on the establishment of the Territorial Army as C (RGH) Sqn Royal Wessex Yeomanry
Royal Wessex Yeomanry
The Royal Wessex Yeomanry is an armoured regiment of the British Territorial Army consisting of four squadrons, each of which bears the cap badge of an old yeomanry regiment:*B Squadron*A Squadron...
. Their main function is to provide Tank Replacement Crew for the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank
Main battle tank
A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
. They also train in a forward reconnaissance role on the Land Rover Defender. They continue to have strong ties with the King's Royal Hussars
King's Royal Hussars
The King's Royal Hussars is a cavalry regiment of the British Army. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and was formed on 4 December 1992 by the amalgamation of two other regiments:...
.
Formation and early years
In 1795 Captain Powell Snell raised the First Troop of Gloucestershire Gentleman and Yeomanry at the Plough Inn in CheltenhamCheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
. By 1797, troops had been raised at Minchinhampton
Minchinhampton
Minchinhampton is an ancient market town, located on a hilltop south-south-east of Stroud, Gloucestershire, England, in the Cotswolds. The town is twinned with Nkokoto, in Tanzania....
, Wotton Under Edge, Stow on the Wold, Henbury
Henbury
Henbury is a suburb of Bristol, England, approximately 5 mi northwest of the city centre. It was formerly a village in Gloucestershire and is now bordered by Westbury-on-Trym to the south; Brentry to the east and the Blaise Castle estate Blaise Hamlet and Lawrence Weston to the west...
, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, and Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
. In 1798 Stroud
Stroud, Gloucestershire
Stroud is a market town and civil parish in the county of Gloucestershire, England. It is the main town in Stroud District.Situated below the western escarpment of the Cotswold Hills at the meeting point of the Five Valleys, the town is noted for its steep streets and cafe culture...
had also raised a troop. Following the 1802 Peace of Amiens, all except the Cheltenham Troop under Major Snell were disbanded.
Following the end of the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, all Yeomanry Troops were disbanded, either voluntarily or by order, in 1827. In 1830, responding to unrest amongst agricultural workers, Yeomanry Troops were raised again. The First Troop was established by Mr Codrington of Dodington Park, quickly followed by troops from Fairford
Fairford
Fairford is a small town in Gloucestershire, England. The town lies in the Cotswolds on the River Coln, about east of Cirencester, west of Lechlade and north of Swindon. Nearby are RAF Fairford and the Cotswold Water Park.-Schools:...
, Cirencester
Cirencester
Cirencester is a market town in east Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswold District. It is the home of the Royal Agricultural College, the oldest agricultural...
, Stroud
Stroud, Gloucestershire
Stroud is a market town and civil parish in the county of Gloucestershire, England. It is the main town in Stroud District.Situated below the western escarpment of the Cotswold Hills at the meeting point of the Five Valleys, the town is noted for its steep streets and cafe culture...
, Tetbury
Tetbury
Tetbury is a town and civil parish within the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England. It lies on the site of an ancient hill fort, on which an Anglo-Saxon monastery was founded, probably by Ine of Wessex, in 681. The population of the parish was 5,250 in the 2001 census.In the Middle Ages,...
, Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
, and Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. In 1834 the captains of all Gloucestershire troops met in Petty France
Petty France
Petty France is a hamlet in the rural north of South Gloucestershire, near the Gloucestershire border, in Hawkesbury parish. It is on the A46, which runs from Bath, to Nailsworth and Stroud, just south of another, slightly smaller hamlet, Dunkirk....
and combined to form one regiment, known as the Gloucestershire Yeomanry Cavalry. The Marquis of Worcester
Henry Somerset, 7th Duke of Beaufort
Major Henry Somerset, 7th Duke of Beaufort KG , styled Earl of Glamorgan until 1803 and Marquess of Worcester between 1803 and 1835, was a British peer, soldier and politician.-Background:...
was appointed as the first Commanding Officer and the band was established.
Boer War
In 1900 123 members of the RGH under Capt WH Playne left for Cape Town, forming C Coy 1 Bn Imperial YeomanryImperial Yeomanry
The Imperial Yeomanry was a British volunteer cavalry regiment that mainly saw action during the Second Boer War. Officially created on 24 December 1899, the regiment was based on members of standing Yeomanry regiments, but also contained a large contingent of mid-upper class English volunteers. In...
.
The Great War
On 15 April 1915 the RGH sailed to EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
on board the SS Minneapolis, disembarking in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
on 24 April, and making camp at Chatby Beach. On 11 August, the RGH received orders to embark for Gallipoli
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
, less four officers and 100 other ranks who remained to tend the horses. They dis-embarked at Suvla Bay and were brigaded in 1st South Midland Brigade as part of the British 2nd Mounted Division
British 2nd Mounted Division
The 2nd Mounted Division, was a yeomanry division that served in the First World War. At the outbreak of war it was assigned to defence of the Norfolk coast. In March 1915 it formed a second-line duplicate of itself, the 2/2nd Mounted Division...
. On return to Egypt, they took part in many of the battles that formed the Sinai and Palestine Campaign
Sinai and Palestine Campaign
The Sinai and Palestine Campaigns took place in the Middle Eastern Theatre of World War I. A series of battles were fought between British Empire, German Empire and Ottoman Empire forces from 26 January 1915 to 31 October 1918, when the Armistice of Mudros was signed between the Ottoman Empire and...
, primarily as part of the Imperial Mounted Division. As part of the Imperial Mounted Division, the RGH would have been present at the Battle of Beersheba.
During The Great War the RGH were placed under command of the following formations:
- 1st South Midland Brigade, British 2nd Mounted DivisionBritish 2nd Mounted DivisionThe 2nd Mounted Division, was a yeomanry division that served in the First World War. At the outbreak of war it was assigned to defence of the Norfolk coast. In March 1915 it formed a second-line duplicate of itself, the 2/2nd Mounted Division...
(GallipoliGallipoliThe Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
only) - 5th Mounted (Yeomanry) Brigade, Imperial Mounted Division
The Second World War
During the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
three lines of RGH existed.
- 1st RGH guarded the South West of England after Dunkirk. Due to leave for Africa as part of British 6th Armoured DivisionBritish 6th Armoured DivisionThe 6th Armoured Division was a Second World War, British Army formation, created on 12 September 1940. The unit was initially supplied with Matilda and Valentine Tanks, which were replaced by Crusader tanks and then finally with the M4 Sherman Tank...
, a last minute change saw the line spend the majority of the war as a UK Defence / Training regiment. After VJ Day 1st RGH were sent to AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and took part in the Musical Ride at the Schönbrunn PalaceSchönbrunn PalaceSchönbrunn Palace is a former imperial 1,441-room Rococo summer residence in Vienna, Austria. One of the most important cultural monuments in the country, since the 1960s it has been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna...
in ViennaViennaVienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. - 2nd RGH reached Egypt in October 1941 as part of British 22nd Armoured BrigadeBritish 22nd Armoured BrigadeThe 22nd Armoured Brigade, a British Army brigade, was formed as the 22nd Heavy Armoured Brigade on 3 September 1939 with three Yeomanry mechanised cavalry regiments The 22nd Armoured Brigade, a British Army brigade, was formed as the 22nd Heavy Armoured Brigade on 3 September 1939 with three...
. The unit took part in many of the key battles in Operation CrusaderOperation CrusaderOperation Crusader was a military operation by the British Eighth Army between 18 November–30 December 1941. The operation successfully relieved the 1941 Siege of Tobruk....
. In subsequent engagements the RGH suffered many casualties and was re-equipped on two occasions. 2nd RGH fought its final action at Battle of Alam el Halfa, on 31 August to 5 September 1942. Expecting to be re-equipped the regiment was instead disbanded with 'F', 'G' and 'H' Squadrons transferred to the 4th Hussars, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry and the 8th Hussars respectively. HQ Squadron was divided and sent to the 5th Royal Tank Regiment and the 3rd Hussars. - 3rd RGH, consisting of the equivalent of a single troop of one officer and 30 men, was at various times either a training 'regiment', a trials unit or a decoy unit.
Late 20th Century
In keeping with many Territorial Army units, the RGH was reduced to a cadre of 3 officers and 4 NCOs between 1969 and 1971.Current status
The RGH forms C (RGH) Sqn Royal Wessex YeomanryRoyal Wessex Yeomanry
The Royal Wessex Yeomanry is an armoured regiment of the British Territorial Army consisting of four squadrons, each of which bears the cap badge of an old yeomanry regiment:*B Squadron*A Squadron...
as an Armoured Replacement Squadron. It is also the parent unit of the army section of Pate's Grammar School
Pate's Grammar School
Pate's Grammar School is a voluntary aided, selective grammar school in the Hesters Way area of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England catering for pupils aged 11 to 18. It was granted Language College status in 2001, is a Beacon school, and in February 2006 was one of the first in the country to be...
Combined Cadet Force
Combined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
whose members wear the cap badge of the RGH.
Battle honours
The current GuidonGuidon
Guidon may refer to:*Guidon , a type of heraldic flag*Guidon , a swallow tailed flag for the colours of a light cavalry regiment...
was presented to the RGH by Col the Duke of Beaufort
Henry Somerset, 10th Duke of Beaufort
Henry Hugh Arthur FitzRoy Somerset, 10th Duke of Beaufort KG GCVO KStJ PC was a British peer, the son of Henry Somerset, 9th Duke of Beaufort....
, representing HM The Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
at Badminton House in 27 May 1962.
The Great War
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The Second World War
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JNCO rank
Lance CorporalLance Corporal
Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3.- Etymology :The presumed...
s and Corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
s in the RGH have slightly different badges of rank compared to other similar units within the British Army. A Lance Corporal has two chevrons and a Corporal has two chevrons topped with a cloth crown. This crown is lost when the Corporal is promoted to Sergeant. In keeping with all armoured and cavalry units, rank is only worn on the right sleeve.
The origin of this arrangement is unclear. Suggestions vary from 'Queen Victoria preferred all NCOs to wear two chevrons minimum' to the practice of Lance Corporals removing the single chevron from the left sleeve of the dolman as this would be covered by the pelisse. As the RGH does not form part of the Household Division and the pelisse was not worn by NCOs from 1882 (and cavalry wear rank on only one arm in the first instance), both these explanations are probably incorrect.
See also
- YeomanryYeomanryYeomanry 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:...
- Royal Wessex YeomanryRoyal Wessex YeomanryThe Royal Wessex Yeomanry is an armoured regiment of the British Territorial Army consisting of four squadrons, each of which bears the cap badge of an old yeomanry regiment:*B Squadron*A Squadron...
- Royal Wiltshire YeomanryRoyal Wiltshire YeomanryThe Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry was a Yeomanry regiment of the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom established in 1794. It was disbanded as an independent Territorial Army unit in 1967, a time when the strength of the TA was greatly reduced...
- Royal Devon YeomanryRoyal Devon YeomanryThe Royal Devon Yeomanry was a Yeomanry regiment of the British Army, first raised in 1794, it participated in the Boer War, World War I and World War II and now forms a squadron of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry.-History:...
- Dorset Yeomanry
- Imperial YeomanryImperial YeomanryThe Imperial Yeomanry was a British volunteer cavalry regiment that mainly saw action during the Second Boer War. Officially created on 24 December 1899, the regiment was based on members of standing Yeomanry regiments, but also contained a large contingent of mid-upper class English volunteers. In...
- King's Royal HussarsKing's Royal HussarsThe King's Royal Hussars is a cavalry regiment of the British Army. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and was formed on 4 December 1992 by the amalgamation of two other regiments:...
- Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars
- Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum