71st (City of London) Yeomanry Signal Regiment

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1 71st (City of London) Yeomanry Signal Regiment Regimental History Following a reorganisation of the Territorial Army in 1969, the Regiment was formed with four squadrons: 68 (Inns of Court and City Yeomanry) Signal Squadron, 70 (Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron, 94 (Berkshire Yeomanry) Signal Squadron and 265 (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Signal Squadron. Through the Yeomanry squadrons under its command, the Regiment is the proud guardian of many centuries of bravery, tradition and committed volunteer service. It is now part of the Army Reserve in the Royal Corps of Signals. Following various reorganisations the Regiment now comprises the following elements: Regimental Headquarters (RHQ) based at Bexleyheath. 31 (Middlesex Yeomanry and Princess Louise s Kensington) Signal Squadron based at Uxbridge, Kingston and Coulsdon. 36 (Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron based at Colchester and Chelmsford. 68 (Inns of Court and City Yeomanry) Signal Squadron based at Lincoln s Inn, Romford and Whipps Cross. 265 (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Support Squadron based at Bexleyheath. 31 (Middlesex Yeomanry and Princess Louise s Kensington) Signal Squadron was formed by the merger of 47 (Middlesex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron and 41 (Princess Louise s Kensington) Signal Squadron in The new number of 31 was chosen to preserve the historical link between those squadrons and 31 (Greater London) Signal Regiment, with which they served for much of their existence and which was disbanded in (Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron was re-numbered from 45 to preserve the historical link with 36 (Eastern) Signal Regiment which had also been disbanded. 265 (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Support Squadron was originally raised in 1969 from 265 (London & Kent) Battery RA. The squadron number of 265 is unique in the Army Reserve in having three numbers as this is normally reserved for Regular squadrons. The Royal Corps of Signals agreed to this in 1969 to recognise its Royal Artillery ancestors. In the past, 94 (Berkshire Yeomanry) Signal Squadron and 57 (City of Bristol) Signal Squadron were part of the Regiment. As a result of further reorganisations, both squadrons were moved out of the Regiment and are presently part of 39 Signal Regiment. The Essex Yeomanry had briefly

2 been reduced to a Troop and merged with 68(Inns of Court and City Yeomanry) Signal Squadron. In 2014 the Essex Yeomanry Troop was made part of 36 Signal Squadron. The Regiment is affiliated to the Worshipful Company of Drapers. Present Day Role The Regiment s present role is twofold. Firstly to provide communications support to the armed forces during operations in the United Kingdom in support of the Civil Authorities and Civil Powers. This can include support to the local authorities and communities during the full range of emergency situations. The Regiment s other role is to provide individuals and small units to augment the Regular Army, including our paired regular regiment 3rd (United Kingdom) Division Signal Regiment. Squadron Histories 31 (Middlesex Yeomanry and Princess Louise s of Kensington) Signal Squadron Middlesex Yeomanry The Middlesex Yeomanry was originally raised as volunteer cavalry and continued as such until 1938 when the unit was re-roled. It then became the 1st Cavalry Divisional Signal Regiment (Middlesex Yeomanry). The Regiment deployed to Palestine, serving in Syria, Iraq, Crete and Tobruk. The Regiment was mechanised in 1940 and its squadrons provided signals support for the 9th and 10th Armoured Divisions. The 9th Armoured Division fought at El Alamein and through the Western Desert campaign before serving in Italy. In addition, the 1 st Regiment also provided the nucleus to form the 2nd Cavalry Divisional Signal Regiment (Middlesex Yeomanry) which also served in the Western Desert, Crete and Greece. It was also tasked to provide signal detachments for Special Forces and detachments served in clandestine operations in Yugoslavia and Crete. In the post war period, the 'Middlesex Hussars' became the 16th Airborne Divisional Signal Regiment wearing the maroon beret and yeomanry cap-badge. Later it became the 40th Signal Regiment with a 'phantom' special role and a troop serving with the TA airborne forces.

3 In 1961 the unit amalgamated with the 47th London Signal Regiment, adopting the title 47 (Middlesex Yeomanry) Signal Regiment. The unit had a communications role with NATO, first in France and then in Belgium. With TA restructuring in 1967 the Regiment was reduced to a single Squadron, as part of 31 Signal Regiment (V). In 1995, then at Harrow, the Squadron was re-roled as the Headquarters 2 (National Communications) Signal Brigade Command and Control Squadron for the National Communications Radio System. It also became part of 39 (Skinners) Signal Regiment. In September 1995 it moved to a new TA Centre in Uxbridge, thus once more serving in the town where it was first formed. With another TA restructure in 2006, 47 (Middlesex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron became a part of 71st (City of London) Yeomanry Signal Regiment. The Squadron is affiliated to the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers. Princess of Louise s Kensington Regiment The Princess Louise s of Kensington Regiment can trace back its history over 199 years to 1798 when the Corps of the Kensington Volunteer Association was enrolled in answer to the threat from France. In 1908 Her Royal Highness the Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll consented to the use of her name by the Regiment and there after became known as The Kensingtons. Colours were presented to the Regiment in During the First World War, The Kensingtons grew in size to 3 Battalions, the 1st Battalion of The Kensingtons served in France, seeing action in Neuve Chapelle, Aubers, Somme, Arras, Ypres and Cambrai. The 2nd Battalion served in the Middle East in the Palestine campaign, seeing action in Doiran 1917, Gaza, Jerusalem and Sharon. The 3rd Battalion remained in the UK as a training unit. During the Second World War, The Kensingtons became the first TA unit to guard the Tower of London, including taking part in the Ceremony of the Keys. Its role also changed from Infantry to Heavy Support equipped with Mortars, Medium Machine Guns and Oerlikon Anti Aircraft Guns. The 1st Kensingtons served with the British Expeditionary Force in France, and later deployed to North Africa to be part of 1st Army to prepare for the Sicilian Campaign. The 2nd Kensingtons served first in Iceland and then were to see action from Normandy to Arnhem. In 1945 the Regiment became part of the Royal Corps of Signals as the Army Phantom Signal Regiment (Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment). The Regiment reformed as 41 (PLK) Signal Regiment TA in 1961 and became a trunk communications Signal Regiment. In 1967, with the reorganisation of the TA, 41 Signal Regiment became a Squadron of 31st Signal Regiment. This Regiment was disbanded in 2009 and 41 (PLK) Signal Squadron was transferred to 38 Signal Regiment. In 2014 the Squadron was reduced to a Troop and merged with 47 (Middlesex Yeomanry) Squadron to form 31 (Middlesex Yeomanry and Princess Louise s of Kensington) Signal Squadron within 71st (City of London) Yeomanry Signal Regiment.

4 36 (Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron Whether as cavalry, gunners or signallers, the Essex Yeomanry have been a County Regiment from the eighteenth century through the Boer War and two World Wars to the present day. By 1798 there were 15 troops in Essex with an establishment of 640 men. In 1830 a Regiment of the West Essex Yeomanry was raised, with two troops of artillery later being added. In 1889 an Essex Troop of the Loyal Suffolk Hussars was raised and went to South Africa as mounted infantry with the Imperial Yeomanry. Following the Boer War, the Essex Imperial Yeomanry was formed in The Essex Yeomanry went to France in 1914 and served with particular distinction during the Second Battle of Ypres and the Advance from Arras with the 8th Cavalry Brigade. Many awards were earned, including Lance Corporal Harold Mugford who was awarded the Victoria Cross for keeping his machine gun in action with both legs broken and other wounds. After the war, the Essex Yeomanry converted to artillery as 104th (Essex Yeomanry) Brigade Royal Field Artillery. In 1939, prior to the Second World War, the 147th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment was raised and served with distinction throughout the war. 104th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Horse Artillery served in the Middle East and took part in the battle of El Alamein and the siege of Tobruk. 147th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment was converted to self propelled 25 pounder guns (Sextons) and landed on D Day to fight through Germany. The Essex Yeomanry was re-raised in 1947 to form the 304th (Essex Yeomanry) Field Regiment TA. In 1969, after a brief period as infantry, the Essex Yeomanry was reformed as a Signal Squadron. It was briefly reduced to a Troop in 2009 and merged with 68(Inns of Court and City Yeomanry) Signal Squadron but in 2014 was transferred to 45 Signal Squadron following the disbandment of 38 Signal Regiment. This Squadron was then renumbered as 36 to preserve the link with 36 Eastern Signal Squadron and assumed the Essex Yeomanry title. The Squadron is affiliated to the Worshipful Company of Poulters.

5 68 (Inns of Court and City Yeomanry) Signal Squadron The Squadron is based on an amalgamation of two Yeomanry Regiments, the Inns of Court Regiment (The Devils Own) and the City of London Yeomanry (The Rough Riders). They combined in 1961 to form the Inns of Court and City Yeomanry (IC & CY). The Inns of Court Regiment In 1584 the loyal Inns of Court formed associations to support the Crown. From then until 1859 the four Inns of Court, in time of national crisis, raised bodies of men for the defence of the country. In 1584 the Inns formed associations to defend the realm against the threatened Spanish invasion. Gentlemen from the Inns also formed part of the Royalist Army in In 1745, the Regiment prepared for service against the Jacobite invasion and in 1780 it restored order during the Gordon Riots. (During this time, William Pitt was a member of the Lincoln s Inn Company). At a Royal Review in Hyde Park in 1803, George III gave the Regiment the nickname The Devil s Own which is still proudly used to this day. A detachment from the Regiment joined the Imperial Volunteers in South Africa in and during the First World War the Regiment trained and commissioned no less than 11,000 officers. From 1918 to 1939 it was roled as a Cavalry Regiment. During the Second World War, the Inns of Court Regiment was reformed as an Armoured Car Regiment. It landed in France on the morning of D Day and served with distinction throughout the remainder of the NW Europe campaign. City of London Yeomanry The City of London Yeomanry Regiment was raised in 1900 as the 20th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry and took the name Rough Riders in 1901 after volunteer horsemen who had fought in the Spanish American War of From 1907 to 1914 Regimental Headquarters was in Finsbury Square. During the next 60 years it changed its role no less than 8 times, from Cavalry, to the Machine Gun Corps, to Royal Horse Artillery, to Field Artillery, to Light AA Artillery, to a Tank Regiment, to Infantry, to Signals. During the Second World War it saw active service in the Middle East and North West Europe. The Inns of Court and City Yeomanry The Inns of Court and City Yeomanry Regiment was formed in 1961 and its Royal Honorary Colonel, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, presented the Guidon in In 1967, the Regiment was placed in suspended animation following the TA reforms, but was reborn in 1969 in its current guise of 68 (Inns of Court and City Yeomanry) Signal Squadron. The Squadron is affiliated to the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Braziers.

6 265 (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Support Squadron Although the Squadron can trace its history back to 1583 through the Yellow Company of the London Trained Bands and Camberwell Association, the true history began in 1794 with the raising of the East Kent Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry and the West Kent Yeomanry Cavalry. The 3rd County of London Imperial Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) was raised in 1900 as Imperial Yeomanry for the Boer War where it served with the Kent Yeomanry regiments. The Kent Yeomanry became one single Regiment at the outset of the First World War and served with the 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) in the Yeomanry Division at Gallipoli and at the capture of Jerusalem. Both Regiments also served in France and Flanders until the end of the war. In 1920 the Kent Yeomanry converted to Royal Field Artillery and the Sharpshooters to become the 23rd (London) Armoured Car Company (Sharpshooters). During the Second World War the Kent Yeomanry served as Royal Artillery and saw action in France, North Africa and Normandy. The Sharpshooters were expanded to two tank Regiments, the 3rd and 4th and latterly the 3/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters). They saw service in North Africa, Italy, Normandy and Germany. In 1926 the London and Kent Artillery was constituted as 65th Field Brigade and became the first TA Regiment to be mechanised. As such the Regiment fought at Dunkirk, in North Africa and in Western Europe. In 1961 the Kent Yeomanry and the 3/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) amalgamated as an Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment. The London and Kent Artillery consisted only of 265 Light Air Defence Regiment. In 1969 elements of all three Regiments amalgamated once again to become 265 (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Signal Squadron, with a Headquarters Squadron being added later. In (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Signal Squadron and Headquarters (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Squadron amalgamated to become 265 (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Support Squadron. The Squadron is affiliated to the Worshipful Company of Insurers.