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In these dark economic days it is easy to forget important matters like helping the Army Reserves (the former TA) recruit reservists and aiding its members to fulfil their true potential as volunteers serving the Crown. The war in Eastern Europe, where the vast majority of those fighting for Ukraine are reservists, reminds us of the vital importance of reserve forces. The Yeomanry is the cavalry of the United Kingdom’s Army Reserve.

The Yeomanry Trust has been established with the objectives of (1) commissioning a memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum to members of the Yeomanry who have died in the service of their country and their Regiments.

(2) fostering esprit de corps among members of Yeomanry Regiments and veterans, and preserving their traditions, promoting and engaging the public with the men and women serving as highly trained reservist soldiers, including contributing to recruiting and retention, in ways the MOD cannot or will not pay for.

NOTE

There were once between 50 and 60 county regiments of Yeomanry (compared to about 30 Regular cavalry regiments), mostly formed in or soon after 1795 to counter the Napoleonic threat. There remain 6 regiments of Yeomanry; and while all the modern Regular cavalry regiments are tank or vehicle-mounted reconnaissance units, the Yeomanry were more broad minded, so, when threatened with disbandment, some accepted conversion to artillery and others signals. In the 21st century there are four in traditional tank and reconnaissance roles, one in artillery and one in signals. These six regiments are amalgamations of some of the many former country regiments. There are smaller sub-units in almost all the arms and services, from infantry to engineers and logistics. 2024 is the 80th anniversary of D Day. The majority of the tank soldiers who went ashore on and immediately after D Day were Yeomen. Many had fought all the way through, starting, in the North African Desert in 1941. One Yeomanry regiment (the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry) has more battle honours than any other cavalry regiment in the British Army. The Yeomanry of course also fought in WW1, and recently have served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

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