Subaltern, West Somerset Yeomanry
Mess Kit, c. 1900
In 1794, fearing insurrection and faced with the threat of invasion during the French Revolutionary Wars, British Prime Minister William Pitt called for the enlargement of the militia and to form corps of volunteers for the defence of the country. The mounted arm of the volunteers became known as the "Gentlemen and Yeomanry Cavalry."
A Troop was raised in Bridgwater, Somerset, as early as June of 1794. Three other troops were raised by the end of the year, and they were regimented as the West Somersetshire Yeomanry Cavalry in 1798.
The establishment of police forces reduced the need for Yeomanry and many were disbanded between 1827 and 1828. A wave of civil unrest across Britain from 1830 led to a revival of the Yeomanry and the West Somerset Yeomanry was reorganised in 1831.
The West Somerset Yeomanry sponsored the 25th (West Somerset) Company, which served in the 7th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry during the Second Boer War. This gained the West Somerset Yeomanry its first battle honour: South Africa 1900–01.
The regiment became the West Somerset Imperial Yeomanry in 1901. When the Imperial Yeomanry was subsumed into the new Territorial Force in 1908, the regiment became the West Somerset Yeomanry.
A Troop was raised in Bridgwater, Somerset, as early as June of 1794. Three other troops were raised by the end of the year, and they were regimented as the West Somersetshire Yeomanry Cavalry in 1798.
The establishment of police forces reduced the need for Yeomanry and many were disbanded between 1827 and 1828. A wave of civil unrest across Britain from 1830 led to a revival of the Yeomanry and the West Somerset Yeomanry was reorganised in 1831.
The West Somerset Yeomanry sponsored the 25th (West Somerset) Company, which served in the 7th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry during the Second Boer War. This gained the West Somerset Yeomanry its first battle honour: South Africa 1900–01.
The regiment became the West Somerset Imperial Yeomanry in 1901. When the Imperial Yeomanry was subsumed into the new Territorial Force in 1908, the regiment became the West Somerset Yeomanry.
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Departed the collection in 2020.
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