The Kirkcaldy Troop was raised in 1797 but, after becoming the Fife Yeomanry Cavalry in 1803, it was disbanded in 1828.[2] The unit was re-raised as the Fife Yeomanry Cavalry in 1831 but was disbanded again in 1838.[2] It was raised again as the 1st Fifeshire Mounted Rifle Volunteer Corps in 1860.[2]
Meanwhile, the Forfar Yeomanry was raised in 1794 but it was also disbanded in 1828.[3] The unit was re-raised as the Forfarshire Yeomanry in 1856 but disbanded again in 1862.[3] It was raised again as the 1st Forfarshire Light Horse Volunteer Corps in 1876.[2]
Second Boer War
On 13 December 1899, the decision to allow volunteer forces to serve in the Second Boer War was made. Due to the string of defeats during Black Week that same month, the British government realised they were going to need more troops than just the regular army, thus issuing a Royal Warrant on 24 December. This warrant officially created the Imperial Yeomanry (IY). The Royal Warrant asked standing Yeomanry regiments to provide service companies of approximately 115 men each. In addition to this, many British citizens (usually mid-upper class) volunteered to join the new regiment. The two regiments co-sponsored the 20th (Fife and Forfarshire Light Horse) Company, IY, which served in 6th (Scottish) Battalion, IY.[4]
In 1901 the 1st Fifeshire Mounted Rifle Volunteer Corps and the 1st Forfarshire Light Horse Volunteer Corps amalgamated to form the Fifeshire and Forfarshire Imperial Yeomanry.[5] The word "Imperial" was dropped from the title on the formation of the Territorial Force in 1908.[6]
The Fife and Forfar Light Horse and Fife and Forfar Imperial Yeomanry (1895–1915)
In accordance with the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 (7 Edw. 7, c.9), which brought the Territorial Force into being, the TF was intended to be a home defence force for service during wartime and members could not be compelled to serve outside the country. However, on the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, many members volunteered for Imperial Service. Therefore, TF units were split in August and September 1914 into 1st Line (liable for overseas service) and 2nd Line (home service for those unable or unwilling to serve overseas) units. Later, a 3rd Line was formed to act as a reserve, providing trained replacements for the 1st and 2nd Line regiments.[9]
1/1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry
They were dismounted and eventually became the 14th (FFY) Battalion of the Black Watch. As part of the 74th (Yeomanry) Division they served in Egypt and Palestine in 1917 and 1918 before moving to France in 1918.[10]
In November 1916, the regiment was converted to a cyclist unit in 6th Cyclist Brigade at Ashington in Northumberland. By July 1917, it was at Acklington and it remained there until early 1918 when it went to Ireland with the 6th Cyclist Brigade. It was stationed at The Curragh until the end of the war.[11]
3/1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry
The 3rd Line regiment was formed in 1915; that summer, it was affiliated to a Reserve Cavalry Regiment at Aldershot. In June 1916, it was at Perth. The regiment was disbanded in early 1917 with personnel transferring to the 2nd Line or to the 4th (Reserve) Battalion of the Black Watch at Ripon.[11]
Between the wars
On 7 February 1920, the Regiment was reconstituted in the Territorial Army with HQ still at Kirkcaldy. Following the experience of the war, it was decided that only the fourteen most senior yeomanry regiments would be retained as horsed cavalry,[13] with the rest being transferred to other roles.[14] As a result, on 6 January 1921, the Regiment was one of eight[a] converted and reduced to 2nd (Fife and Forfar) Armoured Car Company, Tank Corps, later renumbered as 20th (Fife and Forfar) Armoured Car Company, Royal Tank Corps. On 30 April 1939, it was transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps.[6]
By 1939, it had become clear that a new European war was likely to break out, and the doubling of the Territorial Army was authorised, with each unit forming a duplicate.[16] The Lothians were expanded to an armoured regiment in August 1939 as the 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry and formed a duplicate 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in the same month.[17]
A book of remembrance is housed at Cupar Old Parish Church[24] and there is a carved stone plaque dedicated to "To the memory of all ranks – The Fife Light Horse and The Fife and Forfar Yeomanry 1860–1918" inside the ruined church building at Tulliallan Old Churchyard (also known as Woodlea Old Cemetery) at Kincardine on Forth.[25]
Battle honours
Comet tanks of the 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry crossing the Weser at Petershagen, 7 April 1945
The battle honours of the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry are displayed on the guidon which was laid up at Cupar Old Parish Church when the regiment was amalgamated. After amalgamation, the battle honours were carried on to the guidon of the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish Horse and today are represented on the guidon of the Queen's Own Yeomanry. The Fife and Forfar Yeomanry was awarded the following battle honours (honours in bold are emblazoned on the regimental colours):[6]
Lt Col RG "Ponto" Sharp Sept 1939 – May 1940 Lt Col GJ de W Mullens Jun 1940 – Mar 1942 Lt Col EL Fanshawe Mar 1942 – Aug 1943 Lt Col WGN Walker MC Aug 1943 – Jun 1945 Lt Col R de C Vigors DSO Jun 1945 – Jun 1946
Lt Col AH McIntosh OBE TD Sept 1939 – Dec 1940 Lt Col ES Sword Jan 1941 – Oct 1941 Lt Col KC CooperOct 1941 – Oct 1942 Lt Col ABJ Scott DSO MC Oct 1942 – Nov 1945 Maj JD Hutchison MC Nov 1945 – Jan 1946
The Fife and Forfar Yeomanry (May 1947 to Nov 1956)
The cap badge of the FFY is a mounted knight (The Thane of Fife). It was also worn on the collars of the officers and men of the Squadron and on the arms above the chevrons of all Senior Non-Commissioned Officers.[29] The black beret of the Royal Tank Regiment was worn as regimental headdress.[30] The regiment wore a stable belt in the regimental colours of crimson and yellow with a dark blue stripe.[31]
Regimental music
The Quick March of the Regiment was "Wee Cooper of Fife".[32]
Affiliated regiments and formations
Affiliated regiments and formations were as follows:[6]
A British Rail Class 55 'Deltic' diesel locomotive D9006 (later 55006), built between 1961 and 1962 by English Electric, was named after the Regiment. It was designed for the high-speed express passenger services on the East Coast Main Line between London King's Cross and Edinburgh.[33]
24th (Derbyshire Yeomanry) Armoured Car Company, Royal Tank Corps from Derbyshire Yeomanry
25th (Northamptonshire Yeomanry) Armoured Car Company, Royal Tank Corps from Northamptonshire Yeomanry
26th (East Riding of York Yeomanry) Armoured Car Company, Royal Tank Corps from East Riding Yeomanry
^Inherited from 1st Fifeshire Light Horse Volunteers and 1st Forfarshire Light Horse Volunteers.[6]
References
^Delaforce, Patrick (2006). Churchill's Secret Weapons: the story of Hobart's Funnies. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. ISBN1-84415-464-5.
^ abcd"Fife Yeomanry Cavalry". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 16 April 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2017.((cite web)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ ab"Forfarshire Yeomanry Cavalry". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 19 April 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2017.((cite web)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
Anstruther-Thomson, Colonel, FLH (1892). A History of the Fife Light Horse. William Blackwood.((cite book)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Burgoyne, Captain Gerald (1904). The Fife and Forfar Imperial Yeomanry and its Predecessors. J and G Innes.
Dewar, Thomas (1901). With the Scottish Yeomanry. Buncle.
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Kingdom of Great Britain (1794–1800)
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