Formation and early history The regiment was first formed as the
Derbyshire Corps of Fencible Cavalry in 1794, as a regiment of full-time
fencible soldiers for home defence. The regiment changed shortly thereafter to the
Derbyshire Corps of Yeomanry Cavalry, a part-time
yeomanry regiment, and was dispersed in individual troops. In 1834, the troops were regimented as the
Derbyshire Yeomanry Cavalry, who sponsored the 8th and 104th (Derbyshire) Companies of the
Imperial Yeomanry in 1900, for service in the
South African War, and in 1901 was itself reorganized as
mounted infantry as the
Derbyshire Imperial Yeomanry. In 1908, it was transferred into the
Territorial Force, returning to a cavalry role and equipping as
dragoons, under the new title of
The Derbyshire Yeomanry.
First World War 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.
1/1st Derbyshire Yeomanry The regiment mobilised in August 1914 as part of the
Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Mounted Brigade, but remained in England until 1915, when it moved to Egypt with the
7th Mounted Brigade,
2nd Mounted Division. It then sailed for Gallipoli, where it saw action at the
Battle of Scimitar Hill, serving as dismounted infantry, and took heavy losses. Returning to Egypt in December, the regiment was employed with the
Western Frontier Force in the
Senussi Campaign, before moving to
Salonika in February 1916. One squadron served with the
27th Division from March to June 1916, whilst the regiment remained as GHQ reserve in
Macedonia until the end of the war.
2/1st Derbyshire Yeomanry The 2nd Line regiment was formed in 1914. In February 1915, it was at
Chatsworth and joined the
2/1st Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Mounted Brigade. By June, the brigade was in the
2/2nd Mounted Division in the
King's Lynn area. On 31 March 1916, the remaining Mounted Brigades were ordered to be numbered in a single sequence and the brigade became the
9th Mounted Brigade (and the division
3rd Mounted Division).
3/1st Derbyshire Yeomanry The 3rd Line regiment was formed in 1915. That summer, it was affiliated a
Reserve Cavalry Regiment at
Aldershot. In April 1916, it was affiliated to the
14th Reserve Cavalry Regiment, also at Aldershot. In the autumn of 1916, it moved to Ireland with the 14th Reserve Cavalry Regiment and in February 1917 it was absorbed into the
4th Reserve Cavalry Regiment back at Aldershot. with the rest being transferred to other roles. As a result, on 14 July 1921, the regiment was converted and reduced to
24th (Derbyshire Yeomanry) Armoured Car Company, Tank Corps, one of eight regiments converted and reduced. In October 1923, it was redesignated as
24th (Derbyshire Yeomanry) Armoured Car Company, Royal Tank Corps and on 30 April 1939 it was transferred to the
Royal Armoured Corps. 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. The Derbyshire Yeomanry was expanded to a regiment and, on 24 August 1939, regained its original title as the
1st Derbyshire Yeomanry.
Second World War 1st Derbyshire Yeomanry The 1st Derbyshire Yeomanry
landed in Tunisia in late 1942 as the reconnaissance regiment of the
6th Armoured Division, fighting at
Medjez el Bab. During the race to the Tunisian coast, it fought at the
Kasserine Pass and Foundouk, finally reaching
Tunis in March 1943. The 1st Derbyshire then moved to
Italy with the 6th Armoured Division, where it saw heavy fighting during May 1944, including action at the
Battle of Monte Cassino. Through July and August, it fought in the advance to Florence, and in April 1945 saw action at the Argenta Gap and Fossa Cembalina.
2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry In 1942, the 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry fought in North Africa at the
Battle of Alam el Halfa and the
Second Battle of El Alamein (as part of the
7th Armoured Division). Returning to the United Kingdom in late 1943, the 2nd was assigned to the
51st (Highland) Infantry Division, where it served as the divisional reconnaissance regiment until the end of the war. It received battle honours for actions in August, fighting at the Dives Crossing, La Vie Crossing and Lisieux during the crossing of the Seine; in September and October, it received honours for fighting on the Lower Maas, and in January 1945 for fighting at Ourthe during the
Battle of the Bulge. The regiment received battle honours for fighting in the Rhineland and the Reichswald in February, and crossed the Rhine in March in
Operation Plunder.
Post war The Derbyshire Yeomanry was reconstituted in the
Territorial Army on 1 January 1947. Its
Headquarters remained at Derby and it commanded three
squadrons. On 9 February 1957, it was amalgamated with
The Leicestershire Yeomanry (Prince Albert's Own) to form
The Leicestershire and Derbyshire (Prince Albert's Own) Yeomanry. ==Regimental museum==