Formation and early history Under threat of invasion by the
French Revolutionary government from 1793, and with insufficient military forces to repulse such an attack, the British government under
William Pitt the Younger decided in 1794 to increase 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". The Dorset Yeomanry was first raised on 9 May 1794 as the
Dorsetshire Regiment of Volunteer Yeomanry Cavalry of six
troops. In 1796, it became the
Dorsetshire Rangers and now consisted of ten troops. In 1802, it was disbanded as a result of the
Treaty of Amiens and the consequent peace. The first contingent of recruits contained 550
officers, 10,371 men with 20
battalions and 4
companies, which arrived in
South Africa between February and April, 1900. On arrival, the regiment was sent throughout the zone of operations. The Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry provided troops for the 26th Company, 7th Battalion, fighting at the
Relief of Wepener,
Battle of Doornkop,
Battle of Diamond Hill,
Capture of Pretoria, Battle of
Boschfontein,
Battle of Nooitgedacht, and the
Battle of Middelfontein along with many other patrols and skirmishes. from 1900 - 1901. On 17 April 1901, the regiment was renamed as the '''Dorsetshire Imperial Yeomanry (Queen's Own)''' and reorganised in three squadrons and a machine gun section. In 1902, the headquarters moved to
Sherborne. In April 1906, B Squadron was reorganized into two squadrons, with the old squadron based in Sherborne and the new, D Squadron, based in
Gillingham. The regiment's organisation was:
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 Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry The 1st Line regiment was mobilised in August 1914 and attached to the
1st South Western Mounted Brigade. In September 1914, It was transferred to the
2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade,
2nd Mounted Division. In 1915, it was deployed overseas to
Egypt, then onwards to participate in the
Dardanelles campaign, where it served as dismounted troops and was involved in the
Battle of Gallipoli, the
Battle of Sari Bair and the
Battle of Scimitar Hill. After the evacuation of Gallipoli, it returned to Egypt in January 1916 and became part of the
6th Mounted Brigade, an independent brigade that was involved in the
action of Agagia in February 1916. At this battle, the retreating
Senussi were attacked by the Dorset Yeomanry with drawn swords across open ground. Under fire, the Yeomanry lost half their horses, and about a third of their men and officers were casualties (58 of the 184 who took part). Colonel Soutar, leading the regiment in this charge, had his horse shot from under him and was knocked unconscious. When he came to, he found himself alone amongst a group of the enemy. He drew his revolver, shot several, and took the Turkish leader
Jaffir Pasha prisoner. In February 1917, 6th Mounted Brigade joined the
Imperial Mounted Division and took part in the
First and
Second Battles of Gaza. I, June 1917, it was transferred to the
Yeomanry Mounted Division for the
Third Battle of Gaza and the
Battle of Beersheba. On 31 March 1916, the remaining Mounted Brigades were ordered to be numbered in a single sequence; the brigade became the
16th Mounted Brigade and joined
4th Mounted Division at
Manningtree. At this time (July 1929), the regiment was renamed as the '''94th (Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry) Army Field Brigade, RA
with headquarters at Dorchester. Some time in the 1930s, 375 Battery moved to Shaftesbury. In February 1938, the regiment gained 218 (Bournemouth) Battery at Bournemouth, which was transferred from 95 (Hampshire) Field Brigade, RA. The final change in title came on 1 November 1938 as artillery brigades became regiments, hence 94th (Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry) Field Regiment, RA'''.
94th (Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry) Field Regiment, RA 94th (Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry) Field Regiment served in the Home Forces for most of the war, taking part in the
North West Europe Campaign from June 1944. At the outbreak of the war, 94th Field Regiment was part of
43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division. Initially commanding two batteries218 (Bournemouth) at Bournemouth and 224 (Dorset) Battery at Dorchesterthe third battery (468) was formed in the regiment on 27 February 1941. It remained in the United Kingdom until June 1944, when it was deployed to France, still with the
43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division. It remained with 43rd Division until the end of the war.
141st (Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry) Field Regiment, RA 141st (Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry) Field Regiment served in the Home Forces throughout the war. Initially commanding two batteries375 (Dorset Yeomanry) at Shaftesbury and 376 (Dorset Yeomanry) at Sherbornethe third battery (505) was formed in the regiment on 27 February 1941. It was authorised to use the "Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry" designation from 17 February 1942. It was transferred to the
9th Armoured Division in June 1942,
55th Infantry Division in August 1944 and finally to
61st Infantry Division in June 1945.
Post war In 1947, the Regiment was reformed in the
Territorial Army as two artillery regiments-the '''294th (Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA
and the 341st (Queen’s Own Dorset Yeomanry) Medium Regiment RA'''. On 1 July 1950, the two regiments were amalgamated as the 294th. In 1961, the regiment was merged with the
255th (West Somerset Yeomanry and Dorset Garrison) Medium Regiment RA, forming the
250th (Queen's Own Dorset and West Somerset Yeomanry) Medium Regiment RAthe Dorsets' title was passed to P Battery. In February 1967, the new regiment was disbanded and some of its personnel used to form two infantry companies. The final parade was held on Sunday, 26 February. The salute was taken by the
Lord Lieutenant of
Somerset,
Lord Hylton. :B (
Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry) [RWY] Squadron :C (
Royal Gloucestershire Hussars) [RGH] Squadron :D (
Royal Devon Yeomanry) [RDY] Squadron The Regiment has three roles: • B, C and D Squadronsprovide replacement
Challenger 2 turret crewmen to the Regular Army. • Regimental Headquarters and A (Dorset Yeomanry) Armour Replacement Squadrondevelop Armour Replacement doctrine and provide the infrastructure to support the Logistic brigades. ==Battle honours==