Montgomeryshire Yeomanry

During the French Revolutionary Wars of the 1790s a number of English and Welsh counties formed part-time units of Yeomanry Cavalry and Volunteer Infantry for home defence and internal security duties. The Welsh county of Montgomeryshire failed to raise any yeomanry or volunteers at this time. However, after the short-lived Peace of Amiens broke down in 1803, under the leadership of Charles Watkin Williams-Wynn, Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire, the county rapidly two formed Troops of Yeomanry cavalry, at Montgomery and Welshpool by August 1803. Williams-Wynn took command as Major-Commandant, and a third troop soon followed at Newtown and Abermule. By 2 November this had expanded into a large force, the Montgomeryshire Volunteer Legion. In contemporary terminology a 'Legion' was an all-arms force, and soon after its formation the Montgomeryshire unit comprised three Troops of Yeomanry cavalry each 40 strong, and 20 Companies of Volunteer infantry, with Watkins-Wynn as Lieutenant-Colonel-Commandant and commander of the legion's cavalry. Charles Hanbury-Tracy was the second lieutenant-colonel. The legion's cavalry established its headquarters at Trehelig-gro, Welshpool. It carried out 14 days' training at Wrexham in 1804, and 21 days at Shrewsbury in 1805, after which activity declined. By 1808, Volunteers numbers were falling and government dissatisfaction led to their replacement by a force of Local Militia, whose ranks could if necessary be filled by compulsion using the Militia ballot. Many Volunteer units chose to transfer to the new force en masse, and the Montgomeryshire Legion infantry easily filled the new Eastern and Western Montgomeryshire Local Militia. The cavalry troops however remained in being as the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry Cavalry, increased to a strength of 184 all ranks by September 1809. Training was held at Oswestry in October 1809 (8 days), and at Welshpool in 1810 (12 days), 1812 (14 days) and 1813 (14 days) A further troop was raised at Berriew in May 1813, bringing the establishment of the unit (termed a 'corps') up to 238, and from that year the Yeomanry received Regular Army pay when training. ==19th Century==

The wars ended with the Battle of Waterloo. The militia and local militia were stood down, but recognising their usefulness as an aid to the civil power, the government kept the yeomanry in being. The Montgomeryshire Yeomanry was drawn out for training in 1815 and 1817. During the summer of 1819 it sent a troop to deal with disturbances in Newtown and Abermule and because of the unrest two further troops were raised in December that year, at Llangedwyn and Llanfyllin, giving the unit the status of a regiment. In 1821 the establishment of each troop was raised to 50 privates. Training was carried out each year until 1826, when the regiment was organised as follows: • Berriew Troop – Capt J.W.L. Winder; disbanded by September 1831 • Newtown Troop – Capt H.A. Proctor • Montgomery Troop – Capt Rice Pryce Buckley Williams (promoted to major 4 May 1837) • Welshpool Troop – Capt J. Davies Corrie • Llangedwyn Troop – Capt A. Bonner Maurice; authorised 25 February 1831 The establishment of a troop was 50 privates, soon raised to 63, giving a total strength of 296 all ranks. They assembled at Welshpool for training in October 1831, most of the men having been in the earlier regiment. Training was carried out at Welshpool or Newtown almost each year thereafter. In the autumn of 1832 it provided the escort when the Duchess of Kent and Princess (later Queen) Victoria visited Powis Castle. Lieutenant-Col Williams-Wynn retired at the age of 77 in 1844 and from 26 January the commanding officer (CO) was Lt-Col Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 6th Baronet of Wynnstay, a former officer in the 1st Life Guards (as were a number of the regiment's officers). He was simultaneously Lt-Col of the 1st Denbighshire Rifle Volunteers from 1862. Under his command the regiment's drill and efficiency was improved, and about 1850 its old flintlock pistols were replaced by Carbines. From 1851 the regiment was organised as follows: • 1st (later A) Trp (Newtown) – Maj Viscount Seaham, later Earl Vane (formerly 1st LG) • 2nd (later B) Trp (Berriew) – Capt C.W. Williams-Wynn • 3rd (later C) Trp (Welshpool) – Capt R.D. Jones • 4th (later D) Trp (Llangedwyn) – Capt R.M.B. Maurice • E Trp (Lalnfyllin) – Capt John Dugdale of Llwyn; reformed 1862 • F Trp (Caersws) – Capt W.H. Adams; reformed 1862 Cardwell Reforms The Cardwell Reforms of 1871 saw the Yeomanry transferred from the county Lords-Lieutenant to the War Office. Training was improved for officers and permanent staff drill-sergeants, musketry training was improved, and regiments were drilled as squadrons of two troops. Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn retired in June 1877 and became the regiment's Honorary Colonel. Major C.W. Williams-Wynn was promoted to succeed him, and in turn was replaced in June 1878 by Sir Watkin's nephew, Sir William Granville Williams, 4th Baronet of Bodelwyddan, The Montgomeryshire Yeomanry had been re-equipped with the Westley Richards .499 calibre breechloading carbine in 1871, and was rearmed again by 1881 with the Snider .577 carbine. Captain Aubone G. Fife, formerly of the 6th Dragoon Guards, appointed adjutant in 1882, laid great emphasis on musketry training, but this was hampered by the lack of suitable ranges for these more powerful and longer-range weapons. A partial solution was provided by Capt R. Pryce Jones, who refurbished the old volunteer ranges at Penarth at his own expense. The Snider was replaced by the Martini–Henry .455 calibre carbine in 1886, and in 1889 a new range was built at Llangedwynn for the Llangedwynn and Llanfyllin troops. Regimental headquarters (RHQ) was fixed at Welshpool, and Newtown was not used for training after 1885 because there was insufficient space there for squadron training. ==Imperial Yeomanry==

Second Boer War Following a string of defeats during Black Week in early December 1899, the British government realised that it would need more troops than just the regular army to fight the Second Boer War, particularly mounted troops. On 13 December, the War Office decided to allow volunteer forces to serve in the field, and a Royal Warrant was issued on 24 December that officially created the Imperial Yeomanry (IY). The Royal Warrant asked standing Yeomanry regiments to provide service companies of approximately 115 men each for one year. In addition to this, many British citizens (usually mid-upper class) volunteered to join the new force. The Montgomeryshire Yeomanry raised two companies for the first contingent of the IY, which both landed in South Africa on 6 April 1900 and were assigned to the 9th (Welsh) Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry: • 31st (Montgomeryshire) Company • 49th (Montgomeryshire) Company When the first contingent returned home in 1901 after their one-year term of service, enough veterans of the 31st and 49th stayed on to reform the companies, while the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry raised two further companies for the second contingent, which also served in the 9th Battalion: Sir Herbert Williams-Wynn, who was instrumental in raising the four companies, was awarded a CB in 1902. He was appointed Honorary Colonel of the regiment when he retired in 1907. During the campaign he was twice Mentioned in Dispatches and awarded the DSO. Montgomeryshire Imperial Yeomanry The Imperial Yeomanry were trained and equipped as mounted infantry. The concept was considered a success and before the war ended the existing Yeomanry regiments at home were converted into Imperial Yeomanry, with an establishment of RHQ and four squadrons with a machine gun section. This included the Montgomeryshire Imperial Yeomanry, with RHQ at Brook Street drill hall, Welshpool, which raised an additional squadron at Rhayader in Radnorshire. The brigade system was abolished at the same time. In 1906 Major Robert Williams-Wynn, DSO, was promoted to command the regiment in succession to his brother, who became its Honorary Colonel the following year. ==Territorial Force==

The Imperial Yeomanry were subsumed into the new Territorial Force (TF) under the Haldane Reforms of 1908. and the regiment was officially titled the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry (Dragoons) with the following organisation: with detachments at Meifod, and Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain • B Squadron at Welshpool, with detachments at Guilsfield, with detachments at Church Stoke, Trefeglwys, Cemmaes Road, Ryhayader, Llanbister, Bowling Green Lane, Knighton and Hay-on-Wye ==World War I==

Mobilisation When war was declared on 4 August 1914, the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry mobilised at Brook Street Drill Hall with Brevet Colonel Robert Williams-Wynn, DSO, in command. It joined the SWMB at Carmarthen and then went with it by train to Hereford. In accordance with the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 (7 Edw. 7, c.9) which brought the TF into being, it 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 10 August 1914 the TF was invited to volunteer for overseas service. In the SWMB the Montgomeryshire and Glamorgan Yeomanry signed up en masse at Hereford, though the Pembroke Yeomanry were less enthusiastic. On 15 August the War Office issued instructions to separate those men who had signed up for Home Service only, and form these into reserve units. On 31 August, the formation of a reserve or 2nd Line unit was authorised for each 1st Line unit where 60 per cent or more of the men had volunteered for Overseas Service. The titles of these 2nd Line units would be the same as the original, but distinguished by a '2/' prefix. In this way duplicate battalions, brigades and divisions were created, mirroring those TF formations being sent overseas. Later, the 2nd Line was prepared for overseas service and a 3rd Line was formed to act as a reserve, providing trained replacements for the 1st and 2nd Line regiments. 1/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry The 1/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry moved with the 1/1st SWMB to East Anglia and was stationed in Norfolk, at Thetford by 29 August, moving to Blickling shortly afterwards. In East Anglia the division was able to train while at the same time forming part of the defence forces for the East Coast. By September 1915 the 1/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry was based at Holt. In October it moved to Cromer. In November the 1/1st SWMB was dismounted. Egypt and Palestine The 1/1st SWMB embarked at Devonport on 4 March 1916 and sailed to Egypt in company with the 1/1st Welsh Border Mounted Brigade from 1st Mtd Division. They disembarked at Alexandria on 14–15 March and on 20 March the two brigades were merged to form the 4th Dismounted Brigade. At first this was placed in the Suez Canal defences under 53rd (Welsh) Division, with 1/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry at Beni Salama, but in April it came under the command of Western Frontier Force. In January 1917 the dismounted yeomanry of 4th Mtd Bde were permanently re-roled as infantry. The brigade became 231st Brigade, which joined 74th (Yeomanry) Division on its formation in March 1917. On 4 March at Halmia, 1/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry amalgamated with 1/1st Welsh Horse Yeomanry to form 25th (Montgomery and Welsh Horse Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers (RWF). 74th (Y) Division was in reserve for the Second Battle of Gaza (17–19 April) and then saw action at the Third Battle of Gaza (27 October–7 November) including the Capture of Beersheba (31 October), where 25th RWF distinguished itself in storming the Turkish positions. It took part in the Capture of the Sheria feature (6 November), the Capture of Jerusalem (8–9 December) and its subsequent defence (27–30 December). Early in 1918 it fought in the Battle of Tell 'Asur. The battalion then served though the final advance in Artois and Flanders until the Armistice with Germany on 11 November. After the Armistice 25th RWF was reduced to cadre in France and disbanded on 29 June 1919. 2/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry 2/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry was formed at Welshpool in September 1914 and trained with 2/1st South Wales Mounted Brigade at Carmarthen. In July 1915 2/1st SWMB moved to Dorchester. In September 1915 it moved to Southwold and the brigade joined 1st Mounted Division, replacing 1/1st SWMB as the latter prepared to sail to Egypt. On 4 March the regiment absorbed the 2/1st Welsh Horse Yeomanry. On 31 March 1916, the remaining mounted brigades were numbered in a single sequence and the 2/1st South Wales Mounted Brigade brigade was numbered as 4th Mounted Brigade. In April 1916, the regiment went to Rendlesham with the brigade. In July 1916 it moved to Thornton Park near Brentwood and joined 2nd Mounted Brigade in the new 1st Mounted Division. In October 1916 the 2/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry became a cyclist unit, amalgamating with the 2/1st Denbighshire Hussars to form the 3rd (Denbigh and Montgomery) Yeomanry Cyclist Regiment in the 1st Cyclist Brigade at Worlingham near Beccles. In March 1917 the regiment resumed its identity as 2/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry, still with the 1st Cyclist Brigade, still at Worlingham. By November 1917 it was at Gorleston where it remained until the end of the war. It was disbanded in 1919. 3/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry The 3rd Line regiment was formed in June 1915 at Welshpool. In July it was at Brecon and then it was affiliated to the 6th Reserve Cavalry Regiment at The Curragh in Ireland. By September it was at Marlborough Barracks in Dublin, later moving to Arbour Hill Barracks. It participated in the action against the Easter Rising in Dublin in April 1916. In June 1916 the regiment was dismounted and attached to the 3rd Line Groups of the Welsh Division at Gobowen because its 1st Line was serving as infantry. The regiment was disbanded in January 1917 with personnel transferring to the 2/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry or to the 4th (Reserve) (Denbighshire) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Oswestry. ==Postwar==

Wartime experience had proved that there were too many mounted units, and when the TF was reconstituted as the Territorial Army (TA), only the 14 most senior Yeomanry regiments were retained as horsed cavalry, the remainder being converted to other roles. The Welsh Horse Yeomanry had only been raised on 18 August 1914 and had been absorbed by the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry in 1917; it was never reformed. One squadron of the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry combined with a company of the 1st Battalion, Herefordshire Regiment to form 332 (Radnorshire) Field Battery (Howitzers) at Llandrindod Wells, Radnorshire, as part of 83rd (Welsh) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, while the rest of the regiment formed two companies in the 7th (Merionethshire and Montgomeryshire) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers (originally the 5th Volunteer Battalion, South Wales Borderers, see above) on 3 March 1920, and the yeomanry lineage was discontinued. ==Heritage & ceremonial==

Uniforms When first formed the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry wore a Light dragoon uniform with a Tarleton helmet. In 1820 or 1821 this was updated to the more modern uniform worn by the regular light dragoons of a black Shako with drooping white horsehair plume, a scarlet double-breasted Coatee with gold and crimson lancer girdle, and blue overalls with a red stripe. When the regiment was revived in 1831 the uniform was based on that of the 7th Dragoon Guards, with a high Roman style helmet with a black bearskin crest, a single-breasted scarlet coatee with black facings and lancer girdle, and blue overalls with a red stripe. In 1846 the helmet was replaced by a black helmet with black horsehair mane, similar to that adopted by the regular heavy cavalry, though the regiment's 'appointments' were those of light dragoons. In 1856 the Albert helmet, worn by regulars since 1847, was introduced, in black japanned metal, and then in 1860 an infantry-style single-breasted tunic was adopted. Then in 1866 the Albert helmet was abandoned and a busby adopted, giving the regiment a hybrid half-dragoon, half-Hussar appearance. In 1882 the regiment reverted to a helmet, now similar to the 6th Dragoon Guards but at first without the plume; a white falling horsehair plume was worn by 1899. Insignia The regimental badge was the Red dragon of Wales, and the motto was Anorchfygol ('Unconquered') used in various combinations. In 1821 the dragon and motto appeared on the shako plate, and the buttons had the dragon and letters 'M.Y.C.'. By 1899 the badge worn on the Forage cap and Service cap was a dragon over the letters "MYC". When the regiment became imperial yeomanry the letters changed to 'MIY' on a scroll; similar badges were used on the collar. The buttons also had the dragon over 'MIY'. After the formation of the TF the brass collar badge and shoulder titles worn on the khaki field service dress were 'MONTGOMERY' with 'Y' (sometimes 'T' over 'Y') above. Honorary colonels The following served as honorary colonel of the unit: • Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 6th Baronet, former CO, appointed 18 July 1877 • Sir Herbert Williams-Wynn, 7th Baronet, former CO, appointed 1 November 1907 Battle honours The regiment was awarded the following Battle honours: • South Africa 1901 • Egypt, 1916–17 • Palestine, 1917–18 • France and Flanders, 1918 ==See also==