History
71st Yeomanry Signal Regiment
The Regiment has only existed as a major unit since the reorganisation of the Territorial Army in 1969, it nevertheless retains many long and glorious links with the past. Through the Yeomanry squadrons under its command, the Regiment is the proud guardian of many centuries of bravery, tradition and committed volunteer service.
The role of the Regiment was to provide Home Defence communications for the South East of England. Initially, 265 Signal Squadron acted as the Regiment Headquarters Squadron, but in 1970 it gained a communications role, as well as the title Kent and County of London Yeomanry. The role and organisation of the Regiment remained steady until 1987 when Regimental Headquarters moved from Bromley to join 265 (KCLY) Signal Squadron at Bexleyheath. At around the same time, Headquarters (KCLY) Squadron was raised at Bexleyheath and 348 (IC & CY) Signal Squadron (Home Service Force) was raised at Lincoln Inn, although the latter was relatively short lived.
In 1992, as a result of Options for Change, 70 (Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron were moved to 38 Signal Regiment (V), and 71st (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment took under command 57 (County of Bristol) Signal Squadron (V). This unsatisfactory arrangement lasted until the TA restructuring of 1994 when 70 (Essex Yeomanry) Squadron came back under command and 57 (County of Bristol) Signal Squadron (V) moved onto 39 (Skinners) Signal Regiment.
In 1995, 94 (Berkshire Yeomanry) Signal Squadron was given an independent role in support of the Combat Service Support Group (Germany). They then ceased to be part of the Regiment order of battle, although the Regiment still retains close links with that squadron.
47 Signal Squadron
In 1938 the unit was re-rolled as mobile divisional signals, as the 1st Cavalry Divisional Signal Regiment (Middlesex Yeomanry). The Regiment deployed to Palestine, serving in Syria, Iraq, Crete and Tobruk. The Regiment was mechanised in 1940 and Squadrons were formed to provide signals support for the 9th and 10th Armoured Divisions. The 9th Armoured Division fought at El Alamein and through the Western Desert campaign before serving in Italy.
In addition, the first Regiment also provided the nucleus to the formation of the 2nd Cavalry Divisional Signal Regiment (Middlesex Yeomanry) who also served within the Western Desert and, within Crete and Greece. They were tasked to provide signal detachments for special forces including, SAS, SBS and ME Commando, other detachments also served in clandestine situations in Yugoslavia and in Crete.
In the post War period the 'Middlesex Hussars' became the 16th Airborne Divisional Signal Regiment wearing the maroon beret and Yeomanry cap-badge. Later they became the 40th Signal Regiment with a 'phantom' special role and a troop serving with the TA airborne forces.
In 1961 the unit amalgamated with the 47th London Signal Regiment, adopting the title 47 (Middlesex Yeomanry) Signal Regiment. They wore a Yeomanry cap-badge and collar titles, 'Royal Signals' shoulder flashes and the 47th London Corps 'flash'. The unit had an army signals role with NATO, first in France and then in Belgium.
With TA restructuring in 1967 the Regiment was reduced to a single Squadron size, as part of the 31st Signal Regiment (Volunteers). In 1995, then at Harrow, the Squadron was re-rolled as the Headquarters 2 (National Communications) Signal Brigade Command and Control Squadron for the National Communications Radio System. It also became part of the 39th (Skinners) Signal Regiment (Volunteers). In September 1995 it moved to a new TA Centre in Uxbridge, thus once more serving in the town where it was first formed.
With another TA restructure in 2006, 47 (Middlesex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron became apart of 71st (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment
68 Signal Squadron
The Squadron is based on an amalgamation of two Yeomanry Regiments, the Inns of Court Regiment (The Devils Own) and the City of London Yeomanry (The Rough Riders). They combined in 1961 to form the Inns of Court and City Yeomanry (IC & CY).
The Inns of Court Regiment
In 1584 the loyal Inns of Court formed associations to support the Crown. From then until 1859 the four Inns of Court, in time of national crisis, raised bodies of men for the defence of the country. In 1584 the Inns formed associations to defend the realm against the threatened Spanish invasion. Gentlemen from the Inns also formed part of the Royalist Army in 1644. In 1745, the Regiment prepared for service against the Jacobite invasion and in 1780 it restored order during the Gordon Riots out. (During this time, William Pitt was a member of the Lincolns Inn Company). At a Royal Review in Hyde Park in 1803, George III gave the Regiment the nickname The Devil Own which is still proudly used to this day.
A detachment from the Regiment joined the Imperial volunteers in South Africa in 1900 - 1901 and during the First World War the Regiment trained and commissioned no less than 11,000 officers. From 1918 to 1939 it was roled as a Cavalry Regiment.
During the Second World War, the Inns of Court Regiment was reformed as an Armoured Car Regiment. It landed in France on the morning of D Day and served with distinction throughout the remainder of the NW Europe campaign.
City of London Yeomanry
The City of London Yeomanry Regiment was raised in 1900 as the 20th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry and took the name Rough Riders in 1901 after volunteer horsemen who had fought in the Spanish American War of 1898. From 1907 to 1914 Regimental Headquarters was in Finsbury Square. During the next 60 years it changed its role no less than 8 times, from Cavalry, to the Machine Gun Corps, to Royal Horse Artillery, to Field Artillery, to Light AA Artillery, to the Tank Regiment, to Infantry, to Signals. During the Second World War it saw active service in the Middle East and North West Europe.
The Inns of Court and City Yeomanry
The Inns of Court and City Yeomanry Regiment was formed in 1961 and their Royal Honorary Colonel, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, presented the Guidon in 1963. In 1967, the Regiment was placed in suspended animation following the TA reforms, but was reborn in 1969 in its current guise of 68 (Inns of Court and City Yeomanry) Signal Squadron. It now has drill halls at Lincolns Inn and Whipps Cross.
68 (Inns of Court and City Yeomanry) Signal Squadron is also affiliated to the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Braziers.
70 Signal Squadron
Whether as cavalry, gunners or signallers, the Essex Yeomanry have been a County Regiment from the eighteenth century through the Boer War and two World Wars to the present day. By 1798 there were 15 troops in Essex with an establishment of 640 men. In 1830 a Regiment of the West Essex Yeomanry was raised, with two troops of artillery later being added.
In 1889 an Essex Troop of the Loyal Suffolk Hussars was raised and went to South Africa as mounted infantry with the Imperial Yeomanry. Following the Boer War, the Essex Imperial Yeomanry was formed in 1902.
The Essex Yeomanry went to France in 1914 and served with particular distinction during the second Battle of Ypres and the Advance from Arras with the 8th Cavalry Brigade. Many awards were earned, including a Lance Corporal who won the Victoria Cross for keeping his machine gun in action with both legs broken and other wounds. After the war, the Essex Yeomanry converted to artillery as 104th (Essex Yeomanry) Royal Field Artillery.
In 1939, prior to the Second World War, the 147th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment was raised and served with distinction throughout the war. 104th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment served in the Middle East and took part in the battle of El Alamein and the siege of Tobruk. 147 (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment was converted to 25 pounder guns and landed on D Day to fight through Germany.
The Essex Yeomanry was re-raised in 1947 to form the 304th (Essex Yeomanry) Field Regiment TA. In 1969, after a brief period as infantry, the Essex Yeomanry assumed its current guise as 70 (Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron. It now has drill halls at Chelmsford and Harlow.
265 Support Squadron
Although the Squadron can trace its history back to 1583 through the Yellow Company of the London Trained Bands and Camberwell Association, the true history began in 1794 with the raising of the East Kent Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry and the West Kent Yeomanry Cavalry.
The 3rd County of London Imperial Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) were raised in 1900 as Imperial Yeomanry for the Boer War where they served with the Kent Yeomanry regiments. The Kent Yeomanry became one single Regiment at the outset of the First World War and served with the 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) in the Yeomanry Division at Gallipoli and at the capture of Jerusalem. Both Regiments also served in France and Flanders until the end of the war.
In 1920 the Kent Yeomanry converted to Royal Field Artillery and the Sharpshooters to the 23rd (London) Armoured Car Company (Sharpshooters).
During the Second World War the Kent Yeomanry served as Royal Field Artillery and saw action in France, North Africa and Normandy. The Sharpshooters were expanded to two tank regiments, the 3rd and 4th and latterly the 3/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters). They saw service in North Africa, Italy, Normandy and Germany. In 1926 the London and Kent Artillery were constituted as 65th Field Brigade and they became the first TA Regiment to be mechanised. As such they fought at Dunkirk, in North Africa and in Western Europe.
In 1961 the Kent Yeomanry and the 3/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) amalgamated as an armoured recce Regiment. The London and Kent Artillery consisted only of 265 Light Air Defence Regiment.
In 1969 elements of all three Regiments amalgamated once again to become 265 (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Signal Squadron, with a Headquarters Squadron being added later on.
In 2006 265 (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Signal Squadron and Headquarters (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Squadron amalgamated into 265 (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Support Squadron. The Squadron is now based at Bexleyheath