Royal Gloucestershire Hussars

THE ROYAL GLOUCESTERSHIRE HUSSARS

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The Guidon of the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars. It bears the battle honours:

South Africa 1900-01 . Gallipoli 1915 . Rafah . Gaza . Megiddo . Palestine 1917-18 . Gubi . Chores Sufan . Bir el Aslagh . Al Amel Halfa . Suvla . Rumani . Egypt 1915-17 . Jerusalem . Damascus . Tobruk 1941 . Sidire Zeghi 1941 . Gazala . Cauldron . W Point 23 . N Africa 1941-42 .

In 1794, the British Prime Minister William Pitt, concerned with the threat of a French invasion, proprosed the raising of volunteer cavalry units around the country. They were to act as local policing and defence force.

In Gloucestershire the first troop was raised by Captain Powell Snell in Cheltenham in 1795. Each man supplied his own horse and was given a sword and a pistol; (each troop also had 12 carbines.) Troops were also raised in Minchinhampton, Wotton-under-Edge, Stow in the Wold, Henbury, Gloucester, Bristol,Stroud and Cirencester.

After the defeat of Napoleon, the troops were disbanded. After civil unrest in 1830 troops were raised in Fairford, Cirencester, Stroud, Tetbury, Bristol and Gloucester. On the 30th March 1834, the commanders of the various troops met at Petty France, near Badminton, and combined to form a single Regiment called the Gloucestershire Yeomanry Cavalry. The Duke of Beaufort was appointed commander of the Regiment.

In 1841 the Regiment was granted the title 'Royal' and in 1846 was renamed the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars.

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.................................................................Colonel A.J.Palmer, 1902

THE BOER WAR 1899 - 1902

In 1898 the Squadrons were made up of:

'A' Squadron Gloucester and Cheltenham Troop H.Q. at Gloucester

'B' Squadron Badminton and Berkeley Troop Badminton

'C' Squadron Monmouth Newport

'D' Squadron Doddington and Bristol Troop Bristol

Strength 377 men.

In October 1899 the Yeomanry were asked to volunteer for service in South Africa. February 28th 1900 the squadron of 128 men left for Liverpool to board the 'Cymric' for Africa. They were designated the 3rd Company of the 1st Battalion of Yeomanry Cavalry.

The Officers were : Captain W.H.Playne
                    Captain E.T.Hill
                    Captain C.G.M.Adam
                    Captain A.L.Graham-Clark
                    Lieutenant R.B.Robertson

The Regiment landed at Cape Town on March 19th and went to Maitland Camp. The first action was near Thaba N'Chu on May 5th when a trooper was wounded.
For several weeks they were based at Ladybrand, sending out scouts each day.
In July the Regiment was operating in the Brandwater Basin. More actions followed, including actions at Transfontein, Elands River and Harrismith. In June 1901 the battalion returned to England on the 'Roslin Castle' and the 'Manchester Merchant.'

In the 18 months they were in Africa the 3rd Company had sustained the following casualties:

Private A.G.HARRIS Killed in Action
Private P.G.HARRIS Killed in Action
Sergeant J.REEVE Died of Wounds

The following men also died:

Corporal A.H.JAMES Private H.BROOKES Private B.HADLEY Private E.HOPE
Private E.C.NEALE Private A.E.STOCKWELL Private D.THOMAS Pte W.WILLIAMS

S.S.M. W.GREGORY was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

July 26th The King, Edward VII, presented medals to 41 officers and men of the 3rd Company.

In April 1901 the Yeomanry were redesignated the 'Imperial Yeomanry' and the khaki uniform was adopted. The traditional uniform was restored a few years later.

Officers Serving December 1901:

Commanding Officer: His Grace the Duke of Beaufort, A.D.C.
Adjutant:           Major Lord C.C.Bentick (9th Lancers)
Surgeon:            Captain H.Bramwell, F.R.C.S., M.D.
Vetinary:           Lieutenant J.E.L.Still

'A' Squadron

Squadron Commander: Major H.H.Calvert
Lieutenants : V.W.Yorke, J.A.W.Talbot, Sir C.P.Van Notten-Pole.
2nd Lieutenant : R.C.Forster

'B' Squadron

Squadron Commander: Captain G.F.Henry
Captains: D.B.Lindsay, L.A.Grahame Clarke,D.S.O. T.H.Cardwell
2nd Lieutenant: L.A.Huth

'C' Squadron

Squadron Commander: Major C.Stacey
Captain:            C.G.M.Adam
Lieutenant:         A.J.Palmer
2nd Lieutenant:     H.F.H.Hardy

'D' Squadron

Squadron Commander: Major R.P.Sandeman
Captains:           G.J.G.C.Codrington, E.T.Hill
Lieutenant:         W.R.Emmott
2nd Lieutenant:     F.W.L.Tottenham

Machine Gun Section

2nd Lieutenant: H.F.Clifford

THE IMPERIAL YEOMANRY LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL

This medal was issued for the first time in 1905. It was awarded for 10 years service in the Yeomanry. 49 awards were made to the Gloucestershire Hussars:

No. Rank Name Army Order

100 Corporal A.ADAMS Feb. 1905

11 S.S.M. G.ADAMS Feb. 1905

437 L/Sgt. M.G.L.BAKER Aug. 1905

56 Sergeant A.J.BARNETT Feb. 1905

22 S.Q.M.S. R.C.BASTIN Feb. 1905

82 L/Sgt. A.BEARD Feb. 1905

119 Private C.BISHOP Feb. 1905

51 Sergeant C.BRIDGMAN Feb. 1905

38 S.Q.M.S. A.E.BURROWS Feb. 1905

1059 Private J.CLARKE May 1908

385 Sergeant W.CLARKE Nov. 1907

128 Sergeant S.CODRINGTON Feb. 1905

98 Sergeant R.COX Feb. 1905

39 Sergeant W.J.CYPHER Feb. 1905

29 S.S.M. H.DAVIS Feb. 1905

156 Corporal W.DAVIS Feb. 1905

1066 Corporal C.R.D.DIXON Nov. 1907

655 Private E.L.DONNE Feb. 1905

164 Sergeant R.T.DUNCAN Feb. 1905

115 Trumpeter W.A.DUNCOMBE Feb. 1905

418 Trumpeter A.J.GRIFFIN Aug. 1905

141 Bandsman J.P.HATTON Feb. 1905

638 Private T.C.HIGGS May 1908

224 Sergeant P.HODDELL Feb. 1905

30 Sergeant E.H.HOPKINS Feb. 1905

236 Private W.HUGGINSON Feb. 1905

7 S.S.M. F.W.HUNT Feb. 1905

429 Private C.G.HUTTON Nov. 1907

243 S.Q.M.S. E.P.JARRETT Feb. 1905

235 L/Cpl. E.J.LARNER Feb. 1905

468 Sergeant W.LYONS July 1905

264 Private E.MAIDMENT Feb. 1905

45 Sergeant G.MATHEWS Feb. 1905

598 L/Cpl. E.J.MATTHEWS Feb. 1908

242 S.Q.M.S. M.PEARCE Feb. 1905

4 R.Q.M.S. A.PERRIS Feb. 1905

618 Saddler A.S.PHILLIPS May 1908

547 Private F.PHILLIPS May 1907

496 Private D.PRICE May 1907

297 L/Sgt. J.RUSSELL Feb. 1905

252 Farrier Sgt. A.SPREADBURY Feb. 1905

543 L/Sgt. G.D.THOMAS Feb. 1905

466 L/Sgt. G.TURK Feb. 1906

41 Sergeant A.VIZARD Feb. 1905

19 R.S.M. W.R.WALKER Feb. 1905

34 Sergeant F.WELCH Feb. 1905

344 Sergeant A.M.WILLIAMS Feb. 1905

483 Corporal J.E.WILLIAMS May 1907

565 Private W.J.WILLIAMS Nov. 1907

THE CORONATION

The Coronation of King George V took place on June 22nd 1911. 26 men of the Regiment were selected to join the 1st Battalion of the Coronation Brigade.
The Yeomanry were positioned along Hyde Park Corner.

Coronation Detachment:

Commanding Officer: Major W.H.PLAYNE

R.S.M. J.HEATHER

'A' Squadron: Sgt. G.TURK Corp. F.R.E.KENWARD Pte. G.CORSON
Pte. G.HYATT Pte. P.W.MILLARD Pte. E.ROCK

'B' Squadron: S.Q.M.S. E.L.DONNE L/Cpl. C.C.GODWIN Pte. J.CROSS
Pte. F.T.T.PARSLOW Pte. J.E.SCARROTT

'C' Squadron: Sgt. E.L.DONNE Pte. T.F.CLARKE Pte. E.M.COWLES
Pte. F.DAY Pte. T.JONES Pte. C.PEARCE

'D' Squadron: S.S.M. W.S.BRACHER Sgt. W.J.YOUNG L/Cpl. J.C.BLANCH
L/Cpl. H.W.FUSSELL Pte. H.S.BOULD Pte. L.G.C.HOLLOWAY

The Coronation Medal was awarded to:

Lieutenant-Colonel R.P.SANDEMAN

Major W.H.PLAYNE

Captain S.W.ADDERLEY

R.S.M. J.HEATHER

Private J.CROSS

Gallipoli ............ Egypt The Gloucestershire Regiment