Imperial Yeomanry

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The Imperial Yeomanry was a British volunteer cavalry regiment that mainly saw action during the Second Boer War. Officially created on December 24, 1899, the regiment was based on members of standing Yeomanry regiments, but also contained a large contingent of mid-upper class English volunteers.[1] It was officially disbanded in 1908.[2]

Imperial Yeomanry
Active 1899 - 1908
Country Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Army
Type Mounted Infantry
Size Regiment
Engagements Second Boer War

Contents

[edit] Creation

On December 13, 1899, the decision to allow volunteer forces serve in the Second Boer War was made. Due to the string of defeats during Black Week in December, 1899, the British government realized they were going to need more troops than just the regular army, thus issuing a Royal Warrant on December 24, 1899. This warrant officially created the Imperial Yeomanry.

The Royal Warrant asked standing Yeomanry regiments to provide service companies of approximately 115 men each. In addition to this, many British citizens (usually mid-upper class) volunteered to join the new regiment.[3] Although there were strict requirements, many volunteers were accepted with substandard horsemanship/marksmanship, however they had significant time to train while awaiting transport.

The first contingent of recruits contained 550 officers, 10,371 men with 20 battalions and 4 companies[4], which arrived in South Africa between February and April, 1900.[5] Upon arrival, the regiment was sent throughout the zone of operations.

[edit] Operations in the Second Boer War

[edit] The First Contingent

The Imperial Yeomanry’s first action was on April 5, 1900, when members of 3rd and 10th battalions fought Boer volunteers led by Frenchman Count de Villebois-Mareuil at Boshof. After a series of tactical errors, the Boers were subsequently surrounded. The Count was killed,[6] and the Imperial Yeomanry was victorious, suffering only 3 casualties.

The next action took place in Lindley, a Boer held town. On May 27, 1900, due to a miscommunication, the 13th battalion (under Lieutenant Colonel Basil Spragge) arrived at Lindley where they were ambushed by a group of Boers. Rather than retreat, Spragge decided to fight until aid arrived. Although a message for help did arrive, it didn’t describe the urgency of the situation, and no help came until it was too late. 1 officer and 16 men were killed (with another officer and 3 more men later dying of wounds), and 400 were captured.

Following the disaster at Lindley, the Yeoman rode hundreds of miles over the Veldt, but rarely encountered any Boers. With the rate of disease and death rising, morale was falling. During the later part of 1900 they had a few small victories, but still nothing major. Finally, in September, 1900, the City Imperial Volunteers were returning to England, instead of the Imperial Yeoman. This plummeted the morale, and a high number of Yeoman volunteered to join police forces to escape the monotony of regular duty. Due to this, only one-third of the original force was still serving. Eventually, in June or July of 1901, all of the first recruits returned to England, except the ones who re-enlisted.

[edit] The Second Contingent

Due to the lacking numbers of the Imperial Yeomanry, the War Office went on a recruiting spree, which occurred in early months of 1901. The recruits for the second contingent were usually working class, as opposed to the first contingent. They received extremely poor training and were shipped to South Africa (over 700 were shipped back to England because they were “medically unsuitable or unlikely to become efficient soldiers.”). In total, 16,597 men were recruited, including 655 who reenlisted.[7]

Wounded soldiers at the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital
Wounded soldiers at the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital

The second contingents’ first battle was at Vlakfontein in May, 1901. Brigadier General Dixon led a force of 230 men from the 7th battalion, as well as artillery, some Scottish Horse, and some men of the Derbyshires. Around 500 Boers attacked the rear party, and the Yeoman fled after suffering 70 casualties. Because of the hasty retreat of the Yeoman, the lone Derbyshires and artillerymen were subsequently gunned down. Only a counter-attack by the Scottish Horse and some King's Own Scottish Borderers’s saved the artillery pieces. Due to the humiliating defeat, the Imperial Yeoman’s reputation was destroyed and their suitability was questioned in Parliament.

By September 1901, the second contingent had improved immensely, as demonstrated by a skirmish near Rustenburg. The men of the 5th and 9th battalions fought off an attack on a column, receiving only 12 dead.

As the war progressed, the British government planned to reduce the number of Imperial Yeoman. However, recruits were being raised as early as December to have time for adequate training (although they arrived right before the war ended, and had little impact).

The worst disaster for the second contingent was at Tweefontein on December 25, 1901. The 11th battalion was caught off guard by Boers led by General De Wet. The Boers, from a higher position, fired into the tents of sleeping Yeoman. 68 were killed, 121 were wounded and 600 taken prisoner.[8]

On February 25, 1902 a small skirmish occurred when Boer General De la Rey attacked and captured a convoy at Yzerspruit. The 5th battalion of Imperial Yeomanry was left with 28 dead and 34 wounded.

The last major battle was near Tweebosch on March 7, 1902, when a column under the control of Methuen was attacked by 2000 Boers with artillery. The Colonial Mounted Troops fled, bringing along most of the Yeoman with them. The regular troops left with the convoy had no chance, and ended up with 68 dead, 121 wounded and 600 taken prisoner.

On May 31, the Treaty of Vereeniging was signed, effectively ended the Second Boer War.[9] This happened just as the third contingent was arriving, although they stayed in South Africa long into 1903 to stabilize the country.

[edit] After the War

After the Second Boer War, the Imperial Yeomanry did not participate in any conflicts, and were subsequently disbanded in 1908.[10] A large number of veterans went on to being officers in World War I.

The "Imperial Yeomanry" lineage is carried on by the Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry , Northumberland Hussars and the Lovat Scouts.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Imperial Yeomanry, <http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/ImpYeo.htm>. Retrieved on 11 June 2007 
  2. ^ Imperial Yeomanry, <http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/ImpYeo.htm>. Retrieved on 2 July 2007 
  3. ^ Boer War Notes, <http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Regiments/BoerWarNotes.html>. Retrieved on 11 June 2007 
  4. ^ Imperial Yeomanry, <http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/ImpYeo.htm>. Retrieved on 11 June 2007 
  5. ^ Boer War - Imperial Yeomanry Battalions, <http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Regiments/ImperialYeomanryCompaniesBoerBn.html>. Retrieved on 3 July 2007 
  6. ^ Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, <http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/summary/la90-001.shtml>. Retrieved on 2 July 2007 
  7. ^ Imperial Yeomanry, <http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/ImpYeo.htm>. Retrieved on 4 July 2007 
  8. ^ Military History Journal - Vol 8 No 2, <http://rapidttp.com/milhist/vol082sw.html>. Retrieved on 4 July 2007 
  9. ^ The Treaty of Vereeniging, <http://www.cusd.chico.k12.ca.us/~bsilva/projects/wars/boerwar/treaty.vereeniging.htm>. Retrieved on 4 July 2007 
  10. ^ Imperial Yeomanry, <http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/ImpYeo.htm>. Retrieved on 11 June 2007 

[edit] References

  • Rose-Innes, Cosmo. With Paget's Horse to the Front . London : MacQueen, 1901.
  • Asplin, Kevin. The Roll of the Imperial Yeomanry, Scottish Horse & Lovats Scouts, 2nd Boer war 1899-1902, being an alphabetical listing of 39,800 men of these volunteer forces who enlisted for the 2nd Boer war, listing regimental details, clasps to Queens South Africa medal and casualty status . [Limited ed. of 100 copies]
  • Asplin, Kevin. The Roll of the Imperial Yeomanry, Scottish Horse & Lovats Scouts, 2nd Boer war 1899-1902, being an alphabetical listing of 39,800 men of these volunteer forces who enlisted for the 2nd Boer war, listing regimental details, clasps to Queens South Africa medal and casualty status . [2nd ed.] Doncaster : DP&G Publishing

[edit] External links