Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry

The Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry is a unit of the Territorial Army ('TA') that was formed in 1961 as the Kent and County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) by the amalgamation of two yeomanry regiments, the 297 (Kent Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Artillery and the 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).

Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry
Cap badge of the Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry
Active1 May 1961-
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeYeomanry
RoleReconnaissance
(1 squadron)
Signals support
(1 squadron)
Size2 Squadrons
Part ofRoyal Armoured Corps
(1 squadron)
Royal Signals
(1 squadron)
Garrison/HQC (KSY) Squadron - Croydon
265 (KCLY) Squadron - Bexleyheath
Commanders
Honorary ColonelThe Rt Hon. Sir Nicholas Soames MP
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash

History

The unit was formed in 1961 as the Kent and County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) by the amalgamation of two yeomanry regiments, the 297 (Kent Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Artillery and the 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).[1] It served initially as an armoured reconnaissance regiment until 1967 and the re-organisation of the TA, when it was disbanded and reconstituted as three separate units:[1]

In 1969, the artillery battery was converted to (265 London & Kent) Squadron, part of 71 (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment, the Royal Signals.[1] In 1971, this squadron was re-designated 265 (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Squadron in 1971 and in 1987 the lineage was transferred to HQ (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Squadron, part of 71 (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment.[1]

Present day

C (KSY) Squadron Royal Yeomanry, Lord Mayor's Show, London 2006

Today, the two squadrons remain as Sharpshooters, one of several old yeomanry regiments to maintain more than one unit within the Army Reserve:

  • 'C' (Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry) Squadron Royal Yeomanry which and wears the cap badge and shoulder flashes of the Royal Yeomanry, and the collar dogs of the KSY.[2]
  • 265 (Kent & County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters)) Support Squadron, 71 (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment which wears the cap badge of the Royal Signals and shoulder flashes marked 'KCLY'.[3]

Regimental museum

The Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry Museum is at Hever Castle in Kent.[4]

Honorary Colonels

Honorary colonels have been:[1]

See also

Lineage

Lineage
Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry 297th (Kent Yeomanry) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles (Duke of Connaught's Own)
Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry
3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters)
4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters)

References

  1. "Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 6 May 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2017.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. "C (Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry) Squadron". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  3. "265 Support Squadron". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  4. "Hever Castle". Pastscape. Retrieved 3 June 2018.

Bibliography

  • Mileham, Patrick (1994). The Yeomanry Regiments; 200 Years of Tradition. Edinburgh: Canongate Academic. ISBN 1-898410-36-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Mollo, Boris, (1970). The Sharpshooters. The 3rd County of London Yeomanry and successor units 1900-1961. Kent and County of London Yeomanry 1961-1970, Historical Research Unit, London.
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