The Queen's Own Yeomanry

The Queen's Own Yeomanry (QOY) is an armoured regiment of the British Territorial Army. The Queen's Own Yeomanry is the only Yeomanry regiment that serves in the formation reconnaissance role, equipped with the CVR(T) family of armoured reconnaissance vehicles, including Scimitar and Spartan.

On mobilisation, it provides squadrons to reinforce the regular formation reconnaissance regiments. It has provided personnel to both Operation HERRICK in Afghanistan and Operation TELIC in Iraq, who have served with their regular counterparts in the Royal Armoured Corps and other arms and services.

Organisation
The Regiment is part of 15 (North East) Brigade within the Army's 2nd Division.

It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and consists of five squadrons:


 * A (Ayrshire (Earl of Carrick's Own) Yeomanry) Squadron
 * B (North Irish Horse) Squadron
 * C (Fife and Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish Horse) Squadron
 * D (Northumberland Hussars) Squadron—to be an HQ Squadron under Army 2020.
 * Y (Yorkshire Yeomanry) Squadron

Because of the geographic spread of the regiment A and C Squadrons are administered by 51st (Scottish) Brigade and B Squadron is administered by 38 (Irish) Brigade, part of HQ Northern Ireland.

History
The Queens Own Yeomanry was initially formed on 1 April 1971 as the 2nd Armoured Car Regiment from five of the yeomanry units across the North and Middle of England and South West Scotland.

During the Cold War The Queen's Own Yeomanry were a BAOR Regiment with an Armoured Reconnaissance role in Germany.

With the Strategic Defence Review in 1999 the geographical locations of the QOY changed to encompass East Scotland and Northern Ireland and remains as such now.

Future
Under the Army 2020 and creation of the Army Reserves, A, B and C squadron will transfer to the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry. D Squadron will re-role as an HQ Squadron. It will gain two squadrons (C and D Squadrons) from the RMLY. D Squadron from the RMLY will be renamed as B (Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry) Squadron. Y (Yorkshire Yeomanry) Squadron will be renamed as A (Yorkshire Yeomanry) Squadron. The unit will be paired with the Light Dragoons and use the RWMIK Land Rover

Structure after army 2020:
 * Headquarters (Northumberland Hussars) Squadron - Newcastle
 * A (Yorkshire Yeomanry) Squadron - York
 * B (Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry) Squadron - Wigan
 * C (Cheshire Yeomanry) Squadron - Chester

Order of precedence
For the purposes of parading, the Regiments of the British Army are listed according to an order of precedence. This is the order in which the various corps of the army parade, from right to left, with the unit at the extreme right being the most senior.

Guidon


The Guidon, which is awarded by The Queen, is a flag of crimson silk damask embroidered and fringed with gold with the Regimental Battle Honours emblazoned upon it and the Regimental emblem embroidered in the centre.

On 22 September 2007 HRH Prince Charles, in his capacity as Royal Honorary Colonel of The Queen's Own Yeomanry, presented a new Guidon to the Regiment in an hour long ceremony in the grounds of Alnwick Castle. This is the first Guidon the QOY has received since its formation. Before the Parade each of the five Squadrons had their own Guidons representing them and their antecedent Regiments. The old Guidons of the five Squadrons were marched off parade for the last time during the Alnwick Castle ceremony.

Armoured Vehicles


Initially equipped with Ferret, Saladin and later CVR(W) Fox armoured cars and CVR(T) armoured personnel carriers.

This changed in 1992 when Fox was withdrawn and they became equipped with the CVR(T) Sabre. This vehicle was created from the body of the Scorpion, and the turret of the Fox. This combination combined a 30 mm Rarden Cannon with the tracks.

Today, the CVR (T) Sabre has gone and the Regiment operates a in the similar Scimitar and Spartan armoured reconnaissance vehicles. These vehicles are from the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (tracked) family.

Badges
The whole Regiment wears a variation of the running fox cap badge of the old East Riding Yeomanry. However, each of the Squadrons wears their own collar badges and buttons.

Stable Belt and Shoulder Flash
The Regimental Stable Belt or shoulder flashes are worn to show a soldier or officer is serving with the QOY in various forms of dress. The colour of both is Prussian blue with two horizontal stripes of cavalry gold (yellow):

Role Affiliated Regiments

 * - Household Cavalry Regiment, The Life Guards
 * - Household Cavalry Regiment, The Blues & Royals
 * - 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
 * - 9th/12th Royal Lancers
 * - The Light Dragoons
 * - The Queen's Royal Lancers

Other Affiliated Regiments & Units

 * - The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
 * - The Royal Dragoon Guards
 * - The Queen's Royal Hussars
 * - 655 Squadron (The Scottish Horse) Army Air Corps

Overseas & Other Arms and Services

 * 🇦🇺 - 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers
 * 🇨🇦 - 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's Own)
 * - HMS Westminster

Affiliated Livery Company

 * - Worshipful Company of Woolmen