Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry

The Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry was a Yeomanry Cavalry Regiment of the British Army that was formed in 1828. The regiment was part of the Imperial Yeomanry during the Boer War and would remain in Great Britain for the first years of the Great War. In 1917, the regiment sailed to France, to fight in the trenches as dismounted troops. They were converted to an artillery unit in 1920 and remained as gunners until 1967 when, after many amalgamations, the title disappeared.

Boer War
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. On December 13, 1899, the decision to allow volunteer forces to serve in the Second Boer War was made. A Royal Warrant was issued on December 24, 1899 that 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 upper-middle class) volunteered to join the new regiment. 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 for the Imperial Yeomanry comprised 550 officers and 10,371 men in 20 battalions, each generally with four companies. The battalions arrived in South Africa between February and April, 1900. On arrival, the regiment served throughout the zone of operations. The Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry provided troops for the 24th (Westmorland and Cumberland) Company, 8th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry.

World War I
During World War I, the Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry was redesignated the 1/1st Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry, and second (2/1st) and third line (3/1st) regiments were created for service. During World War I, the unit was known to have had a wireless section and armoured cars provided by private means.

1/1st Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry
The 1/1st was mobilised in August 1914 and attached to the Welsh Border Mounted Brigade. In the spring of 1915, the regiment was split: A squadron's personnel were divided between the three other Sqns, which were then each assigned to an Infantry Division located in the United Kingdom - B Sqn to 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division; C Sqn to 18th (Eastern) Division; Regimental Headquarters and D Sqn to 20th (Light) Division. The three squadrons (and, of course, the divisions to which they were attached) arrived in France that summer. B Squadron was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division for the first half of April 1916; C and D squadrons were both attached to the 2nd Cavalry Division for a short period in the following month. On 15 May 1916, the regiment reformed and served as XI Corps Cavalry Regiment.

In June 1917, it was announced that, due to manpower shortages, the Regiment would be dismounted and retrained as infantry. On completion of the conversion, the regiment was redesignated as the 7th (Westmoreland and Cumberland Yeomanry) Battalion, the Border Regiment.

2/1st Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry
The 2/1st was formed in September 1914. By July 1915, it was under the command of the 2/1st Western Mounted Brigade, which was later redesignated as the 21st Mounted Brigade. In July 1916, the regiment converted to a cyclist battalion under the command of the 14th Cyclist Brigade, which was later renumbered as the 10th Cyclist Brigade. The regiment did not see any active service and remained in Great Britain until May 1918, when it moved to Ireland.

3/1st Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry
Formed in 1915, the Regiment remained in the United Kingdom. It was absorbed by the 2nd Reserve Cavalry Regiment in February 1917. In September 1917, the personnel were transferred as infantry to the 5th (Reserve) Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry.

Inter-War
When the Territorial Forces reformed in 1920, the regiment converted to artillery, forming the 2nd (Cumberland Yeomanry) Army Brigade, RFA. This two-battery brigade was redesignated as the 93rd (Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry) Army Brigade, RFA in 1921. In 1923, the brigade was joined by the two Cumberland Artillery batteries from the 51st (East Lancashire and Cumberland) Brigade, RFA and redesignated as the 51st (Westmorland and Cumberland) Brigade, RFA. The four batteries were the 203rd (Cumberland), 204th (Cumberland), 369th (Westmorland Yeomanry) and 370th (Cumberland Yeomanry).

With the union of the RFA, RGA and RHA to form the Royal Regiment of Artillery on 1 June 1924, the brigade was redesignated as the 51st (East Lancashire and Cumberland) Brigade, RA. In November 1938, the Royal Artillery renamed its brigades as regiments.

In 1939, as part of the general duplication of the Territorial Army, the 51st Regiment transferred the 304th and 369th batteries to the 109th Field Artillery Regiment RA.

51st (Westmoreland & Cumberland) Field Artillery Regiment
The 51st (Westmoreland & Cumberland) Field Artillery Regiment TA, began the war as part of the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division. In April 1940, the 203rd battery sailed to Norway and took part in the brief Norwegian Campaign. The regiment sailed to north Africa towards the end of the year, where it was originally attached to the 6th Australian Division. The regiment saw action in the Western Desert, serving with the 7th Armoured Division (Desert Rats) in November 1941 and in the siege of Tobruk with the 9th Australian Division.

In February 1942, the regiment served in Ceylon as part of the 16th Brigade. In February 1943, it moved to India, where it joined the 70th Infantry Division. In September 1943, it was placed in suspended animation.