| Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry | |
|---|---|
|
File:Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry.jpg Cap badge of the Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry | |
| Active | 1 May 1961- |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Territorial Army |
| Type | Yeomanry |
| Role |
Reconnaissance (1 squadron) Signals support (1 squadron) |
| Size | 2 Squadrons |
| Part of |
Royal Armoured Corps (1 squadron) Royal Signals (1 squadron) |
| Garrison/HQ |
C (KSY) Squadron - Croydon 265 (KCLY) Squadron - Bexleyheath |
| Commanders | |
| Honorary Colonel | The Rt Hon. Nicholas Soames MP |
| Insignia | |
| Tactical Recognition Flash |
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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) Regt, Royal Artillery and the 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry. 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:
- 'C' Squadron, Royal Yeomanry
- 'R' Battery, The London and Kent Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 'A' Company, 8th Battalion, The Queen's Regiment
In 1969, the artillery battery was converted to a squadron of the Royal Signals as part of 71 Signal Regiment. In 1971, this was given the name '265 (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Squadron'. The infantry company remained part of the Queen's Regiment, but no longer remained as part of the Sharpshooters. In 1987, a third squadron, 'HQ (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Squadron', 71 Signal Regiment was raised. This structure was maintained until 2006; in February, 'HQ' and '265' Squadrons were amalgamated into 265 (Kent and County of London) Support Squadron (Sharpshooters). In August, 'C' Squadron, along with the rest of the Royal Yeomanry, was rebadged under the new single RY cap badge.
Present day
Today, the two squadrons remain as Sharpshooters, one of several old yeomanry regiments to maintain more than one unit within the Territorial Army.
'C' Squadron has adopted the title "Kent & Sharpshooters Yeomanry" and wears the cap badge and shoulder flashes of the Royal Yeomanry, and the collar dogs of the KSY.
265 Squadron maintains the title "Kent & County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters)" and wears the cap badge of the Royal Signals and shoulder flashes marked 'KCLY'.