British 74th (Yeomanry) Division - Definition and Overview

74th (Yeomanry) Division Army Territorial Army Formed 14 January, 1917 Demobilised 19 July, 1919 British First World War divisions Previous Next 72nd 75th

The British 74th (Yeomanry) Division was an First World War infantry division formed in Egypt in early 1917 from brigades of dismounted yeomanry (Territorial Army cavalry). The division fought in Palestine before moving to France in May, 1918.

The division's insignia was a broken spur to signify that it was once a mounted division and now served as infantry.

Unit history

During the Battle of Beersheba on October 31, 1917, the division, as part of Chetwode's XX Corps, captured the Turkish fortications west of Beersheba.

Formation

229th Brigade 

• 16th (Royal 1st Devon and Royal North Devon Yeomanry) Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment
• 12th (West Somerset Yeomanry) Battalion, The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's)
• 14th (Fife & Forfar Yeomanry) Battalion, Black Watch
• 12th (Ayr and Lanark Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers (until June 1918)

230th Brigade 

• 10th (Royal East Kent and West Kent Yeomanry) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
• 15th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment
• 16th (Sussex Yeomanry) Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment

231st Brigade 

• 25th (Montgomery & Welsh Horse Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
• 24th (Pembroke & Glamorgan Yeomanry) Battalion, The Welsh Regiment
• 10th (Shropshire & Cheshire Yeomanry) Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry
• 24th (Denbighshire Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (until June 1918)

Battles

• Second Battle of Gaza
• Third Battle of Gaza
  • Battle of Beersheba

External links

• The British Army in the Great War: The 74th (Yeomanry) Division (http://www.1914-1918.net/74div.htm)