British Yeomanry Mounted Division - Definition

The British Yeomanry Mounted Division was a Territorial Army cavalry division formed in Palestine in mid-1917 from three yeomanry mounted brigades. In July 1918 the division was renamed the 4th Cavalry Division and the brigades were likewise renamed as cavalry brigades.

Due to the increased demand for mobile units on the Western Front in 1918, six of the regiments were withdrawn from the division and sent to France in April. They were replaced by Indian cavalry regiments from the British Indian Army which meant that the complete break-up of the division was averted.

Unit History

Formation

The "mounted" brigades were redesignated as "cavalry" brigades when the division was renamed as the 4th Cavalry Division.

6th Mounted Brigade / 10th Cavalry Brigade 

• 1/1st Dorset Yeomanry
• 1/1st Berkshire Yeomanry (until April 1918)
• 1/1st Buckinghamshire Yeomanry (until April 1918)

The brigade joined from the Imperial Mounted Division.

8th Mounted Brigade / 11th Cavalry Brigade 

• 1/1st County of London Yeomanry
• 1/1st City of London Yeomanry (until April 1918)
• 1/3rd County of London Yeomanry (until April 1918)

The brigade had been serving in Salonika before joining the division in July 1917.

22nd Mounted Brigade / 12th Cavalry Brigade 

• 1/1st Staffordshire Yeomanry
• 1/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry (until April 1918)
• 1/1st East Riding Yeomanry (until April 1918)

Battles

• Third Battle of Gaza
  • Battle of Beersheba

External links

• The British Army in the Great War: The Yeomanry Mounted Division (http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/yeomtddiv.htm)