Between the Wars 1919-1922
Field Sports at Churn 1921
Although Armistice with Germany had become effective in November 1918 it was some months before the deployment of the British Armed Forces could be unwound, and it wasn’t until the middle of 1919 that both Berkshire Yeomanry units had been disbanded from their wartime roles.
The last entry in the War Diary of 101st (Bucks and Berks) Battalion MGC, located in Zuytpeene in Northern France, is for 1 April 1919 which reads “ I remained with the regiment until all forces were demobilised, leaving for London by way of Paris in May 1919. Lt Col FH Cripps”.
In January 1919 Lt Col GM Wilder had assumed command of the 2/1st Berkshire Yeomanry, one of several cyclist units at that time stationed on guard duties in Ireland, and in March 1919 orders were received for all cyclist units to be disembodied. 2/1st Berkshire Yeomanry was finally disbanded in Dublin on the 21 June 1919.
On the revival of the Territorial Army in 1920, only fourteen of the 53 Yeomanry regiments were required as cavalry and two remained as scouts. For the remainder there was some element of choice: 25 became field artillery, eight were reduced in size to become armoured car companies, one re-roled as a signal regiment, another as infantry and two were disbanded.
The Berkshire Yeomanry reformed in 1920, under command Lt Col CTJG Walmesley DSO MC TD, with TA Centres at Hungerford, Wantage, Reading and Windsor. They were to become gunners and, in that role, would retain their horses for a few more years. The sentiments of the day are perhaps best described by this report in the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette on the Reunion Dinner of D Squadron held on Thursday 7 October 1920:
The second re-union dinner of the “Comrades” of the D Squadron, Berks Yeomanry, took place at Wantage on Thursday evening. The company numbered about 130. Major WH Crosland presided, and those attending included General Sir HB Walker KCB KCMG, Brig-General JT Wigan CMG DSO MP, Mr AT Loyd, Lt Colonel CJ Walmesley DSO MC, Colonel GM Wilder, Major WH Crosland, Major HP Crosland MC and Sgt- Major P Aldwinckle.
After dinner the Loyal Toast was followed by the silent toast of “Absent Comrades”.
Major-General Sir HB Walker (Commander of 48th (South Midland) Division) proposed a toast of “Past, present and future members of the Berkshire Yeomanry - Health to the Regiment". It was an old established Regiment formed in the time of Napoleon Bonaparte, who began to threaten our shores in the late 18th century. There was no body of men in England to compete with the yeomen class (cheers). It was the universally accepted fact that the yeomen of England were the back-bone of England (cheers). In the old days, in the days of Queen Elizabeth, to be a yeoman was considered to be a great honour, and permission had to be obtained to become yeomen, and the country was dependent upon yeomen for its defence then as now. There was no unit and no class of soldier who had more justified their existence in the late war than the Yeomanry had done (cheers). He saw them in Gallipoli and he had followed their progress in Palestine, and their deeds in France were well known.
Group of NCOs in 1921: on the right stands Sgt F Potts VC
Coming to the present time, the re-organisation of the Territorial units had commenced in February, and he hoped that this Regiment would be recruited up to strength. He wished them the very best of luck, and hoped to meet them in a short time with the D Squadron at full strength (cheers).
Brigadier-General Wigan acknowledged the toast, and in so doing spoke in high terms of the services rendered by the Berks Yeomanry in the war, especially in Palestine, and alluded in eulogistic terms to the commanders of the Regiment and its other officers, mentioning the names of Colonel Henderson, Majors Wroughton and Thomas, and said that no cavalry Regiment had a better record than the Berks Yeomanry. Today, he said, he had unveiled the war memorial at Uffington, and amongst the names of the fallen inscribed on the memorial were two of their Berks Yeomanry comrades: Jenkins and Moore. The Regiment had done great deeds, and was the first to gain the VC, and he had no hesitation in saying that Sergeant Hart, who was present with them, would not have more than his due if he had VC after his name (cheers).
Referring to the re-construction of the Regiment he mentioned the names of the officers: Colonel Walmesley, a very gallant soldier, who had distinguished himself in Gallipoli and France and had received the Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross. They had as Squadron Leader, Major Crosland, twice wounded in the war, who had commanded the Machine Gun Squadron in Palestine, and afterwards commanded their Squadron in France and had been mentioned in dispatches, so he was sure they could not have a better Squadron Leader (cheers).
As to the future of the Yeomanry, he hoped they would remain a Cavalry Regiment, which was more to the liking of those who resided in the country, and he could say without hesitation that there was no finer body of men the world than the British Yeomanry. In conclusion he mentioned the death of Lady Wantage, who was a great philanthropist and friend of the Regiment, but he expressed the opinion that they would also have a good friend in Mr AT Loyd, her cousin, who had come to reside at Lockinge (cheers).
Colonel Walmesley, in response to the toast, alluded to the conditions which governed the future of the Yeomanry. He spoke of the probability or improbability of another war. They now had the League of Nations, but he felt sure that at the beginning of the late war they had not had a sufficient Army, and it was owing to that fact that Germany attacked. If there was a war again tomorrow, some would say they would not join up again, but they would (cheers). Their Squadron would still be the D Squadron, and he hoped all the old members would do their utmost to bring it up to strength.
Mr AT Loyd proposed “D Squadron Berks Yeomanry”. He mentioned that he met the Berks Yeomanry during the war whilst at Cairo and said it was a very great pleasure to all the European residents in that dilapidated city to meet them. He met them again now with great pleasure, and anything he could do to assist the Regiment he should always be ready to do.
Major WH Crosland
Major WH Crosland said he did not think he need not say very much tonight. He had been preceded by such eloquent gentlemen that he felt he was out of place. First he would like to thank General Wigan for the very nice words he had spoken, and would like to say that when this Squadron was formed he would do his level best to uphold the good name the Squadron had previously held. It would not be a hard job. He must not say unwise things, but he thought he could safely say that the D Squadron had always been the best Squadron in the Regiment (laughter and cheers) and no doubt they would be the best again (cheers). But at the present time the Squadron’s strength was two officers and three men (laughter). If they could only keep the Squadron going, and cling together, and be a happy party, as they always had been, then efficiency in soldering would come of its own accord (cheers).
Sgt-Major Aldwinckle also responded, and endorsed Major Crosland’s words as to the merits of D Squadron. If the Squadron could be made up to strength, and united together as a happy party as they had done in the past, they would be a credit the Regiment and to the country (cheers).
The Regiment’s first post-war Camp was held in 1921 at Churn, their last as cavalry. At that Camp they were shown their new weapon, the 18-pounder field gun. Despite severe financial stringency, recruiting, slow at first, gradually picked up as the Regiment built up expertise in its new role.
One consequence of the new role was that the White Horse cap badge was replaced with that of the Royal Artillery. The White Horse badge was retained in a smaller form as the collar badge for soldiers whilst officers and warrant officers continued to wear the Star & Crescent collar badge.
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