Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry - History

History

Under threat of invasion by the French Revolutionary government from 1793, and with insufficient military forces to repulse such an attack, the British government under William Pitt the Younger decided in 1794 to increase the Militia and to form corps of volunteers for the defence of the country. The mounted arm of the volunteers became known as the "Gentlemen and Yeomanry Cavalry".

The Dorset Yeomanry was first raised on 9 May 1794 as the Dorsetshire Regiment of Volunteer Yeomanry Cavalry of six troops. In 1796 they became the Dorsetshire Rangers and now consisted of ten troops. In 1802, they were disbanded as a result of the Treaty of Amiens and the consequent peace.

With the ending of the Peace of Amiens in 1803, the regiment was re-rasied as the Dorsetshire Regiment of Volunteer Yeomanry Cavalry again, consisting of seven troops. In 1814, it was once again disbanded.

The next, and longest lived, incarnation came in 1830 when the Dorsetshire Regiment of Volunteer Yeomanry Cavalry was reformed from troops at Wimborne, Blandford, Isle of Purbeck, Wareham and Charborough. In 1833 it gained royal patronage as The Princess Victoria's Regiment of Dorset Yeomanry Cavalry and in June 1843 became the Queen's Own Regiment of Dorset Yeomanry Cavalry. At some point thereafter it was renamed as the Dorset Yeomanry (Queen's Own) with headquarters at Dorchester.

On 1 April 1893, the troops were reorganised in squadrons, and the headquarters moved to Weymouth.