Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons - World War II

World War II

During World War II, the Regiment was attached to the 5th Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, when it became necessary to occupy Syria and the Lebanon to prevent their use by the Axis Powers, the Dragoons were stationed on the Syrian frontier. They crossed the frontier in late June 1941, and occupied Kuneitra. In July the Regiment moved to Ezraa in order to contain the French Druse Garrison of Jebel Druse. On July 10, C Squadron Headquarters and two troops fought a patrol skirmish with French Druse Cavalry, which was probably the last action of British horsed cavalry. The Vichy French, asked for an armistice on July 12. From July until December the Regiment garrisoned the Jebel Druse, prior to moving to Azib to train for mountain warfare. On February 13, came the news that they were to be reroled and on the March 1 they said goodbye to their horses, by a matter of a day the Q.O.Y.D gained the distinction of being the last active cavalry regiment in the British Army.

Intensive conversion training to becoming an Armoured Regiment was carried out, whilst in May part of the Regiment went up to the desert, taking part in the Battle of Gazala by holding the defensive box called “Knightsbridge”. They then subsequently withdrew to El Alamein where they carried out the camouflage and deception plans particularly the representation of dummy tanks. In July the Regiment was hurriedly reunited and incorporated into "Delta Force" which was formed as the last line of defence in the event of the Alamein Line breaking.

Owing to heavy losses in armour in the recent battles it was impossible to fulfil the Commander-in-Chief's promise that the Yorkshire Dragoons should become an Armoured Regiment, instead they were equipped with Bren Carriers, 3 inch mortars and 6 pounder anti-tank guns and placed under command 2nd Armoured Brigade, 1st Armoured Division together with The Bays, 9th Lancers and 10th Hussars. Each motor squadron was under command of an armoured regiment, whilst the anti-tank guns were under command of Brigade.

El Alamein started on October 23, by daylight on 24th the attack was partially successful but the final minefield was unbreached. The Regiment suffered considerable casualties in the congested minefield areas prior to the breaking of the line on November 2, when 1st Armoured Division started the pursuit it led as far as Timimi.

At the end of January the Regiment went straight into the line at Medenine for the frontal attack on the Mareth Line that failed, after which 1st Armoured Division was moved round to the south to advance to El Hamma. In March the attack on the Akarit Line was successful and the Division once again took up the pursuit. By early April the First and Eighth Armies had joined forces and 1st Armoured Division came under command of the First Army for the final phases of the battle for Tunis.

The regiment remained in North Africa for a further eight months, during which time they converted to lorried infantry as part of 18th Lorried Infantry Brigade. In February 1944, they landed at Anzio under command of the 1st Infantry Division. An attack on 13 March cost the Regiment 170 casualties in killed wounded and missing and they were not replaced until early May prior to the breakout at the end of the month. On June 3 they led the attack on the Ardan Line opening the road to Rome.

After a period of training the Regiment moved up to Florence reverting to 1st Armoured Division for the attack on the Gothic Line. The original Yorkshire Dragoons who had served four and a half years abroad (less six officers) were sent home at the end of August, prior to the attack. The first attack on Coriano Ridge secured a precarious foothold but failed to achieve its objective. The Regiment, which was in reserve, stabilised the position and three days later carried out an attack that took San Savino, where 600 prisoners were taken, and two days later they carried a further ridge. However such was the shortage of reinforcements that 18th Infantry Brigade was broken up and the personnel were used to reinforce other units. The Regiment was put in ‘suspended animation’ and the majority of the officers and men were posted to 2/4 King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

“You may well be proud of the part your Regiment has played in our great victories out here,” wrote Field Marshal Alexander, “and I shall always feel very proud to have had the Yorkshire Dragoons under my command.”