Derbyshire Yeomanry - Second World War

Second World War

In August 1939, the regiment was duplicated, producing the 1st Derbyshire Yeomanry and 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry, both of which mobilised along with the Territorial Army on the outbreak of war in September. They were equipped with armoured cars, serving as reconnaissance units.

Both regiments saw service in the North African Campaign; in 1942, the 2nd Derbyshire fought at the Battle of Alam el Halfa and the Second Battle of El Alamein (as part of 7th Armoured Division). The 1st Derbyshire, meanwhile, had landed in Tunisia in late 1942 as the reconnaissance regiment of the 6th Armoured Division, fighting at Medjez el Bab; during the race to the Tunisian coast, it fought at Kasserine Pass and Foundouk, finally reaching Tunis in March 1943. The 1st Derbyshire then moved to Italy with the 6th Armoured, where it saw heavy fighting during May 1944, including action at the Battle of Monte Cassino. Through July and August it fought in the advance to Florence, and in April 1945 saw action at the Argenta Gap and Fossa Cembalina.

Returning to the United Kingdom in 1943, the 2nd was assigned to 51st (Highland) Infantry Division, where it served as the divisional reconnaissance regiment until the end of the war. It received battle honours for action in August, fighting at Dives Crossing, La Vie Crossing and Lisieux during the crossing of the Seine; in September and October, it received honours for fighting on the Lower Maas, and in January 1945 for fighting at Ourthe during the Battle of the Bulge. They received battle honours for fighting in the Rhineland and the Reichswald in February, and crossed the Rhine in March in Operation Plunder.

After the War, the regiment reconstituted in the Territorial Army. In 1957 it amalgamated with The Leicestershire Yeomanry (Prince Albert's Own), forming The Leicestershire and Derbyshire (Prince Albert's Own) Yeomanry.