Formation
Following the South African war sixteen new yeomanry regiments were formed, two of these in Ireland. King Edward VII approved the formation of the North of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry and the South of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry in 1901. Recruiting for the North of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry began in 1903, with four squadrons raised:
- RHQ and ‘A’ Squadron in Belfast,
- ‘B’ Squadron in Derry/Ballymena,
- ‘C’ Squadron in Enniskillen and
- ‘D’ Squadron in Dundalk.
They became a special reserve regiment in 1908 and the name changed to the North Irish Horse as part of the Haldane Reforms, the formation of the Territorial Force in the UK which created the Special Reserve of Militia and Yeomanry regiments in Ireland. The North Irish Horse, along with the other Militia battalions remained on the Special Reserve list until 1953. This arrangement gave the Irish units precedence in the line over the Territorial Army regiments just after the Cavalry of the Line but also guaranteed the use of the Militia and Yeomanry in overseas conflicts.
The first commander was the Earl of Shaftesbury whose adjutant was Captain RGO Bramston-Newman, 7th (Princess Royal's) Dragoon Guards, from Cork. Senior NCOs from regular, Cavalry of the Line units became the permanent staff instructors (PSIs). On 7 December 1913 the Duke of Abercorn was appointed as the Regiment's first Honorary Colonel.
Read more about this topic: North Irish Horse
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