Royal Scots Greys - The Great War

The Great War

Further information: British cavalry during the First World War

During the inter-war years, the Scots Greys were reequipped and reorganized based on the experience of Boer War. Lee Enfield rifles and new swords were introduced as the British Army debated what the role of cavalry would be in the coming war. In 1914, the Scots Greys were organized as a regiment of three squadrons. Each squadron was made up of 4 troops with 33 men each. When war did come, in August 1914, the Scots Greys were assigned to the 5th Cavalry Brigade commanded by Brigadier P.W. Chetwode. The Scots Greys would remain attached to the 5th Cavalry Brigade for the rest of the war.

Initially the 5th Cavalry Brigade operated as an independent unit under control of the B.E.F. However, it was soon assigned to Brigadier-General Gough's command on 6 September 1914. When Gough's independent command was expanded to a division, the formation was redesignated as the 2nd Cavalry Division. The Scots Greys and the other cavalry regiments of the 5th Brigade would remain with the 2nd Cavalry Division for the rest of the war.