royal wiltshire regiment united_kingdom established disbanded independent unit time strength greatly reduced regiment lives squadron squadron regiment took second boer war world war fought western saw relatively little action cavalry conversion infantry fought trenches notably 3rd german spring offensive second world war regiment fought middle_east seeing action syria french forces operations iraq iran joined seeing action north_africa italy formation took second battle break 2nd november including squadron contributed troops 2nd gulf war battle honour awarded unit cap badge feathers red backing vehicles carry new_zealand leaf emblem history formation early history june meeting country gentlemen decided raise body independent troops county wiltshire decision implemented high sheriff independent troops amalgamated unit called regiment wiltshire cavalry unit embodied britain independent troops raised earlier counties militia infantry counterpart liable service overseas regiment took napoleonic later wars 19th century royal wiltshire called deal civil disorders mutiny county militia machine riots recognition service regiment awarded title royal king regiment honoured contrary common belief regiment involved restoration order bristol riots followed rejection reform bill duty regular troops restored order provided escort later king edward vii recognition regiment british_army awarded title prince wales wear prince wales feathers badge placed head newly formed precedence queen_victoria second boer war intended serve overseas string defeats black week december british government realized going need troops regular army royal warrant issued december allow volunteer forces serve second boer war royal warrant asked standing regiments provide service companies approximately men imperial regiment provided 1st wiltshire company 2nd wiltshire company 63rd wiltshire company 16th battalion transferred regiment represented cavalry inauguration april regiment renamed reorganised squadrons machine gun section april regiment renamed royal wiltshire prince wales transferred trained equipped organisation ranked 1st order precedence regiments world war accordance act brought intended home defence force service wartime members compelled serve outside country outbreak war august members volunteered units split august september 1st line liable overseas service 2nd line home service unable unwilling serve overseas units later 3rd line formed act reserve providing trained replacements 1st 2nd line regiments 1st royal wiltshire regiment august 1st proceed france december squadrons joined cavalry unit squadrons joining regiment duties mainly involved traffic control riding similar activities march regiment played war cavalry german retreat day period german forces retreated miles prepared positions formed advanced guard british_army attempting touch german difficult owing broken nature ground original german lines contact times lance captured engagements possession regiment september finally conceded little place cavalry western regiment converted infantry joined 6th fighting trenches march german army mounted 6th point took weight offensive week combat 6th half taken casualties april received reinforcements later month took casualties shortly decided 6th effectively ceased exist regiment won battle honours world war earned 6th 1st royal wiltshire 2nd line regiment formed 1st area moved september canterbury march remaining ordered numbered single sequence brigade 15th joined july major reorganization units united_kingdom regiments converted consequence regiment joined 6th division near reorganization november saw 2nd broken regiment merged 1st form 10th wiltshire regiment march resumed identity 1st royal wiltshire july later moved early regiment moved ireland stationed dublin change end war 1st royal wiltshire 3rd line regiment formed summer affiliated summer affiliated early absorbed left converted infantry joined 4th reserve battalion wiltshire regiment wars post war commission set consider shape october experience world war clear cavalry commission decided senior regiments retained cavalry scottish horse remain mounted scouts regiments converted armoured car companies reduced battery regiment absorbed local infantry battalion signals regiment disbanded remaining regiments converted brigades senior regiment order precedence regiment retained cavalry interwar period remained important social scene county having officers drawn nobility landowners larger farmers ranks coming largely estates hunting point points social events important military training chapter relating period entitled long weekend brought regiment contact time later meet seriously brigadier referred commanding portsmouth brigade exercise wiltshire attached week annual camp brigade major wrote regiment run like days feudal lines heard going tremendous exercises nights time violently looked forward exercises day going bit night regiment banished distant camp disturbed regulars apparently intrigued exercises commanding officer approached asking included brigade exercise second world war regiment began august days second world war began initially assigned 43rd infantry division commanded bound palestine regiment served syria north_africa iraq north_africa unit served regiment ports january years horses finally replaced transport june involved successful campaign french forces syria spite desperately short equipment machine guns july participated expedition persia regiment fighting infantry december received honey tanks finally armoured regiment regiment moved egypt brigade independent brigade placed operational control command general later replaced lieutenant general brigade reserve late august october began training opening battle saw divisions 9th australian 51st highland 2nd new_zealand 1st south african assault north axis positions support 5th brigadier aim infantry secure darkness armour pass light establish screen regiment equipped mix grant lee tanks morning october squadrons ahead infantry western slopes ridge squadron delayed devil gardens minefields lost numerous tanks day engaged german plain turn hit anti tank fire initially heavier tanks vulnerable german anti tank guns joined took severe casualties midday squadrons reduced grants commanding officer badly wounded evacuated 10th armoured division command major general stage supposed pass onwards start break reluctant regiment ordered withdraw lost tanks taken casualties killed wounded reserve regiment issued new tanks hasty mix grants types iii salvaged battlefield rapidly repaired montgomery impressed performance 2nd wanted thrust unwilling reinforcements troops suffered casualties montgomery placed 50th division infantry brigades command phase battle night november attacked north lead placed brigade right brigade left aim attack directly westwards track infantry leading night assault commanded brigadier passing break enemy gun line allow break assault went plan opposition left heavier expected slowed advance result advancing tanks highlighted dawn sky east began picked axis anti tank fire regiment centre lost touch artillery support close anti tank support growing light squadron commander major realised ring enemy anti tank guns ahead flanks gave order charge squadron overran anti tank positions losing vehicles destroying enemy gun line counter attacking squadrons regiment tanks withdrawn liaison officers units 1st armoured opportunity push broken axis gun line action 6th went ahead survey scene seeing brigadier asleep approached saying sorry wake john like know tanks hand group tanks gentry don mean headquarters tanks mean armoured regiments arm replied armoured regiments bill assault 2nd drawn divisions result wide gap axis lines south west gap montgomery pushed remainder armour breaking line pushing westwards rear areas supply lines november battle won montgomery entertaining captured commander dinner account battle published mark 25th anniversary montgomery wrote mention magnificent fight 3rd british armour owed debt infantry 8th army debt paid november 2nd heroism blood syria italy following withdrawn cairo syria internal security duties remained reached italian placed command division lieutenant general support squadron support brigade infantry battalions june took advance rome working way close country central mountains sea west point division withdrew outlying elements regiment message continued forwards diary june records water truck reports clear enemy july august worked support 4th 10th central mountains south east florence approach august order received men years service overseas repatriated reduced regiment strength half impossible function fighting unit withdrawn line battle october regiment returned england train replacements armoured regiments fighting europe continued role pace slowed victory europe second world war officers soldiers serving regiment received military crosses military medals regiment lost dead war biggest single loss dead november post war regiment ceased exist following year established heavy tank unit support 43rd equipped tanks regiment converted light reconnaissance role equipped armoured cars armoured regiments decided reduce regiment disbanded independent unit new unit formed different predecessor units royal wiltshire squadron cold war role event war medium reconnaissance unit british_army rhine 1970s second based squadron raised squadron initially home defence unit trained infantry later equipped stripped perform reconnaissance duties role changed 1990s providing main battle tank crews soldiers biological radiation nuclear regiment january royal deployed squadrons iraq war unit formed body soldiers command combat operations overall members regiment deployed operational tours iraq recognition service liberation iraq royal presented battle honour iraq november battle honour presented unit second world war iraq war importance chemical biological nuclear role called acknowledged squadrons adopted squadrons adopted single cap badge crossed given regiments patron princess regiment supported operations iraq afghanistan operates providing formed crews regiments operating main battle tank squadron retains prince wales feathers squadron place senior unit squadron based salisbury squadron based squadron changed command royal july like fellow started train challenger squadrons wear new battle honours royal wiltshire awarded following battle honours honours bold regimental colours regiment battle honours summarised illustrated picture forms regimental history uniforms insignia 19th century regiment common militia units sported range uniforms jackets dark blue leather worn replaced fur red cloth bag service dress world war red stripe red worn ranks round left regimental badge red backing practice continued inter war years regimental colours green red yellow appear regimental tie stable belt decided late 19th century officer conservative suggested green red stripe objected similar officer liberal suggested adding yellow agreed joke red yellow liberal colours liberal got away rival nose cap badge feathers slightly different design regiments wearing symbol worn brown red black backing world war men carved cap badge chalk village seen today alongside units leaf emblem painted regiment vehicles command tradition continues day brigade sign worn italian campaign subsequently white horse green square background
Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry