Image ID: 14258

Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, Market Place, Retford, c 1900?

The Square
Retford
England

After the SRY (Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry) Service in the Market Place - Soldiers marching to the regimental band. The Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry was raised in the summer of 1794 as the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Cavalry, and is the fourth senior regiment of Yeomanry. The Regiment did not see active service until a mounted squadron was sent to South Africa in 1900, followed by another squadron a year later, earning the Sherwood Rangers their first battle honour. The date of this photograph is not known. The clothing and uniforms suggest c 1900. Perhaps the regiment is receiving its colours after its honourable exploits in South Africa in the Second Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902, or it could be a service for the erection of the war memorial which is in the centre of the picture (or perhaps the service for the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 ?, though this is doubtful because other photographs in this series show flags at 'full mast'. see NCCN000658 ). Later, In the First World War the Regiment served in Egypt as cavalry. In 1915 it was despatched to Gallipoli in an infantry role and served as such for three months, receiving the 'King's Colour' in recognition of its gallantry. The Regiment then returned to Egypt as cavalry, serving thereafter in North Greece and Palestine, taking part in the great cavalry advance from Gaza to Aleppo. The Sherwood Rangers won 13 battle honours for the First World War.

Date: 1900

Organisation Reference: NCCN000659

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