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| Lothians and Border Horse | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | Lothians and Border Horse |
| Dates | 1797–1956 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Yeomanry |
| Role | Cavalry, Reconnaissance |
| Garrison | Edinburgh |
Lothians and Border Horse
The Lothians and Border Horse was a British Yeomanry regiment formed from county mounted units in Scotland that served in home defence and overseas theatres from the late 18th century through the mid-20th century. It traced antecedents to volunteer cavalry formations in Edinburgh, Midlothian, and the Scottish Borders and served alongside formations such as the Royal Scots Greys, Grenadier Guards, and King's Own Scottish Borderers during the First World War and the Second World War. The regiment’s lineage intersected with institutions including the Territorial Force, the Territorial Army, and later the Royal Armoured Corps.
The regiment originated from county yeomanry and volunteer cavalry units raised during the 1790s responding to threats after the French Revolutionary Wars; early elements paralleled formations like the Lanarkshire Yeomanry and Fife and Forfar Yeomanry. Throughout the 19th century these troops performed duties comparable to the Yeomanry of the United Kingdom and retained affiliations with Scottish civic institutions such as Edinburgh Castle authorities and the Lothian County Council. At the creation of the Territorial Force in 1908 units were reorganized, aligning with reforms advocated by figures associated with the Haldane Reforms and coordinating with regular regiments including the Royal Scots. During the First World War squadrons mobilized for home defence and eventually contributed contingents to mounted and dismounted service in theatres where formations like the Lowland Division and the Territorial Force Mounted Brigade operated. Between the wars the regiment adapted to mechanization trends evident in the Royal Tank Corps and the broader interwar reorganization of British cavalry units.
The regiment’s structure mirrored yeomanry norms with a headquarters in Edinburgh and squadrons recruited from towns and counties such as Berwick-upon-Tweed, Dalkeith, Haddington, and Peebles. Officers often came from landed families and professional classes with links to institutions like the University of Edinburgh and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Commanding officers sometimes had prior service in regular cavalry regiments such as the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers or the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons. Administrative control shifted between organisations including the Scottish Command and the War Office as the regiment integrated into the Territorial Army and later the Royal Armoured Corps. Sub-units were designated squadrons and troops and equipped at various times with mounts, motorcycles, armoured cars, and later light tanks similar to vehicles used by the Royal Tank Regiment.
In the First World War elements served as part of mounted brigades and dismounted battalions, seeing service in home defence and on expeditionary operations alongside units like the Royal Scots Fusiliers, Seaforth Highlanders, and the Gordon Highlanders. Detached personnel were absorbed into composite regiments that supported infantry formations at fronts where the British Expeditionary Force and the Egyptian Expeditionary Force conducted campaigns. During the Second World War the regiment was converted for armoured and reconnaissance roles, operating under commands that cooperated with formations such as the 8th Army, the 7th Armoured Division, and the 51st (Highland) Division in training and screening tasks. Squadrons performed reconnaissance, liaison, and security duties in the United Kingdom and on overseas deployments, employing vehicles comparable to the Universal Carrier and armoured cars used by the Reconnaissance Corps. Personnel served in combined arms operations with formations including the Royal Artillery, the Corps of Royal Engineers, and the Royal Army Service Corps.
The regiment inherited and was awarded honours associated with campaigns where its members served within larger British and Imperial formations. Battle honours connected to service in the First World War reflect actions alongside the Western Front armies and theatres such as Gallipoli and the Palestine Campaign, with connections to engagements like the Battle of Gaza and the Third Battle of Ypres. Second World War distinctions relate to reconnaissance and armoured operations in support of units engaged in campaigns where names such as El Alamein, Normandy Campaign, and the North West Europe Campaign are emblematic of wider British Army honours lists. Individual citations and regimental mentions tied into award systems including the Military Cross and the Distinguished Service Order held by former officers.
Regimental customs reflected Scottish yeomanry identity with dress and ceremonial practices comparable to those of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and historic cavalry such as the Household Cavalry. Cap badges, stable belts, and shoulder titles displayed motifs derived from regional heraldry analogous to symbols used by the Royal Scots, featuring elements reminiscent of county arms from Lothian and the Borders. Musical traditions included marches and pipe tunes shared with neighbouring units like the King's Own Scottish Borderers and the Highland Light Infantry, while memorials and regimental silver were preserved in civic venues such as St Giles' Cathedral and local museums.
After the Second World War reductions and the 1956 reorganisations that affected yeomanry regiments across the UK, units were amalgamated into armoured reconnaissance and reserve formations aligned with the Territorial Army and the Royal Armoured Corps. The regiment’s lineage continued through successor squadrons associated with regiments like the Queen's Own Yeomanry and regional Territorial units, and its historic records and collections are held in archives and museums including the National Museum of Scotland and county record offices. Commemorations persist in regimental associations, war memorials, and civic ceremonies in Edinburgh and border towns, maintaining links with Scottish military heritage exemplified by institutions such as the Imperial War Museum and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Category:Yeomanry regiments of the British Army Category:Military units and formations of Scotland