Hungerford Virtual Museum

Website produced and maintained for the Hungerford Historical Association
by Hugh Pihlens

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You are in [Themes] [Berkshire Yeomanry]

Summary: The Berkshire Yeomanry has a long history of association with the town of Hungerford. A Hungerford Troop was first established in 1794 and for much of the nineteenth century the regiment was headquartered in Hungerford. Indeed for some years in the 1830s and 1840s the regiment was styled the Hungerford Troop of Berkshire yeomanry Cavalry. To this day the Berkshire Yeomanry officers still wear the Hungerford Star and Crescent as insignia.

The Berkshire Yeomanry is the County of Berkshire's senior volunteer unit, with over 200 years of voluntary military service. It was originally formed as a mounted cavalry unit, in 1794, and although most was disbanded in 1827, four troops, most notably the Hungerford troop, were reformed in 1830 following the Agricultural Riots of 1830. Only the Hungerford troop remained after further cuts in 1838.

In 1852 there were further expansions, with the Regiment renamed 'The Royal Berkshire Yeomanry Cavalry'. They went on to serve in the Boer War, and both World Wars.

The squadron has seen service as machine gunners, artillery, armour, infantry, and now signals, serving with the Royal Corps of Signals. In 1957 they became part of the Territorial Army (Signal Squadron), and has bases at Reading and Windsor, where there is the Regimental Museum.

Formation of Yeomanry units: The Victorian County History mentions that in 1759 there were 560 men from Berkshire, including 30 sergeants, 20 drummers, divided between 8 companies. The full force was out in Hungerford, Marlborough and Devizes during the panic of French invasion in July 1759.

These forces appear to pre-date the formation of the yeomanry, which was originally formed as mounted cavalry in 1794 to counter the threat of invasion during the Napoleonic Wars.
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During the French wars of 1793-1815 auxiliary troops were raised for home defence, known as yeomanry, volunteers, or fencible infantry and cavalry. Of these only fencibles were regular troops. Most of the forces were volunteers, but some were paid. By 1800 there were about 100,000 men in these units and by 1805 there were 330,000.

In the spring of 1794 the first troop of Berkshire Yeomanry, styled the Abingdon Independent Cavalry, was formed, and by 1804 eleven independent troops had been raised in Berkshire. In 1804 four of these troops were united to form 'The First Regiment of Berkshire Gentlemen and Yeomanry Cavalry'.

As a result of Government cutbacks in 1827 all yeomanry cavalry troops in Berkshire were disbanded. But following riots by agricultural workers in 1830, four troops were re-established and actively deployed in dealing with civil unrest.

Further Government economies in 1838 forced the disbandment of three troops leaving the Hungerford Yeomanry Cavalry as the sole troop in Berkshire.

In 1852, following yet further fears of a French invasion, troops were again raised at Reading and Newbury, and some years later at Wantage, Wokingham and Windsor. By this time the Regiment had become styled 'The Royal Berkshire Yeomanry Cavalry'.

One member of what was to become a very prominent family in Hungerford, became commissioned into the Royal Berkshire Yeomanry.

Henry Edward Astley, (born 1817, the 8th child of Rev. Wolvey Astley, Rector of Quenington, Gloucestershire) came to Hungerford in 1847 at the age of 30 years. He was a solicitor, and joined John Matthews, whose practice had been at Bridge House (now 132 High Street) since he bought it in 1826.

In 1861, when he was aged 44, Henry Edward Astley was commissioned into the Hungerford branch of Royal Berkshire Yeomanry as a cornet. The adjacent photographs show his uniform and accoutrements.

[Cornet was originally the third and lowest grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry troop, after captain and lieutenant. The cornet by tradition carried the troop standard, which was also known as a "cornet". The rank of Cornet was the equivalent of the infantry rank of ensign, and was one of the subaltern ranks (along with lieutenant). The rank had been in use by the time of the English Civil War, but was abolished in 1871, at the same time that the purchase of commissions in the army was abolished in the Army Reform Act of 1871 and was replaced by Second Lieutenant. In practice, the style "Cornet" is still used for Second Lieutenants in the Blues and Royals and the Queen's Royal Hussars.]

Two years later, in 1863 Henry Edward Astley, aged 46, married a near neighbour, a widow, Mrs Benjamin Keen (who already had two daughters of her own), of Faringdon House, 128 High Street. Henry and his new wife had only one child, Henry d'Oyley Astley, born 1865, who went on to follow his father's profession as a solicitor in the town. His daughter, Barbara Astley married Mr W.K.T. Hope from Wellingborough. Henry Edward Astley died 1886.

Dr Richard Hemstead Barker was Surgeon to the Hungerford troop of Berkshire Yeomanry in the 1860s.
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The 1869 Kelly Directory mentions that the Headquarters of the Royal Berks Yeomanry and Cavalry Store was in Park Street.

The Parish Magazine of October 1872 reports: "The Royal Berkshire Yeomanry Cavalry assembled for eight days permanent duty at Maidenhead, on Tuesday 24th September 1872. There are now four Troops, Captain Willes', Hungerford; Captain Tull's, Newbury; Captain Wroughton's, Wantage; and Captain Eykyn's, Maidenhead. The inspection takes place on 1st october."

In September 1874 it was announced in the Parish Magazine that "The Royal Berks Yeomanry Cavalry will assemble for their annual training, at Hungerford this year, on Tuesday, September 22; and the inspection will take place on Tuesday, September 29.". The October issue recorded "The Royal Berks Yeomanry Cavalry assembled at Hungerford for their annual eight days of permanent duty on Tuesday, September 22. In the absence of Col Honywood, Captain Willes took the command. The Regiment has been hard at work throughout the week on the Downs, and in the surrounding country. On Sunday morning officers and men attended the Parish Church in military state. The Review took place on the Downs on Tuesday the 29th, and attracted a great concourse of people from the town and neighbourhood."

The London Gazette of 24th November 1874 recorded that Captain George Shippen Willes had been promoted to Major of the Royal Berks Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry. A celebratory banquet was held on 13th September, 1875 after he had been promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel.

The Royal Berkshire Yeomanry Cavalry had a field day on Hungerford Downs on Monday, July 17, under the command of Colonel Willes, and in the presence of Colonel Riley, the Inspecting Officer, and Colonel Honywood, who for many years commanded the Regiment. The Regiment paraded in front of the Corn Exchange at half-past one and left for the Downs at two o'clock preceded by the regimental band. A smart drill was kept up for about two hours, at the conclusion of which Colonel Riley complimented the men on their appearance and efficiency. After the duties of the day the regiment was entertained by their Colonel at dinner in a large Marquee erected for the occasion at Hungerford Park.
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The Yeomanry Cavalry assembled in Hungerford for ten days permanent duty on Friday 13th May 1887. "The Review will be held on the Downs on Monday, the 13th. Lieut Sloper has been promoted to Captain of the Hungerford Troop."

In June 1887 the Hungerford troop of the Berkshire Yeomanry were on parade in the town on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Jubilee celebration.

In May 1894 "Another link between Hungerford and the Royal Berks Yeomanry Cavalry is about to be severed by the resignation of Colonel Willes. It is understood that he will be succeeded in the command of the Regiment by Lieut-Colonel the Hon Osbert Craven."

The Boer War 1899-1901 and after: Volunteers from the Regiment saw service in the Boer War in the two volunteer Berkshire Yeomanry companies in the Imperial Yeomanry. The lessons of the Boer War led to a more recognised role for the Yeomanry as a whole which encompassed in the reforms of 1908 when the Regiment changed its title to the Berkshire Yeomanry.
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Hungerford c1790 From an aquatint engraved by F Jukes



	A Berkshire Yeomanry Soldier



					Henry Edward Astley's Uniform (thought to be the Drill Uniform)



			Henry Edward Astley's Mess Dress



		Detail of the waistcoat



				Henry Edward Astley's Mess Dress



		Detail of the Mess Dress





			Henry Astley's Commissioning Paper, upgrading from Cornet to Lieutenant 5th April 1861

		We are very grateful to Dr Humphrey Hope for allowing us to include these photographs of Henry Astley's uniform and accoutrements

The Great War: Mobilised in August 1914 the Berkshire Yeomanry trained at Churn on the Berkshire Downs for three months and then proceeded to the East Coast to guard against a possible German invasion. In April 1915 the Regiment sailed for Egypt and from there a few months later they were shipped, this time without their horses, to the Gallipoli peninsular where, against the Turks, they first saw action. In a bloody battle on August 21, 1915, Private Fred Potts earned the first yeomanry VC for 'most conspicuous bravery in rescuing a comrade under heavy fire'. After three months in the trenches, the Regiment was withdrawn, their strength reduced by casualties and sickness to a mere 50 men.
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Several Hungerford men served in the Berkshire Yeomanry during the First World War, and three gave their lives. Click each name below to find out more:
- Sgt William Horne
- Tpr Christopher Matthews
- Tpr Frederick North

Returning to Egypt and brought up to strength, the Regiment campaigned during the spring of 1916 in the Western Desert. In 1917 the Berkshire Yeomanry joined the British advance on Jerusalem. After two unsuccessful baffles in March and April to evict the Turkish Army from Gaza, the British forces were reorganised under their new commander General Allenby and the third Battle of Gaza was a notable success culminating in the capture of Jerusalem in December 1917. During this campaign the Berkshire Yeomanry were involved in two successful cavalry charges against the Turks.

In April 1918 the Regiment was amalgamated into 101 (Bucks & Berks Yeomanry) Battalion, Machine Gun Corps. They reached France in July and saw action in support of 51st Highland Division and in the final baffles in Belgium in the Second Army.

The Second World War 1939-1945: In 1922 the Berkshire Yeomanry were re-established as part of the 99th (Bucks and Berks) Field Brigade RFA. With the doubling of the Territorial Army in 1939, the unit was split into two county regiments and 145 (Berkshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment HA (TA) was born. Embodied at Newbury in September 1939 the Berkshire Yeomanry remained there until moving to Kingston Bagpuize in February 1940. The Regiment was deployed on airfield defence until July 1940 when it was moved to Northern Ireland until returning to England in July 1943. The Regiment was earmarked as one of the units to join the spearhead of the second front. Shortly before D Day, however, they were held back in order to serve as part of the breakthrough that was to follow the initial landings on the Normandy beaches.
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Following better than anticipated progress with the invasion, and fewer casualties, it became War Office policy to make up units in France with individual reinforcements and within a few weeks the Berkshire Yeomanry provided more than fifty fully trained reinforcements. Late in 1944 many of those posted to France were returned to the Regiment and in January 1945 the Regiment sailed to India.

In July 1945 the Berkshire Yeomanry sailed with the invasionary force on Operation Zipper aimed at the recapture of Malaya. Landing on Morib beaches the Regiment was very soon occupied with wholesale rounding up and disarming of the Japanese, who had by then surrendered. After some time in Malaya the Regiment took ship once more for Java to help deal with the native Indonesian uprising against the Colonial Dutch. For a period of several months the Regiment was in the centre of bitter fighting almost daily in close support of Indian and Gurkha infantry brigades. Fighting continued into 1946 and it was not until May 1946 that most of the Regiment were en route back to England.

By May 1947 the Berkshire Yeomanry was reconstituted as two artillery regiments, later combined into 345th (Berkshire Yeomanry) Medium Regiment RA (TA) and in 1957 they became part of 299th Field Regiment HA (TA). In 1967 the Territorial Army was reorganised and the unit at Windsor was re-roled to infantry and became 'A' (Berkshire Yeomanry) Company, Royal Berkshire Territorials.

In January 1969 with the further reorganisation of all TAVR units, the Berkshire Yeomanry were again re-roled and renamed 94 (Berkshire Yeomanry) Signal Squadron with troops at Reading, Windsor, and Southampton. In 1977 a detachment was formed at Chertsey and in 1991, further Government cuts led to the loss of the Troop location at Southampton.

94 (Berkshire Yeomanry) Signal Squadron now forms part of 39 (Skinners) Signal Regiment. They are currently based in three locations. The Headquarters of the Squadron is based in Windsor along with 885 troop and a support troop. The 886 troop TA centre in Chertsey, Surrey, will close at the end of March 2010. A new troop 860 in Aylesbury, the remnants of 60 (Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars) Signal Squadron, has now become part of the squadron.
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Today the squadron serves both at home and abroad. Overseas, the squadron supports NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), providing essential Combat Net Radio communications for the ARRC or international coalition force ensuring that vital orders get passed around the battlefield. This is a unique Territorial Army role for which 94 (Berkshire Yeomanry) Signal Squadron was especially selected.

Such a role means that Berkshire Yeomanry soldiers train at home in the UK, but can also be found detached for short periods to locations as far away as the Balkans, Canada, the United States, and Iraq or Afghanistan.

The Berkshire Yeomanry has a number of battle honours won from Europe to the Far East, including a Victoria Cross won by Private Frederick Potts in the Gallipoli operation In recognition of its service, the Berkshire Yeomanry was granted the freedom of the Royal Borough of Windsor in 1994 on its 200th anniversary, and the freedom of the borough of Runnymede (borough) in July 2009.

The Regiment has its own dedicated museum in Windsor. Founded in 1974 the museum contains a modest collect of regimental artefacts covering the roles, arms and uniforms adopted since its foundation in 1794. The collection also covers the Regiment's activities during the Boer War and the First and Second World Wars.

See also:
- Parish Magazine, esp Sep 1874, Oct 1874, Oct 1875, Aug 1876, May 1887, May 1894.
- The Berkshire Yeomanry 1794-2000, by Simon Frost on BFHS website
- Records of the Militia and Volunteer Forces 1757-1945, by William Spencer, published by the PRO, available from the BFHS Bookshop.

For more information contact:
The Royal Berkshire Yeomanry Cavalry Museum
Territorial Army Centre
Boltnon Road
Windsor
Berkshire SL4 3JG
01753 860600

Updated 15.6.2010