Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry
Military unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry (SNIY) is a reserve light cavalry regiment created in 2014 as part of the restructuring of the British Army's Army Reserve. It is operationally paired with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, based at Leuchars Station in Fife, Scotland. The regiment has numerous squadrons across Scotland and Northern Ireland.
| The Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry | |
|---|---|
| |
| Active | 31 October 2014 – present |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Yeomanry |
| Role | Light cavalry |
| Size | Regiment |
| Part of | Royal Armoured Corps |
| Regimental Headquarters | Redford Barracks, Edinburgh |
| Motto | Per Vigilans (Ever Vigilant) |
| Colors | Deep Brunswick Green with St Andrew's Blue over and under |
| March |
|
| Anniversaries | 24 May - Hitler Line (North Irish Horse) |
| Equipment | Jackal 2 / Coyote TSV |
| Battle Honours | South Africa 1900-02, Marne 1914, St Quentin Canal, Cambrai 1918, Gallipoli, Jerusalem, Dunkirk, N.W. Europe 1944-45, Djebel Rmel, Tunis, Longstop Hill, Hitler Line, Gothic Line |
| Website | Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry |
| Commanders | |
| Commanding Officer | Lt Col Ross Anderson |
| Honorary Colonel | Col Magnus von Schutz Cormack, QVRM, TD, VR[1] |
| Insignia | |
| Arm Badge | Maple Leaf for North Irish Horse (Battle Honour from Hitler Line) |
| Tartan | A Squadron - Hunting Erskine and Royal Stewart for pipers B Squadron - Ulster Tartan (modern) C Squadron - Murray of Atholl (modern) E Squadron - "Hound's Tooth" tartan for pipe bag covers |
History
On 31 October 2014, under the Army 2020 plan, the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry was formed from the regimental headquarters of the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry and three squadrons of the Queen's Own Yeomanry.[2][3] The new regiment was also to include a unit designated the Lothians and Border Horse squadron, which was re-raised shortly thereafter.[4]
In 2018, the regiment was present with its first regimental guidon by Frank Ross, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, on behalf of the Sovereign.[2]
In the 2020s, the regiment was re-organised to include a unit designated the Lovat Scouts squadron.[5][6]
Organisation
As of June 2026, it consists of:[5]
- Regimental headquarters, at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh
- A (Ayrshire (Earl of Carrick's Own) Yeomanry) Squadron, in Ayr[7][8]
- B (North Irish Horse) Squadron, in Belfast and Coleraine[9]
- C (Fife and Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish Horse) Squadron, in Cupar and Aberdeen[10]
- E (Lothians and Border Horse) Squadron, in Edinburgh[5]
- HQ (Lovat Scouts) Squadron, (including Pipes and Drums), in Edinburgh[5]
In accordance with the Strategic Defence and Security Review (2020), the regiment is paired with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in the light cavalry role. It is primarily equipped with the Jackal reconnaissance vehicle, having converted from the RWIMIK platform.[11] The regiment was formerly under the control of 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland, but came under control of 19th Brigade in 2022;[12] it is the only army reserve armoured unit in Scotland and Northern Ireland.[2][3]
Recruitment
The regiment recruits soldiers from around the Scottish counties of Lanarkshire, Lothian, Angus and Ayrshire, and from Northern Ireland.[13]
Lineage
| 1908 Haldane Reforms | 1957 Defence White Paper | 1966 Defence White Paper | 1992 Options for Change | 1998 Strategic Defence Review | 2012 Army 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayrshire (Earl of Carrick's Own) Yeomanry | A Squadron, Queen's Own Yeomanry | A Squadron, Scottish Yeomanry | A Squadron, Queen's Own Yeomanry | A Squadron, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry | |
| North Irish Horse | D Squadron, Royal Yeomanry | North Irish Horse (Independent Squadron) | B Squadron, Queen's Own Yeomanry | B Squadron, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry | |
| Fife and Forfar Yeomanry | Fife and Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish Horse | (Suspended Animation) | C Squadron, Scottish Yeomanry | C Squadron, Queen's Own Yeomanry | C Squadron, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry |
| Scottish Horse | |||||
| Lothian and Border Horse | Queen's Own Lowland Yeomanry | (Suspended Animation) | HQ Squadron, Scottish Yeomanry | (Suspended Animation) | E Squadron, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry |
| Lanarkshire Yeomanry | B Squadron Scottish Yeomanry | (Suspended Animation) | |||
| Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry | |||||
Freedoms
The regiment has received the freedom of several locations throughout its history; these include:
6 May 2014: South Ayrshire ("A" Squadron).[14]
1 February 2016: Mid and East Antrim ("B" Squadron).[15]- 6 July 2019: East Lothian ("E" Squadron).[16][17]
- 2 April 2022: Edinburgh ("E" Squadron).[18][19][20]
