Honourary Military Appointments

Royal Wessex Yeomanry

The Royal Wessex Yeomanry Regiment was  formed on 1 April 1971 after the re-organisation of squadrons from the cadres of three other regiments,  T he Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry (RWY), The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars (RGH) and the Royal Devon Yeomanry (RDY)/1st Rifle Volunteers .  During this time the regiment had a headquarters and maintained four squadrons in its infantry. In the early 1980s the group was re-modeled to become a Reconnaissance squadron and became the military Home Defense Reconnaissance Regiment for parts of southern and eastern England.  The Regiment was granted its Royal title on 8 June 1979.  Another defense review in the 1990s.   The Reconnaissance squadrons were reduced and a new HQ Squadron was formed. In 1998 the Strategic Defense Review (SDR) of 1998. merged the regiment with The Dorset Yeomanry and again re-organised and shifted its purpose for another role. 

Today the Regiment  is made up of a Regimental Headquarters and four squadrons. Regimental Headquarters is shared between the Dorset Yeomanry Squadron in Bovington, Dorset. B ( Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry) Squadron is based in Old Sarum, Wiltshire, C ( Royal Gloucestershire Hussars ) Squadron is based in Cirencester, Gloucestershire and D ( Royal Devon Yeomanry ) Squadron is based in Barnstaple, Devon.  They also various roles within the armed forces.  The Royal Witshire Yeomanry, Royal Glocestershire Hussars and the Royal Devon Yeomanry provide replacement crew for the Challenger 2 turret for the regular army.  The Regimental headquarters and the Dorset Yeomanry Armour Replacement Squadron develop amour replacement doctrine and provide infilstructure to the Logistic brigades.  All squadrons provide officers and senior NCO's as liaison officers and watch keepers to the regular army.  At the moment the regiment has 40 members in support of the regular army in Iraq.

Edward's Role in the Regiment

The role of colonel in chief is very much a honourary figurehead position.  Prince Edward will represent the regiment as a solid body and not in its individual squadrons, thus providing a unifying point.  Edward also represents the regiment at events such as memorials and parades.