Last modified: 2010-12-18 by rob raeside
Keywords: inns of court and city yeomanry | city yeomanry |
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Yeomanry is a designation used by a number of units or sub-units of the
British Territorial Army, descended from volunteer cavalry regiments. Today
Yeomanry units may serve in a variety of different military roles. Yeomanry in
20th century usually served as armoured car regiment. Originally in 17th and
18th century yeoman was the designation of a special kind of a farmer who owned
the land he cultivated as opposed to a peasant, also called freeholder. The
officers however were nobles of the local gentry. They served as volunteers and
had the right to refuse any service overseas.
For further information click:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeoman.
In order to improve the country's defences under the threat of invasion by France in the 1790s volunteer regiments were raised in many counties from yeomen. During the first half of 19th century, Yeomanry Regiments were often used as a riot squad. But when this role was overtaken by police the Yeomanry concentrated on local defence. In 1901 all yeomanry regiments were redesignated as "Imperial Yeomanry", and reorganised in order to serve overseas. They were needed for the 2nd Boer War. In 1908, the Imperial Yeomanry was merged with the Volunteer Force to form the Territorial Force, of which it became the cavalry arm. For further information click: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeomanry.
Description of flag:
It is a green over grey over blue horizontal
tricolour with the badge in its centre. The badge has a wreath of laurel topped
by the royal crown, all in natural colour with a golden ribbon at its bottom
with inscription in black, dotted capitals; “I.C.&C.Y.” In the centre of the
wreath are the arms of the Inns of Court. The shields are forming a cross with
the middle base points pointing to the centre. The “cross” is superimposed by
the arms of the city of London. The shields of the four Inns of Court are those
of Lincolns Inn (top; blue shield with golden tools and a red rampant lion in a
golden canton), Middle Temple (hoist; cross of St. George superimposed by a
golden paschal lamb), Inner Temple (fly-end; silver Pegasus in a blue field) and
finally Gray’s Inn (bottom; golden griffin in a black field fimbriated golden).
Source: I spotted the pattern at the doorplate of the HQ in London-Holborn.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 29 October 2010