The Staffordshire Yeomanry

Yeomanry began as volunteer cavalry at the time of the French Revolution, enrolled to defend their locality - County, City, Coast - from foreign invasion. They started to serve overseas at the time of the Boer War and after the First World War branched out, mostly into artillery and tanks.

The Staffordshire Yeomanry retained its horses until 1941 when it converted to tanks and served in North Africa, including El Alamein. It was probably the only conventional tank regiment (i.e. not DD or Flail) to land on D-Day, in the Sword area.

Tank Museum photo No 4461/E/4

At this time it formed part of 27th Armoured Brigade, supporting 3rd Infantry Division with 13th/18th Hussars and the East Riding Yeomanry. Like any Sherman regiment at the time it had a quota of Fireflies organised as one in each troop.

Tank Museum photo No 2994/E/4

General Montgomery's plan was to seize the city of Caen on D-Day itself but this proved impossible. The Staffordshire Yeomanry was at the point of this attack but ran into heavy enemy forces heading towards the coast.

Click on map for larger image (50Kb)

In the ensuing fighting, mostly against Panzer IV tanks of Panzer Regiment 22, the Staffordshire Yeomanry halted the German attack.

(these photographs do not necessarily show tanks of the Staffordshire Yeomanry)

The Museum of the Staffordshire Yeomanry,
The Ancient High House,
Greengate Street,
Stafford ST16 2HS