Following on the Cavalry, in the Army List, comes the Yeomanry, which forms part of the Territorial Force. This unit of the Army is divided into Dragoon, Hussar and Lancer divisions, an example of each being the Westminster Dragoons, the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars, and the City of London Rough Eiders. The Dragoons, as a rule, are the only section which carry flags—in all cases they are guidons—but it must be mentioned that some Dragoon regiments display no colours, whilst a certain few of the other divisions possess these emblems, though they may not have received official recognition. Most regiments own drum cloths, but some of those raised since the Boer War carry no drums and, in consequence, wear no drum cloths. In one or two instances, i.e., in the North Somerset Yeomanry, ornamental drums are provided which need no cloth embellishments.

Yeomanry guidons are made of crimson material, edged with gold and red fringe; the pole is surmounted with the Royal lion and crown; and, in most cases, the distinctive badge is ensigned with the Royal crown, and encircled by the union wreath. The only battle honour inscribed on these flags is “South Africa,” but all regiments do not possess it.

The Berks Yeomanry, which has its headquarters at Hungerford, flies the standard pattern of guidon, with a White Horse as central badge. This animal, as revealed on the banner, is a very poor specimen, but as it is an imitation of the one cut in the turf on the downs, we can appreciate the reason for its adoption.

The Derbyshire Yeomanry has the united red and white rose for its badge. This flower is ensigned with the imperial crown and, therefore, the ordinary crown is not placed above and outside the circular label, as is usual.

The Essex Yeomanry boasts of a motto: “Decus et Tutamen” (Honour and safety), which is inscribed on a scroll placed under the badge, consisting of a red escutcheon charged with three seaxes. These weapons are reminders of the county’s connections with bygone Saxon occupation. (Fig. 41.)

The Fife and Forfar Regiment, which hails from Cupar, is proud of its badge, a representation of the Thane of Fife. Readers of Macbeth will remember that Macduff was a descendant of the original Thane of Fife, a fine soldier who obtained a grant of the shire of Fife from Kenneth II. in recognition of his assistance when fighting against the Picts.

The Hampshire Carabiniers have the appropriate device of two carbines in saltire. They also have a rose at each corner of the guidon, white in the first and fourth corners and red in the second and third.

The Herts Yeomanry have a stag for device, whilst the Lanarkshire Yeomanry, a regiment possessing the alternative lengthy title of “Queen’s Own Royal Glasgow and Lower Ward of Lanarkshire,” flies a flag of the ordinary type revealing no particular badge.

The Duke of Lancaster’s Own bear the appropriate red rose of the House of Lancaster, and here we may mention that the Yorkshire Dragoons Yeomanry (Queen’s Own) display the white rose of York.

Lothians and Border Horse Yeomanry show a garb which, in non-heraldic terms, is a shock of corn.

The Montgomeryshire Yeomanry use a red dragon with green wings as the central badge, which is surrounded by a union wreath not of the regulation design.

The Norfolk Yeomanry has broken away from the traditional pattern of guidon. In each of the four comers is the Royal Cypher ensigned with the imperial crown, and in the centre are the Royal Arms. The Royal residence in Norfolk, and the King’s special interest in this county probably account for the presence of these emblems.

The Scottish Horse display the cross of St. Andrew on a blue groundwork, as the central badge, whilst in the four corners is the thistle ensigned with the imperial crown. This is one of the most pleasing guidons of the Yeomanry Force.

The Shropshire Yeomanry have as the central badge on their guidon a rendering of the arms of the Shropshire County Council (i.e., three tigers’ heads).

The Sussex Yeomanry display a badge comprising six martlets perched in three rows, all on a Blue background, whilst the Northamptonshire Yeomanry give another rendering of the well-known white horse.

The Westminster Dragoons, otherwise known as the 2nd County of London Yeomanry, have the Royal Cypher and Crown as central badge, whilst in the first and fourth corners are crossed axes, and in the second and third, Beaufort’s portcullis. These four devices are encircled by a union wreath of special design. (Fig. 42.)

If we leave the Yeomanry guidons, and turn to the drum banners, a more interesting set of emblems will be brought to our notice. The guidons may be accused of possessing a somewhat monotonous semblance one with the other, but this is not a characteristic of the drum cloths. They are gay-coloured, smart in appearance, and endowed with emblematic ornamentation of an interesting nature.

The Ayreshires have a neat crimson cloth, showing a crown, a union wreath, and scrolls bearing the inscription, “The Earl of Carrick’s Own Ayreshire Yeomanry Cavalry.” The Berks’ drum cloth is of the same colour, while the ornamentation consists of the initials R.B.Y.C. in writing, with the imperial crown above, and a crescent and star below. Another crimson cloth is that of the Cheshires, which displays the plume of the Prince of Wales as central badge. The Derbyshire Yeomanry use the red and white rose as on the guidon, but it is worked in gold threads on a crimson cloth. The Royal 1st Devon and the Royal North Devon both bear the Royal Cypher, ensigned with the imperial crown on a crimson groundwork. The former, however, has gold fringe, but the latter, silver-white and blue. The Dorsets display the same royal emblems within a silver laurel wreath, also on crimson. The Hampshires have an elaborate blue cloth, with wide gold fringe, on which appears carbines in saltire, the imperial crown, the red and white rose and a union wreath. The West Kent’s is crimson, and bears the white county horse within the garter, surmounted by an imperial crown. The motto, “Invicta” (Unconquered), and the inscription “West Kent Yeomanry,” are woven into a laurel wreath. A blue cloth is used by the Lanarkshire (Queen’s Own) Yeomanry. The design is neat, fairly simple, and consists of the Royal Cypher, within a garter, ensigned by the imperial crown, and surrounded by a wreath of thistles. The Lancashire Hussars also carry a crimson banner; it bears the Royal Cypher, interlaced, surmounted by the imperial crown, and has below it the Lancastrian rose. A wreath of red roses encircles these devices. The Duke of Lancaster’s Own is a dark blue fabric having, as central badge, the three lions of England on a shield surcharged with a white label or bar having three points. The imperial crown also appears, and the whole is framed by a laurel and oak wreath. The red rose ensigned by a crown figures in the two lower corners. The City of London Rough Riders have an attractive purple banner bearing the City arms within a circle and a wreath. The 1st County of London, better known as the Duke of Cambridge’s Hussars, favours a green cloth, having, as central badge, a seven-pointed crowned star, within a wreath. The Duke’s cypher appears in the four corners, and the regimental motto, “Pro aris et focis,” is given on the star. Another green banner is that of the 3rd County of London Sharpshooters. This appointment is ornamented with a pair of crossed rifles and a crown within a circle, ensigned with the imperial crown and framed by a wreath of laurel. Lothians and Border Horse Yeomanry have a blue banner, revealing the garb, before mentioned, and a wreath of thistles. The Montgomeryshire Yeomanry display a crimson cloth embellished, in the centre, by a rose, thistle, and shamrock springing from a single stalk. (Cf. the regimental standard of the 2nd Life Guards, Fig. 9). In the first and fourth corners is the White Horse of Hanover, and in the second and third corners, the Red Dragon of Wales. The Northumberland Hussars display a blue cloth in the centre of which figures the regimental cypher, with a crown above. On a scroll appears the name of the regiment, and two sprays of golden laurel complete the ornamentation. A banner of mantua-purple cloth belongs to the Oxfordshire Yeomanry. It bears the regimental cypher and a laurel wreath, both in silver, an imperial crown, in gold, and three red scrolls, inscribed, “Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars.” The Shropshire Yeomanry drum cloth carries the same device as the guidon, but it is blue, and has the motto, “Floreat Salopia” (Flourish Shropshire). The well-known Stafford knot, which has belonged to the heads of the Stafford family from earliest times, appears as the central badge on the blue drum cloth of the Staffordshire Yeomanry. The fringe of this banner is unusual, being for the most part, triangles of gold and silver embroidery. The Suffolk Yeomanry uses a green cloth, in the centre of which figures the castle and key, and the date 1793, devices to remind us of the siege of Gibraltar. A golden laurel wreath is also given, as well as the motto, “Liberty, property, loyalty.” This is a very fine appointment. The Royal Wiltshires, having the alternative title of “Prince of Wales’s Own,” naturally reveals the plume of the Prince. This is shown in a garter, which is surmounted by the Royal lion and crown; all on a crimson cloth. The Yorkshire Dragoons and the Yorkshire Hussars must not be confused. The first has a blue cloth bearing the white rose and the title, “Queen’s Own,” whilst the second displays a deep scarlet, almost black, drum banner, with the white rose, the plume of the Prince of Wales, and the title “Princess of Wales’s Own.”

In our limited space it has only been possible to give the chief features of these drum banners—sufficient, however, to assist the reader in recognising the appointments. They are, we must add, of the utmost beauty, and equal in point of interest to those of the regular Cavalry.