OY

The Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars

The Yeomanry regiments began to be formed for home defence during the Napoleonic Wars. The first Oxford unit was the Oxfordshire Fencible Cavalary, the forerunners of the Yeomanry.

Their service was not distinguished in their early years, but the regiment - originally simply the "Oxfordshire Yeomanry" (hence "OY") - gradually developed its identity and became very much a feature of life in the county; indeed, at times it mirrored the social structure. 

After decades of increasingly glorious uniforms, life suddenly became serious when volunteers from the regiment joined the Imperial Yeomanry in the Boer War, and lives were lost. 

An impetus to proper soldiering was the membership of Winston Churchill as the commander of the Henley Squadron for several years; he ensured high standards, which served them well during 4 years active service in France in the Great War. 

In subsequent years they became artillery, anti-tank and artillery units; some served in the Far East, many as prisoners on the Death Railway, others in Europe, where they had the doubtful distinction of being the first Allied troops into Belsen.

Now, in the 21st Century, with numbers severely reduced, they are a specialist Signals unit, but their Yeomanry heart beats strongly.

Like many other regiments, the Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars has battle honours.