What branch of the Army ?

[ScouseBoy]

Certainly not a stupid question. In WWI the British Army in Europe had 25 cavalry divisions. There was a 1st Cavalry Division in the early part of WWII. It was converted to 10th Armoured Division in Syria August 1941. There were horsed units in Italy 1943 - 1944, but not as cavalry.

In addition to that, Horses were used for transport purposes by the Army Service Corps.

And the Royal Horse Artillery to pull the Gun Carriages.

I watched a TV programme, perhaps last year,  about the immediate procurement at the very beginning of WW1  for the Army to buy or procure  thousands of Horses.

On another thread here on rootschat  I have read that Horses were transported from Canada and the USA.

[Jebber]

Thousands of horses were imported from America for Army in WW1, read about The Remount Service of the ASC.

http://www.1914-1918.net/ASC_Remounts.html

[John915]

Good evening,

In answer to your question about the cartridge belt, it tells us 2 things.

Firstly the shape of each pouch shows he carried his ammo in 5 round chargers, 2 per pouch.

This tells us he carried a lee enfield made after 1906, so either a SMLE or a cavalry carbine which had a shorter barrel.

John915

[Pat1652]

To John915
Would you say 'Fred' was a mounted soldier with his long boots and whip.
Pat

[Pat1652]

To anyone kind enough to reply
Who were the Yeomanry soldiers? Were they on horses?
Sorry for my obvious female questions
I think my Dad wanted a Son.......................
Pat

[John915]

Good evening,

Yes he was a mounted soldier.

The Yeomanry were volunteers, the mounted arm of the "TA" as they would become in 1908. So part time soldiers.

John915

[jess5athome]

............................................................
Sorry for my obvious female questions
I think my Dad wanted a Son.......................
Pat

Bless ya! made me smile 

As John915 says. definitely a "Mounted" man. 

Regards
Frank.

[ScouseBoy]

The Mod  has renamed the unit which currently buys, trains, and cares for Horses (and dogs)  as the Defence Animal Centre  at Melton Mowbray.

Try having a search for Defence Animal Centre  on the internet.

[jim1]

The 2nd. photo shows the men at annual camp. Attending an annual camp for 2 weeks was part of their contract.
So unless anyone's got another Regt. in mind it looks like East Kent (Imperial) Yeomanry (mounted rifles).
Most probably D Troop who were based in Ashford in Kent.