Pre 1900

Lt. J H T , Lord Kestevan

Gazetted (London), Transferred to be a Machine Gun Commander date 10th March 1900. Holding the temporary rank of Lieutenant in the army.

Sergeant 1941 William Small (16th Queens Lancers)

(Photo taken on the 28th of January 1896 at the Jubilee of the Battle of ALIWAL, "The Waterloo of India", he was one of surviving members of the battle.)

Was born about 1821 in Hertfordshire and attested with the 16th Light Dragoons
(Lancers) on 13 November 1839. He served a total of 24 years 146 days with the colours - twelve
years and two months of that time in India. He transferred to the 3rd Light Dragoons on 1 April 1846. He was promoted Corporal on 14 April 1844, Sergeant on 8 December 1848. He was tried by court martial and reduced to Private on 22 May, 1850. He transferred back to the 16th Lancers on  1 July, 1853 as a Private and promoted again to Corporal on 1 January, 1856 but in keeping with his ongoing pattern was again reduced to Private on 5 November, 1856. Promoted back to Corporal on 13 August, 1859 and then again to Sergeant on 6 May, 1863. He took his discharge at York on 9 April, 1864. Small took a posting as Troop Staff Sergeant with the Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry on 14 April 1864 and served in that capacity until 17 July, 1875. His discharge being prompted by ill-health. At the termination of his volunteer service he was granted a £9 gratuity. His total years of service in the regulars and yeomanry come to 35 years 149 days.

Lt.Col. Frederick Gordon Blair

Commandant 1895-1905

The annual routine of the Regiment was interrupted in 1902 when a party was sent to London to represent the regiment at the coronation of Edward VII. On this occasion, Colonel Blair, riding abreast with other officers of the Militia and Volunteers, had the honour of representing the entire yeomanry force in the King's procession from Buckingham palace. In 1906, he became the regiments third Honorary Colonel after the death of Colonel Baillie. The Colonel was Aide de Camp to King George V from 1914 to 1920.

Frederick Gordon Blair was born on 11 November 1852 the son of Captain W F Blair R.N. of Blair, Dalry, Ayrshire, Scotland. He was educated at Harrow School (The Grove) from Easter 1867 to Easter 1868. Blair was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant in the 14th (King’s) Hussars on 26 March 1873. He transferred to the 16th Lancers in 1874.

Lt.Col. F G Blair seen here in c1900 whilst in command of the PAOLYC, seated alongside Col. R W Chandos-Pole of the DYC 1898 -1905. Both Regiments made up the 6th Brigade (Yeomanry) and were on camp together at Aston-on-Trent.

Back Row: Lt. W F Martin, ?, ?, Capt. Muir, ?, ?, ?, ?, Lt. W Byron, Lt. The Hon P C Evans-Freke

Front Row: Major E de Lisle, Major Harrison, ?, Major Peake, Lt. Col. F G Blair.

The PAOLYC officers and the DYC Officers together c1900.

The two colonels of the respective regiments are Lt. Col. F G Blair LYC and Lt.Col. Chandos-Pole DYC sitting either side of the Lt. Col of the 10th Hussars (seated centre) who is probably a 6th Brigade VIP.

C Squadron in Croxton Park, May 1899.

Lt. FW Martin can be seen seated on the floor furthest left in the officer group and possibly Captain de Lisle on his second left.

Trooper William Hardy (b.1878 - d.1961)

William is pictured here in 1897 in the stable yard of the home farm of the Hardy family in Rearsby, Leicestershire. The picture, below shows, the farm as it is today, you can recognise the outbuildings from the photo (Photos: Vic Chapman, Grandson of William).

Captain E M P de Lisle

Pictured above in PAOLYC Hussar Captains uniform, Squire Everard March Phillips de Lisle (1862-1947) commanded C Squadron from 1902-6. He was a Leiutenant from the 26th June 1886, Captain from the 2nd July 1892 and Major from 18th June 1902. In 1906 he was appointed High Sheriff of Leicestershire and from 1907-47 he served as Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire. The de Lisle family now live at Quenby Hall in Leicestershire and have always kept close links with the modern regiment and Squadron.

Garendon Hall, Leicestershire.

Owned by the de Lisle family and the setting for many an annual camp for the PAOLYC. Sadly this great house was demolished in 1964 because of death duties, War time neglect and urban growth.

'Image from Lost Heritage - a memorial to England's lost country houses'

 A history of Garendon Hall can be found at:

http://lh.matthewbeckett.com/houses/lh_leicestershire_garendonhall.html.

Lt.Col. James W Baillie

Commandant 1882-1895. Illston Grange, formerly called Illston New Grange and later Illston Hall, was built for Col. J. W. Baillie From: 'Illston on the Hill', A History of the County of Leicestershire: Volume 5: Gartree Hundred (1964), pp. 163-166. He was the regiments second Honorary Colonel. Illston Grange, formerly called Illston New Grange and later Illston Hall, was built for Col. J. W. Baillie, who, until 1895, was Colonel Commanding the Leicestershire Yeomanry. The house, which was of red brick, was demolished in 1927 after the death of his heir, Lt.-Col. F. D. M. Baillie. There had originally been a small farm on the site and the property is once more a farm. The large stable block with its central clock tower has been left standing and is now used as a riding stables.

The Colonel's daughter Violet Maude M. Baillie, born 1870 in St. Georges Hannover Square, and in the 1881 census, for the family of four plus a visiting Uncle there were listed no less than 17 servants in their second residence in Leicestershire: Illston Grange.  There were 3 Grooms, 2 Footmen, a French Governess, Housekeeper, Lady's Maid, Cook, Kitchen Maid, 3 Housemaids, Still Room Maid, Scullery Maid, School Room Maid & Young Ladies Maid.

Violet married 'Robert Andrew Falkner' in 1891. She died aged 63 in 1935.

Sgt. Major Instructor J H Hickinbotham

James Henry, lived at 11, Cobden Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire in 1893.

The Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry parading through Humberstone Gate in Leicester c1890s

Two mounted Leicestershire Yeoman in front of Oakham
Castle, Rutland c1890s

All of the Officers of the LYC in 1885 (with and without hats), on the visit of the Duke of Cambridge.

LYC NCOs c1895

Major and Hon Lt.Col. TA Henry

Resigned 1895

Captain Viscount G R P Curzon

c1895

Thomas Kane McClintock Bunbury, 2nd Baron Rathdonnell (1848 - 1929)
Friday February 26th 1891: On his 18th wedding anniversary, TK resigns his commission as a Captain in Prince Albert's Own Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry.

Henry Nicholson  junior (b.1825- d.1907)
Pictured above c1895, made his first public appearance in 1836, when he took his place with
his father’s Duke of Rutland’s Band for a concert held
on the Wharf Street Cricket Ground. From an early age Henry showed his musical talent both as a player and a composer, writing, in celebration
of the Queen’s visit to the town in 1843, a march
that was later to be adapted as the
Regimental March of the Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry.

29 July 1863

Horticultural Show and Band Contest - Moira, near Ashby-de-la-Zouch Prince Albert's Own Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry Band (by permission of Colonel the Right Hon, the Earl Howe) was engaged for the occasion, and directed by Mr. Nicholson, the bandmaster. The members of this band played with great spirit and skill the following selection of music:

Wedding March - Mendelssohn. .
Valse, "Garendon" - Mrs. A. de Lisle.
Overture, "Zauberflote" - Mozart.
Grand Selection, "Robert le Diable" - Meyerbeer.
Polka, "Eclipse" - Koenig (Cornet Obligato, Mr. W. Seal.)
Grand March, composed for the opening of the International
Exhibition, 1862 - Auber.
Galop, "Early Morn - J. P. Clarke
Overture, "Bohemian Girl" - Balfe.
Operatic Selection. "Un Ballo in Maschera" - Verdi.
Quintett, "Blow Gentle Gales" - Bishop

Henry Clarke.
Henry Clarke's shop at 37 1/2 Gallowtree Gate in about 1883, probably run by one of his sons. At this time the firm were armourers to Prince Albert's Own Leicester Yeomanry Cavalry.

Known as "Prince Albert's Yeomanry Cavalry" (Robert Read's, "Modern Leicester", 1881)

Major The Hon. W. H. Curzon
  Major, the Hon. William Henry Curzon, late of the 17th Light Dragoons, died yesterday (Tuesday, Jan 6, 1914) at his residence, 17 Eccleston Square, S.W., in his 87th year.
  He was the fifth son of the first Earl Howe, and served in the Crimea, receiving the medal and clasp and the Turkish medal, and in Central India.   At one time he held a commission (Lt.Colonel) in the Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry.
  He married first, in 1870, Beatrice Louisa Margaret (who died in 1873), second daughter of Mr. Alexander Page, and secondly, in 1874, Emily, youngest daughter of Mr. Frederick Cowper, of Carlton Hall, Penrith.

Sergeant W.I. Iliffe
D. Troop, Leicester Yeomanry Cavalry Sword Prize 1877-8

19th Century Presentation Sword with engraved blade, inscribed, “Sergeant W.I. Iliffe D. Troop, Leicester Yeomanry Cavalry Sword Prize 1877-8”.

Colonel Palmer

The Hon. Charles Powys

(Left) Lt.Col Commandant PAOLYC 1876-1878

Circa 1860s, nice condition. In the image he is wearing the medals he won early in his career - one medal with the Chilianwala and Goojerat clasps, and the other likely with the Delhi, Lucknow and Relief of Lucknow clasps as he was "there".

The Hon. Charles Powys (Major Powys) was Lt. Col Commandant 1876-1878, Prince Albert’s Own, Leicestershire’s Yeomanry Cavalry. He served in the Sikh War and the Indian Rebellion (b. 4 Mar 1813; d. 16 Oct 1897), mar. (1) 29 Mar 1836 Mary Kennedy (dsp. 12 Feb 1854), Powys was also a Colonel in the 9th lancers and was the son of 2nd Baron Lilford.

Here's his obituary: Powys died at Pimlico, aged 84, He entered the Royal Navy, 1826, and was present on the HMS Blonde at the taking of the Morea Castle, 1828. In 1881 he entered the 9th Lancers, and served through the Punjab Campaign, 1848-9 (Passage of the Chenab at Ramnuggur and Battles of Chillianwallah and Goojerat (Medal with two clasps), and afterwards with much distinction through the Indian Mutiny, 1857-9. Married, first, 1836, Mary, daughter of William Scott Kennedy; and second, 1854, Agnes Ann. daughter of John Richards.

Has his portrait in the National Portrait Gallery by Camille Silvy albumen print, 28 January 1861.

Sir George Ernest Paget

Bt. JP (1841-1923), of Sutton Bonnington Hall, was the son of Mr. George Byng Paget, director and later chairman of the Midland Counties Railway. He was educated at Harrow, and served in the 7th Hussars, the Royal Horse Guards and the Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry attaining the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. In 1870 he became a director of the Midland Railway going on to be Chairman in 1891.

Commissions signed by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Leicester, 1871.

Prince Albert's Own Leicestershire Volunteer Cavalry

J D Craddock, Gent.

John Davys, gazetted (London), To be Cornet, vice Sutton, promoted. Dated 10th August 1871.

George Terry (Charge of the Light Brigade Veteran)

Formerly of the 17th Lancers  and then Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry.

Yorkshire man by birth, Burton resident for large periods of his life and until his death - he is one of a select band to have taken part in one of the most notorious military operations in history. The Charge of the Light Brigade, during the Crimean War, has attained almost mythical status in the 154 years since it took place - a tale of heroic British cavalrymen sent on an almost suicidal assault into the teeth of the heavy guns of the opposing Russian army.

However, the part played in the charge by George Terry has remained largely unknown until now, with the publication of Balaclava Heroes: Midlands Survivors of the Charge of the Light Brigade, by Christopher Poole, an author based in Hamstall Ridware, near Abbots Bromley. The book tells the stories of 21 Midlands-based veterans of the charge, among them Terry and another Midlands veteran Reilly, both of the 17th Lancers. As Mr Poole explains, the charge is remembered as much for the heroism of the troops taking part in it as for the bungling of their commanders, men such as the Earl of Cardigan. "It was a terrible blunder," he says. "The commanders gave the order to charge and the very impetuous chap who carried the message and pointed which way they should charge - Louis Edward Nolan - pointed in the wrong direction. "The idea was to go and get some of the redoubts (forts) that were under attack, but instead they charged right into the oncoming guns. "The men would have been facing great heavy cannonballs flying along the valley floor, smashing into the horses, and some of the men literally lost their heads. There were mortars flying and they were being fired at by musket and rifle from both sides of the valley." Of the 673 cavalrymen taking part in the charge, 118 were killed and a similar number were taken prisoner, with the majority of the horses killed or wounded. The reckless nature of the charge prompted the French general Pierre Bosquet to exclaim: "C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre - c'est de la folie." ("It's magnificent, but it isn't war - it's madness.")

After the war, George Terry continued to have distinguished military career. He received the Crimea Medal for the part he played in the campaign. After serving with the Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry, Terry, along with wife Harriet, ran the Saracen's Head pub, in Bridge Street, Burton, which today forms part of the Three Queens Hotel site. After he died, on April 4, 1881, Burton people showed the regard they held for the hero of Balaclava by lining the streets all the way from the town centre to his final resting place at Stapenhill Cemetery, to pay their respects.

Balaclava Heroes: Midlands Survivors of the Charge of the Light Brigade, by Christopher Poole, priced at £10 including postage and packing, is available from JWB, 280 Liverpool Road, Eccles, M30 0RZ or by telephoning 0161 7076455.

Ernest Braithwaite (Charge of the Light Brigade Veteran)

LYC Commissions 1861

Prince Albert's Own Leicestershire Yeomanry
Cavalry.
MEMORANDUM c1860.
Her Majesty has been pleased to accept the
resignations of Cornet George Warwick Hunt
and Cornet Thomas Henry Farquhar of the Commissions
they hold in the above Regiment.

Major. John Bainbrigge Story of Lockington, J.P., D.L.

 Prince Albert's Own Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry, a noted fox hunter, and some time Master of the Quorn Hunt. He was born at Woodborough on the 29th July, baptized at Lockington on the 18th November, 1812, educated at Eton and Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He died on the 7th January, 1872, and was buried on the 11th at Lockington. M.I. to be seen there. After his decease the manor and estate were offered for sale. On the 20th June, 1872, the same were sold to Nathaniel Charles Curzon, Esq., of Derby.

Coronet The Right Hon. E B Wilbraham, Lord Skelmersdale to be Captain PAOLYC (Aug. 8th 1859).

LYC Commissions 1859

LYC Commissions 1857

Coronet Willam Unwin Heygate

He was born on 12 March 1825 and christened on 06 June 1825 at North Mimms. Commissioned a Cornet of Prince Albert's Own Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry on 14 May 1852. On 6 May 1852 he married Constance Mary Beaumont. Justice of the Peace. Treasurer of the Billesdon, Blaby, Hinkley and Barrow upon Soar Union Workhouses in 1899. Unsuccessful Conservative candidate for Parliament for Bridport, 1857. MP for Leicestershire, 1861-1865. Purchased the manor of Brent Pelham, Brent Pelham Hall, in 1859.

Lt. C Packe
Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry c 1859

Colonel Swinfen, of the Leicestershire Yeomanry,

From an Auction in the UK in 1997: A painting of Colonel Swinfen holding a saddled charger in the grounds of a barracks signed and dated 'C.L. Ferneley/Melton Mowbray 1852' (lower right) oil on canvas 20 x 26 in. (50.8 x 66 cm.).

Captain William Henry Curzon

1853

Major Edward Basil Farnham

c1837-59, JP for Leicestershire and MP for North Leicestershire.

Commissions signed by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Leicester.

Prince Albert's Own Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry—Captain Edward Basil Farnham to be Major, vice Packe, resigned; March 6. Lieutenant Hampden Clement to be Captain, vice

Farnham, promoted; March 6. Cornet Sir George Howland Beaumont, Bart. to be Lieut., vice Clement, promoted; March 6. The Hon, Gerald James Noel to be Cornet, vice Russell, promoted; March 6. George Henry Littledale, Gent. to be Cornet, vice Heygate, promoted; April 12. Cornet the Hon. William Henry Curzon to be Lieutenant, vice Arkwright, resigned; May 14. William Unwin Heygate, Gent. to be Cornet, vice Beaumont, promoted; May 14.

LYC Commissions 1852

Commissions signed by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Leicester, 1842.

Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry

Cornet H C Woodock

Henry Clewer, gazetted (London), To be Lieutenant, vice Pochen, resigned. Dated 18th March 1842.

Cornet J Philips

John, gazetted (London), To be Lieutenant, vice Bent, resigned. Dated 15th August 1842.

J P Mancott, Gent.

James Powell, gazetted (London), To be Cornet, vice Smith, resigned. Dated 15th April 1842

Francis Smith, Gent.

Henry Clewer, gazetted (London), To be Cornet, vice Philips, promoted. Dated 15th August 1842

Coronet Hon. Edward Southwell

1844

From the London Gazette

Queen Victoria's & Prince Albert's visit to the City of Leicester c1844. A section of Leicestershire Yeomanry can be seen in Bell Top Shako Helmets in the bottom left corner of the etching.