List of corps cavalry regiments of the British Army 1916–19


This list includes cavalry regiments assigned to Corps of the British Army in the period 1916–19. On the outbreak of World War I the establishment of a British infantry division included a cavalry squadron for reconnaissance and escort duties. From 1915 these were primarily provided by mounted units of the Special Reserve or Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Force. Early in 1916 the divisional cavalry squadrons were transferred to Army Corps level and formed into composite regiments. However, Trench warfare conditions on the Western Front reduced the utility of mounted troops, and in 1917 most of the corps cavalry regiments were dismounted and drafted as infantry reinforcements, converted into corps cyclist battalions or machine gun battalions. A few were reinstated during 1918. On the other fighting fronts corps cavalry units continued until demobilisation in 1919. The corps cavalry units formed during the war were as follows: