Saturday 26th June 1915: The first regiment of Bedfordshire Yeomanry having recently gone to the front, their comrades of the second line are now eagerly awaiting the time when they too will receive the call, as drafts to make good the inevitable wastage of active service(1). During one of the last inspections before they sailed, the 1st Bedfordshire Yeomanry earned high praise from a well-known General, who said that in his opinion they were the smartest body of Territorial cavalry at that time in the country This high standard is being steadily kept in view by the officers and men of the reserve regiment, which came into being last September, and remembering the fact that the training of a cavalryman is necessarily more difficult and protracted than that of other branches of the service, the progress made has been remarkable. The chief obstacle at first was the lack of horses, but this was soon remedied when the consignments of Canadian horses became more frequent, and the three squadrons have been admirably mounted for several months.
B Squadron has been stationed at Olney since February, A Squadron being at Biddenham and Bromham and C at Turvey. Here for many weeks the broad and picturesque main street of the town of Cowper has echoed the martial sound of the cavalry trumpet, and been enlivened by daily cavalcades as the well-groomed squadron moves out on the drill ground, a mile or two distant. A more ideal training ground than that lying within the charming panorama of grass land and wooded country to be seen from the hills round Olney cannot be conceived; and the comfort of the billets and the kindness of the inhabitants will ever be a pleasant memory to the yeomen when their lot is cast in infinitely less pleasant places. The squadron, under the command of Captain Hodgson, has worked steadily towards efficiency and besides providing three drafts for the first regiment has rendered good service in training horses for the regular cavalry regiments. Capable rough-riding, good food and grooming and, where needed, the attentions of an excellent veterinary staff, have worked wonders in transforming many an unpromising-looking animal into a handsome and handy charger. The intricacies of cavalry drill have speedily been mastered by the men and the morning curriculum is frequently varied by outpost and reconnaissance work, field days and route rides, sword exercise, musketry and bayonet fighting, make a strenuous afternoon and, of course, “Stables” fills up all the time that remains. A good number of recruits from Olney itself and from the neighbouring towns and villages have joined the Yeomanry during its sojourn in Buckinghamshire, which speaks well for the good reputation won by the squadron.
Source: Bedfordshire Standard 25th June 1915
(1) The 2nd/1st Bedfordshire Yeomanry served at home until absorbed into 1st Reserve Cavalry Regiment.
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