# Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry

The Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry (SNIY) is a reserve light cavalry regiment created in 2014 as part of the restructuring of the British Army's Army Reserve. It is operationally paired with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, based at Leuchars Station in Fife, Scotland. The regiment has numerous squadrons across Scotland and Northern Ireland.

## History

On 31 October 2014, under the Army 2020 plan, the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry was formed from the regimental headquarters of the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry and three squadrons of the Queen's Own Yeomanry. The new regiment was also to include the Lothians and Border Horse, which was re-raised shortly thereafter. As of October 2021, it consists of:
* Regimental headquarters, at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh
* A (Ayrshire (Earl of Carrick's Own) Yeomanry) Squadron, in Ayr
* B (North Irish Horse) Squadron, in Belfast and Coleraine
* C (Fife and Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish Horse) Squadron, in Cupar
* E (Lothians and Border Horse) Squadron, at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh — E Sqn acts as the Command and Support Squadron of the regiment.
In accordance with the Strategic Defence and Security Review (2020), the regiment is paired with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in the light cavalry role. It is primarily equipped with the Jackal reconnaissance vehicle, having converted from the RWIMIK platform. The regiment was formerly under the control of 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland, but came under control of 19th Brigade in 2022; it is the only army reserve armoured unit in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
In 2018, the regiment was present with its first regimental guidon by Frank Ross, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, on behalf of the Sovereign.

## Recruitment

The regiment recruits soldiers from around the Scottish counties of Lanarkshire, Lothian, Angus and Ayrshire, and from Northern Ireland.

## Lineage

| 1908 Haldane Reforms | 1957 Defence White Paper | 1966 Defence White Paper | 1992 Options for Change | 1998 Strategic Defence Review | 2012 Army 2020 |
| Ayrshire (Earl of Carrick's Own) Yeomanry | Ayrshire (Earl of Carrick's Own) Yeomanry | A Squadron, Queen's Own Yeomanry | A Squadron, Scottish Yeomanry | A Squadron, Queen's Own Yeomanry | A Squadron, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry |
| North Irish Horse | North Irish Horse | D Squadron, Royal Yeomanry | North Irish Horse (Independent Squadron) | B Squadron, Queen's Own Yeomanry | B Squadron, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry |
| Fife and Forfar Yeomanry | Fife and Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish Horse | (Suspended Animation) | C Squadron, Scottish Yeomanry | C Squadron, Queen's Own Yeomanry | C Squadron, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry |
| Scottish Horse | Fife and Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish Horse | (Suspended Animation) | C Squadron, Scottish Yeomanry | C Squadron, Queen's Own Yeomanry | C Squadron, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry |
| Lothian and Border Horse | Queen's Own Lowland Yeomanry | (Suspended Animation) | HQ Squadron, Scottish Yeomanry | (Suspended Animation) | E Squadron, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry |
| Lanarkshire Yeomanry | Queen's Own Lowland Yeomanry | (Suspended Animation) | B Squadron Scottish Yeomanry | B Squadron Scottish Yeomanry | (Suspended Animation) | (Suspended Animation) |
| Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry | Queen's Own Lowland Yeomanry | (Suspended Animation) | B Squadron Scottish Yeomanry | B Squadron Scottish Yeomanry | (Suspended Animation) | (Suspended Animation) |

## Freedoms

The regiment has received the freedom of several locations throughout its history; these include:
* 6 May 2014: South Ayrshire ("A" Squadron).
* 1 February 2016: Mid and East Antrim ("B" Squadron).
* 6 July 2019: East Lothian ("E" Squadron).
* 2 April 2022: Edinburgh ("E" Squadron).