3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) | |
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![]() Badge and service cap as worn at the outbreak of the Second World War | |
Active | 23 July 1901 – 1 May 1961 |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Yeomanry (First World War) Royal Armoured Corps (Second World War) |
Size | Three Regiments (First World War) Two Regiments (Second World War) |
Garrison/HQ | Allitsen Road, St John's Wood |
Engagements | First World War |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | William Onslow, 6th Earl of Onslow |
The 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) was a Yeomanry regiment of the British Army. It was raised in 1901 from Second Boer War veterans of the Imperial Yeomanry. During the First World War it served dismounted at Gallipoli, was remounted to serve in Macedonia, Egypt and Palestine, before being converted to machine gunners for service on the Western Front. 2nd and 3rd Line units remained in the United Kingdom throughout.
Between the wars, it was converted to an Armoured Car Company before being expanded back to regimental size and forming a duplicate regiment, the 4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters). Both regiments served throughout the North African Campaign (notably at El Alamein), before moving on to Sicily (3rd CLY) and Italy. Both regiments returned to the United Kingdom in time to prepare for the opening of the Second Front.
Due to losses, and a shortage of replacement personnel and equipment, the regiments were amalgamated in August 1944 as 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters). The regiment went on to serve throughout the North-West Europe Campaign, ending the war in Germany.
Post-war, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) reformed as a Territorial Army armoured regiment in 1947. In 1961 the regiment merged with the Kent Yeomanry to form the Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry.