Excerpt from Maybole - Carrick's Capital

In 1793 the 12th Earl of Cassillis formed, among the local farmers and townsmen, a troop of yeomanry known as "The Earl of Carrick's Own Yeomanry" in honour of their royal feudal superior, the Earl of Carrick and heir to the Crown. This gave rise to the Ayrshire Yeomanry who saw service with their horses in many campaigns until they were finally dismounted during the first World War and attached to the County Regiment as foot soldiers. In the second World War they became a mechanised unit and, although officially now disbanded some loyal and proud troopers still meet for summer camps and exercises and will be ready once again if ever needed by their country.

Excerpt from the Scottish Military Historical Society

The Ayrshire Yeomanry is the senior yeomanry regiment in Scotland and the seventh yeomanry regiment in Great Britain. It was formed in 1793 by Archibald, Lord Kennedy, being then known as the Ayrshire Yeomanry Cavalry. When, in 1838, there was a general disbandment of yeomanry regiments only two - the Ayrshire and the Lanarkshire - were retained in Scotland.

During the South African War of 1899-1902, the volunteers from the Ayrshire and Lanarkshire Yeomanries served in the campaign as the 17th Company of the 6th (Scottish) Battalion of Imperial Yeomanry.

In the Great War of 1914-1918, the regiment was originally on active service in Gallipoli and Egypt. In January of 1917, the Ayrshire Yeomanry and Lanarkshire Yeomanry were formed into the 12th (Ayr and Lanark Yeomanry) Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers. The division to which the battalion was then attached was composed mainly of yeomanry units and was popularly known as the "Broken Spurs". The battalion took part in operations in Palestine and thereafter served in europe on the Western Front.

In the Second World War of 1939-1945, the regiment fought as the 151st and 152nd (Ayrshire Yeomanry) Field Regiments, Royal Artillery, in North Africa, Italy and North-West Europe.

By 1949, the regiment had been re-formed as a unit of the Royal Armoured Corps.

South African War and First World War Battle Honours

• South Africa 1900-1902.

• Gallipoli 1915.

• Rumani, Egypt 1916-1917.

• Gaza, Jerusalem, Tell 'Asur, Palestine 1917-1918.

• Ypres 1918.  

• France and Flanders 1918.