There was an additional King Edward’s Horse Regiment formed as cavalry in 1914 and it bears no relation to the original King Edward’s Horse Regiment of yeomanry. The Regiment became known as the 2nd King Edward's Horse (hereto referred to as 2KEH) which resulted in references to the original King Edward's Horse during the Great War being sometimes referred to as the (1st) King Edward's Horse. I have chosen not to adopt this nomenclature for the original King Edward's Horse.
The 2nd King Edward's Horse was raised by John (later Sir John) Norton-Griffiths (see Nominal Roll for a short biography). Sir John was a colonial adventurer and Captain/Adjutant of the bodyguard of Lord Robert’s as Commander-in-Chief in the Second Boer War. He raised and equipped the 2KEH at his own expense (40,000 pounds). A very good short history of the 2nd King Edward’s Horse was written by David Miller (
Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, 83: 1-10, 2005) and I have drawn heavily on that article for the summary which follows. This account has been supplemented by key dates and activities from the diary of an as yet unidentified soldier in 2KEH courtesy of Joanna Bacon and now in the author's collection. These early dates and activities match a series of splendid photographs in the same collection which are shown on the accompanying pages.
The 2KEH assembled in White City, London from the 10th August 1914. On the 2nd September 1914 the 2KEH marched to a camp at Langley Park in Buckinghamshire which is located between Slough and Uxbridge. Langley Park was made available to the 2KEH through the generosity of Sir Robert Harvey, Bart and The Honourable Lady Harvey (see a photograph of a silver cigarette box presented to the Harvey's on behalf of the Officers and men of the 2KEH by Colonel Cradock in the Nominal Roll section of this website under "C". There was extensive flooding in the area in August/September 1914 and although the camp was moved to higher ground it became such "a muddy lake" that the 2KEH struck camp and rode to Hounslow Barracks (cavalry) on the 27th September 1914. On formation, the Earl of Lonsdale became their Colonel-in-Chief and they were commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Montagu Cradock CB CMG (see Nominal Roll).
On the 12th October 1914 they paraded at Windsor and on the 14th of that month they were inspected by General Milner in Windsor Great Park. On the 29th October some 200 of the 2KEH provided a mounted escort for the funeral of Sir Charles Darafus (spelling).
The Australian Agent-General
reported in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper on the 8th January 1915 that "the pay in 2KEH was one shilling and two pence per day. Horses not required, but all men should be. good riders. All kit and equipment provided free. Age 20 to 42. In his opinion, the chief inducement to join is prospect of promotion." The promotion prospects were substantiated at that time as in the last three weeks of December 1914, 100 men of the 2KEH and obtained their commission in other Regiments.
In December 1914 the 2KEH replaced the Essex Yeomanry in the Eastern Mounted Brigade of the 1st Mounted Division whilst stationed in Essex. On the 1st February 1915 they transferred to the Canadian Cavalry Brigade at Maresfield, East Sussex. The Brigade was later called 1st Canadian Cavalry Brigade but since there were no further Canadian Cavalry Brigades raised, they were commonly called the Canadian Cavalry Brigade.
Figure 37: Copy of a recruiting poster for the 2nd King Edward’s Horse circa 1915. The Canadian Cavalry Brigade was made up of the 2KEH, the Royal Canadian Dragoons, Lord Strathcona's Horse and the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. On the 29th April 1914 the 2KEH lost their mounts and were to fight as infantry and carried packs which were greatly disliked. The Brigade deployed to France on 4th May 1915 with the 2KEH having sailed from Folkestone on the cross-channel steamer the "S. S. Onward" to Boulogne. They marched 2-3 miles to camp and first heard the sound of guns on the 7th May 1914 as they marched to the front. The 2KEH fought dismounted as Seely’s Detachment attached to the 1st Canadian Division until September 1915 before re-joining the Canadian Cavalry Brigade.
From January 1915 until January 1916, they were brigaded with the Fife & Forfar Yeomanry until they were replaced by the Fort Garry Horse. The 2KEH acquired a Talbot armoured car in 1915 but it was not used overseas on active service (Figure 38). On the 27th January 1916, the 2KEH re-gained their mounts and formed as a two Squadron Cavalry Regiment with General HQ troops. In 1915, the 2KEH Regimental HQ and ‘A’ Squadron remained with General HQ whilst ‘B’ Squadron went to the 56th Division as Divisional cavalry on the 23rd March 1916 until 30th May 1916.
Figure 38: Photograph of the 2nd King Edward’s Horse Talbot armoured car acquired in 1915 but not used overseas on active service (Original copyright of the Tank Museum, Bovington and reproduced by David Miller in the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, 83:1-10, 2005). In June 1916, the 2KEH were expanded with the addition of a Service Squadron of the 21st Lancers from England and became XIV Corps Cavalry Regiment. The unit became broken up in August 1917 with the 2KEH leaving France for Wareham, England on the 5th August 1917 to be absorbed into the Tank Corps. The Squadron from the 21st Lancers went to No. 5 Base Depot on the 29th August 1917 and was broken up.
A Reserve Squadron was formed which crossed to Ireland in July 1915. This Squadron was expanded to a Regiment being stationed at Kilkenny in 1917.
The biographical narrative of Private Osborne Lean in the 2KEH Nominal Roll section of this website provides a tremendous insight into the background and service experiences of a soldier in the Regiment.
Figure 39: Postcard of NCOs and Other Ranks of the 2nd King Edward’s Horse on church parade at Hampton Court Palace. Many of the Privates are wearing Service Dress caps without cap badges consistent with them being new recruits. The postcard is dated May 1915 and sent to a Master Leslie Read, Sussex. 
