Background
When the Machine Gun Corps came into existence in October 1915, authorisation was given for raising machine gun squadrons in the cavalry brigades, in the same way that machine gun companies were formed in the infantry brigades. 26 of them were formed
On 11 October 1916, a Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) Training Centre came into operation at Maresfield Park in East Sussex. A depot was also established at Shorncliffe Camp near Folkestone.
The regiments of Yeomanry (the cavalry of the Territorial Force) did not raise similar units at the same time but some did so at a later date: see Ex-Yeomanry Machine Gun Battalions
The composition of a Squadron of the Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry)
The squadron consisted of 8 officers and 203 other ranks, equipped with 299 horses, 18 limbers, 1 General Service Wagon and 1 water cart. These were formed up into six two-gun sections each of a Subaltern, 33 men and 46 horses. The squadron was commanded by a Captain or Major.
An extract from a lovely photograph of men of the MGC (Cavalry), from the catterpug collection at photobucket, with my thanks.
| Machine Gun Cavalry Brigade Squadrons | |
| 1 | Formed 28 February 1916 for 1st Cavalry Brigade in 1st Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 2nd and 5th Dragoon Guards and 11th Hussars. |
| 2 | Formed 28 February 1916 for 2nd Cavalry Brigade in 1st Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 4th Dragoon Guards, 9th Lancers and 16th Hussars. |
| 3 | Formed 29 February 1916 for 3rd Cavalry Brigade in 2nd Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 4th Hussars and 5th and 16th Lancers. |
| 4 | Formed 28 February 1916 for 4th Cavalry Brigade in 2nd Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 6th Dragoon Guards, 3rd Hussars and Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars. |
| 5 | Formed 26 February 1916 for 5th Cavalry Brigade in 2nd Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 2nd Dragoons, 12th Lancers and 20th Hussars. |
| 6 | Formed 29 February 1916 for 6th Cavalry Brigade in 3rd Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 1st Dragoons, 3rd Dragoon Guards and North Somerset Yeomanry. |
| 7 | Formed 29 February 1916 for 7th Cavalry Brigade in 3rd Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 1st and 2nd Life Guards and Leicestershire Yeomanry. Broken up 14 April 1918. |
| 8 | Formed 29 February 1916 for 8th Cavalry Brigade in 3rd Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from Royal Horse Guards, 10th Hussars and Essex Yeomanry. Moved to 7th Cavalry Brigade 11 March 1918. |
| 9 | Formed 28 February 1916 for 3rd Cavalry Brigade in 1st Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 15th and 19th Hussars and Bedfordshire Yeomanry. |
| 10 | Formed after February 1916 in 2nd (Sialkot) Brigade in 1st Indian Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 17th and 19th Lancers and 6th King Edward’s Own Cavalry (the latter being of the Indian Army). |
| 11 | Formed 29 February 1916 for 5th (Mhow) Brigade in 1st Indian Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, 2nd Lancers and 38th King George’s Own Central Indian Horse (the latter being of the Indian Army). Broken up 14 April 1918. |
| 12 | Formed 29 February 1916 for 8th (Lucknow) Brigade in 1st Indian Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 29th Lancers (Deccan Horse) and 36th Jacob’s Horse (of the Indian Army). Broken up 14 April 1918. |
| 13 | Formed 29 February 1916 for 13th (Secunderabad) Brigade in 2nd Indian Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 7th Dragoon Guards, Poona Horse and 20th Deccan Horse (both of the Indian Army). |
| 14 | Formed 29 February 1916 for 14th (Ambala) Brigade in 2nd Indian Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 8th Hussars, 18th Lancers and 9th Hodson’s Horse (of the Indian Army). |
| 15 | Formed 29 February 1916 for 15th (Meerut) Brigade in 2nd Indian Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 13th Hussars, 14th Lancers and Watson’s Horse (of the Indian Army). |
| 16 | Formed in 5th Mounted Brigade |
| 17 | Formed in 6th Mounted Brigade |
| 18 | Formed in 22nd Mounted Brigade |
| 19 | Formed in 5th Mounted Brigade |
| 20 | Formed in 7th Mounted Brigade 4 July 1917 Principally manned by men from Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers) and South Nottinghamshire Hussars Yeomanry Free copy of squadron history at archive.org |
| 21 | Formed in 8th Mounted Brigade |
| 22, 23 and 24 | Formed in 1st Indian Mounted Brigade |
| 25 | Formed in 11th Indian Mounted Brigade |
| 26 | Formed in Camel Corps |
| Canadian | Canadian Cavalry Brigade. Independent command, joined in 3rd Cavalry Division 13 March 1918. Machine gun sections taken from Royal Canadian Dragoons, Lord Strathcona’s Horse and Fort Garry Horse. |
Memorials
According to “Historic England”, “The memorial to the MGC (Cavalry) at Folkestone was originally located at the junction of Cherry Garden Avenue and Cheriton Road and was unveiled on 19 February 1921 by Major-General Sir F H Sykes. A souvenir programme was produced for the unveiling which listed the names, rank and unit of the 497 dead. The memorial was moved to its present location at some point after 1970. It is now located just inside the main gates of Cheriton Road Cemetery in Folkestone. It takes the form of a cenotaph with a shroud draped on top. Below the shroud on the front face of the memorial is the Machine Gun Corps crest in bronze. Below this the dedication reads: TO/ THE GLORY OF GOD/ & IN MEMORY OF/ THE/ 39 OFFICERS AND 458/ WARRANT OFFICERS, NON/ COMMISSIONED OFFICERS &/ MEN OF THE/ MACHINE GUN CORPS/ (CAVALRY)/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919/ ‘THE SUPREME SACRIFICE’.”
