Westminster Dragoons, Military unit in Westminster, United Kingdom.
The Westminster Dragoons were a yeomanry regiment of the British Army Reserve, based at Fulham House in London. The unit began as a mounted cavalry formation and later transitioned to armored vehicles as military technology changed.
The regiment was raised in the late 19th century and served in the Second Boer War before going on to fight at Gallipoli during World War I. After the war, in 1920, it converted from horse cavalry to armored cars to keep pace with how warfare had changed.
The regiment was known by the nickname 'Piccadilly Peacocks' because of the polished appearance of its members. Most of them came from wealthy London merchant and banking families, which set the unit apart from many other reserve formations.
Those interested in the regiment's history can find related materials in London military museums and archives. It is worth checking in advance which collections hold records or objects connected to yeomanry units.
The Westminster Dragoons were among the first Allied units to reach the Normandy beaches on D-Day in 1944, arriving ahead of most infantry. Their armored vehicles were designed to drive directly out of the sea onto the sand.
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