David Eddershaw writes in his book 'The Study of The Oxfordshire Yeomanry Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars 1798-1998' that surely, the longest continual service must belong to William Knibbs of Deddington, a saddler, who enrolled when the first troops were formed in 1798 and had achieved the rank of Troop Sergeant Major by the time of his death in 1853 at the age of 75. Several other members of the Knibbs family were also long-serving members.
Information on the Oxfordshire County Council's web site at http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/museums/yeomanry/yeomindx.htm,
giving the story of the
Oxfordshire Yeomanry displays part of a register from 1830. I was pleased to
find amongst the few names listed "Sergeant Knibbs Wm." from
Deddington and his date of enrolment which was 23 July 1798.
The Yeomanry were mounted volunteers raised by the nobility and gentry. They joined to serve as independent troops of cavalry for home defence, often at their own expense. They served only within their own county and were under the local control of the Lord Lieutenant. The government also gave them the role of supporting the civil authorities in case of riot or tumult. Officers were noblemen and gentry, and the ranks were filled by farmers, tradesmen and estate workers, representing the upper ranks of rural society. They trained weekly and attended an annual camp which was arranged so as to avoid busy times such as harvest, when farmers would not be available. They tended to wear ornate uniforms and were very proud of being independent.
Farmers usually made up the largest single group among the NCOs and Troopers and many of them would be tenants of the landowning officers. A strong interest in hunting was another common feature. Tradesmen probably saw a social and financial advantage in associating themselves with the wealthy classes. Yeomen enjoyed the camaraderie and sport of the annual camps, while the spectacular uniforms increased their self esteem and were considered attractive to women. Yeomen were also motivated by a sense of patriotism and a belief in the established order of rural society.
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