[1] One such unit was the 1st Yorkshire (North Riding) Artillery Volunteer Corps (AVC) formed at Guisborough on 27 January 1860.

[3][6][7] In 1881 the 1st North Riding AVC moved its HQ to a new drill hall at Grange Road in the growing industrial town of Middlesbrough (No 4 Battery apparently remained at Northgate in Fountain Street, Guisborough), and in 1882 it became part of the Northern Division of the Royal Artillery, transferring to the Western Division in 1889.

[3][4][8][9][10][11] Admiral Chaloner was succeeded as Lt-Col in 1881 by the 3rd Earl (and future 1st Marquess) of Zetland, a former Regular Army lieutenant in the Royal Horse Guards and Yeomanry captain in the Yorkshire Hussars.

[4][12] (Zetland's father, the 2nd Earl, had drilled all household members at his estates in North Yorkshire every day during the Volunteer craze of 1859–60.

The 98th (North Riding of Yorkshire Volunteer Artillery) Company, Imperial Yeomanry, was commanded by an unattached captain, R.L.

It was sent out to South Africa assigned to reinforce the 3rd Battalion, IY, composed of Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire companies that had been serving there for a year.

The Northumbrian Division completed its concentration in the area of Steenvoorde on 23 April and went into action the next day at the Battle of St Julien.

[22][30] The 1/1st Bty was transferred away from the Northumbrian Division on 6 May to join the XIII Brigade, RGA, and moved to positions in the angle of the Brielen–Vlamertinge–Elverdinge roads, west of the Yser Canal.

It took part in the subsequent Battle of Frezenberg, engaging targets north of St Julien on 8 May, when its old 4.7-inch guns 'did fair shooting'.

[22][23][31] RGA Brigades, later termed Heavy Artillery Groups (HAGs), moved around the Western Front a good deal, supporting the various armies of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) as operations dictated.

While under training it was responsible for defending the coast of North East England from Seaham Harbour through Sunderland to Newcastle.

The waistbelt clasp of the 1st AVC bore the same badge, while that of the 3rd Corps had the Coat of arms of Scarborough within a strap bearing the words '3rd N.R.Y.