It is the Lowlands of Scotland's only Royal Armoured Corps Unit and has an unbroken history stretching back to the 1790s.

The Yeomanry were established and recruited at this time to provide Britain with a defence against any invasion by French forces under Napoleon.

The regiment spent its formative years as an aid to the civil powers, reacting to and controlling riots across Ayrshire and beyond, most notably in Paisley.

The Ayrshire Yeomanry were assigned as 'divisional troops' to 1st Division of VIII Corps based at Edinburgh, alongside Regular Army and Militia units of infantry, artillery and engineers.

This was never more than a paper organisation, but from April 1893 the Army List showed the Yeomanry regiments grouped into brigades for collective training.

[2][3] The Yeomanry was not intended to serve overseas, but due to the string of defeats during Black Week in December 1899, the British government realized they were going to need more troops than just the regular army.

[6] On their return in 1901, the regiment was reorganized as mounted infantry and titled the Ayrshire (Earl of Carrick's Own) Imperial Yeomanry.

In 1908, it was transferred into the new Territorial Force, returning to the cavalry role as the Ayrshire (Earl of Carrick's Own) Yeomanry.

Following mobilisation, the regiment joined the Lowland Mounted Brigade and remained in the United Kingdom, on home defence duties, until 1915.

The regiment finally deployed overseas in September of that year, where it took part in the Gallipoli landings, serving as dismounted infantry.

[3] In 1961, the Ayrshire Yeomanry paraded at Culzean Castle and were presented with their First Guidon bearing the Honours which had been hard won.

[26] The Ayrshire Yeomanry was awarded the following battle honours (honours in bold are emblazoned on the regimental colours):[3] Honorary Distinction: Badge of the Royal Regiment of Artillery with year-dates "1942–45" and three scrolls: "North-West Europe", "North Africa" and "Italy" The guidon of The Ayrshire (Earl of Carrick's Own) Yeomanry was presented by General Sir Horatius Murray KBE CB DSO at Culzean Castle, Ayrshire on 24 June 1961.

[12] Prior to 1893, the Ayrshire Yeomanry wore black-leather helmets and black plumes with a dark blue uniform and scarlet facings.

This was replaced by a hussar style uniform, including a fur busby with white plume and scarlet bag.

Officers' tunics included a unique "figure-of-eight" front gold braiding, while other-ranks wore hip-length stable jackets of dark blue with scarlet collars and cuffs.

[29] This elaborate uniform was discarded after the Boer War and at the 1911 Coronation the Ayrshire Yeomanry was one of only two mounted regiments participating to wear plain khaki.