In 1793, the prime minister, William Pitt the Younger, proposed that the English Counties form a force of Volunteer Yeoman Cavalry that could be called on by the king to defend the country against invasion or by the Lord Lieutenant to subdue any civil disorder within the country.

The Royal Warrant asked standing Yeomanry regiments to provide service companies of approximately 115 men each.

[3] Although there were strict requirements, many volunteers were accepted with substandard horsemanship/marksmanship, however they had significant time to train while awaiting transport.

The first contingent of recruits contained 550 officers, 10,371 men with 20 battalions and 4 companies,[4] which arrived in South Africa between February and April 1900.

The Lincolnshire Imperial Yeomanry was formed on 25 June 1901, based at the "old barracks" on Burton Road, Lincoln.

[8] The regiment was mobilised in August 1914, and formed a part of the North Midland Mounted Brigade.

[9] In April 1918, the regiment left the brigade and their horses, to become a dismounted unit of the Machine Gun Corps, merging with 1/1st East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry to form "D" Battalion, Machine Gun Corps.

The original uniform of the regiment was the newly introduced khaki serge but with collars, shoulder-straps, and cuff-piping in Lincoln-green.

[14] Other ranks wore Lincoln-green "frock" tunics with peaked caps, shoulder chains and double white stripes on their overalls[15] (cavalry trousers strapped under the boots).

From about 1908 to 1920 the standard khaki service dress of British mounted troops was worn for training and ordinary duties.