But now it is the East Riding Yeomanry's turn to come under scrutiny as a new exhibition sheds light on the regiment.

The East Riding Yeomanry Old Comrades' Association has given some of its archives to East Riding Treasure House in Beverley.

The collection features a range of items, including war diaries, the minutes of association meetings, photographs, rolls of honour and newsletters from the Imperial Camel Corps.

It charts the regiment's rise from its formation in 1902 to the present day, in what has been a turbulent history.

Collections officer Sam Bartle said: "I think that the highlight of this collection is its photographic record of Yeomanry soldiers, and the newsletters of the Imperial Camel Corps, which operated during the First World War.

"People can now use our archive catalogue to select specific items of interest from the collection and view them in our research room."

The regiment was founded by Lord Wenlock as the East Riding of Yorkshire Imperial Yeomanry, and was initially a cavalry unit with its headquarters and barracks at Walton Street in Hull.

In 1915, the Yeomanry was sent to Egypt and later saw in action in Palestine. After returning to England it was converted into a machine-gun battalion.

The regiment was sent to France in 1918 but disbanded after the First World War.

By 1919, however, it was reformed as the 26th Armoured Car Company, Royal Tank Corps. This was how it stayed until 1938 when, with the imminent threat of a second war with Germany, the company was expanded to the status of an armoured reconnaissance regiment, becoming the 1st East Riding Yeomanry. A second line was formed the following year.

In its new role, the 1st East Riding Yeomanry had the distinction of being one of the first British units into France in 1940 and the last to leave, taking part in an increasingly desperate rearguard action during the heroic evacuation from Dunkirk.

They defended Cassel until the evening of May 29, and while some managed to break the German encirclement and escape the following day, many became prisoners of war.

A veteran of that campaign managed to escape and served with the Polish resistance in Warsaw. He is still alive and has passed on his experiences to younger generations.

"The things he had to recall were really quite horrendous," said association secretary Dominic Peacock

The remnants were gathered at Bovington Camp in Dorset after their return from Dunkirk and amalgamated with the 2nd East Riding Yeomanry. They took part in nearly every major European battle of the Second World War and the invasion of Germany.

In March 1947, the East Riding Yeomanry was reconstituted in the Territorial Army with the headquarters at Hull and continued until 1956 when it was amalgamated with two other Yorkshire regiments to become C Squadron of the Queen's Own Yorkshire Yeomanry.

This was reduced to a cadre in 1968 and reformed as a squadron of The Queen's Own Yeomanry in 1972. Shortly after the Second World War, an Old Comrades' Association was formed at a meeting of ex-members of the East Riding Yeomanry, which continues to hold reunions and dinners to this day.

The regiment is at the forefront of current conflicts and has completed tours of Iraq.

Mr Peacock said: "It's an armoured reconnaissance role that can be 15 miles in front of the main armoured elements of the front line. They act as the eyes and ears and as a screen, giving timely information to commanders."