Brigadier General Lewis A. Ballantyne

Brigadier General Lewis A. Ballantyne

Captain of the Essex Troop 1919-1938

First Commander of the 102nd Cavalry Regiment 1921-1938

Captain Ballantyne served in France during World War I as the Headquarters Troop Commander in the 29 Infantry Division.

In the post-war years he was authorized to organize a squadron of cavalry for the New Jersey National Guard. Troop A was the first to be organized and mustered into service in December 1919 at Newark. The reorganization of the First Squadron of Cavalry was completed in 1920.

Major Ballantyne was the first Regimental Commander of the First Cavalry Regiment of New Jersey, headquartered in Newark, NJ. The Regiment consisted of two squadrons of horse cavalry, a headquarters detachment, medical detachment and band. On August 17, 1921, the First Squadron was redesignated and federally recognized as the 102nd Cavalry Regiment N.G. N.J.

Colonel Ballantyne was an active committee member to expand the Newark Armory, organize and expand the West Orange Farm and the building of the Westfield Armory in March 1925. In 1936 he organized the building of the West Orange Armory. He was a charter member of the first Essex Troop Polo Team of 1919.