Landmark Events

Naval Forces Act is passed on 30^th June and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve is formed.

 

Recruiting begins for the new London Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, reaching 700 by the end of the month.

 

Haldane's Territorial & Reserve Forces Act is put before the House of Commons, receiving the Royal Assent on 2^nd August 1907.

 

The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry is formed.

 

The Territorial Associations are set up on 1^st April. Wholly within the area of Greater London were:

 

a. The County of London Territorial Association with Headquarters at the Duke of York's, Chelsea

 

b. The City of London Association with Headquarters at Finsbury Barracks

 

c. The County of Middlesex Territorial Association with Headquarters at 15 Pall Mall East and Storage Accommodation at Barnet Barracks

 

The Territorial Force and the Regular Army Special Reserve also come into being on 1^st April.

 

The London Regiment is formed as an independent infantry Regiment (all other TF units became part of their parent regular Regiment).

 

On 19^th June at Windsor Great Park, King Edward VII presents Colours to 12 Yeomanry and 96 Battalions of Territorial Infantry.

 

Voluntary Aid Detachments formed for women to act as ambulance drivers and Nursing Auxiliaries.

 

On 3^rd February, the 7^th Battalion The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) at Hornsey declared 90% of its members volunteering for overseas service and became the first unit to add ‘Imperial Service' to its title in the Army list.

 

Mobilisation of the Naval Reserves took place on 1^st August.

 

Notice of General Mobilisation in the UK was delivered on 3^rd August.

 

Great Britain declares War on Germany on 4^th August.

 

On 5^th October, Sailors of the London Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve arrive in Antwerp with the Royal Naval Division.

 

On 5^th October, the Royal Naval Division was in Action. 1/ 14^th (County of London) Battalion (London Scottish) arrive in France in September.

 

The London Scottish became the first Territorial Infantry Battalion in action at the Battle of Messines on 31^st October.

 

The Royal Naval Division depot is opened at The Crystal Palace.

 

On 2^nd May, Second Lieutenant G H Woolley of the 9^th (County of London) Battalion The London Regiment (Queen Victoria's) becomes the first Territorial to win the VC.

 

Private Fred Kitchener of the 7^th Battalion The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) is killed in action aged 16.

 

The Battle of the Somme began on 1^st July.

 

Conscription was introduced.

 

All London Regiment Battalions come under the command of a Regular Brigade.

 

On 11^th November the Armistice is signed on the Western Front. 129,806 Territorials have been killed in action as well as 11,379 Naval Reservists of the Royal Naval Division.

 

Armistice in the Middle East.

 

On 1^st October, the Territorial Force reformed and is renamed The Territorial Army (TA) as a mark of the nation's appreciation for services in the Great War.

 

The Unknown Warrior is laid to rest in Westminster Abbey. At one stage of the journey from the Battlefield, the Pall Bearer representing the Infantry came from the 21^st (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles).

 

The London Air Defence Organisation is formed.

 

The Auxiliary Air Force is formed with two squadrons in London. These are 600 (City of London) Squadron with Town HQ at Finsbury Barracks, and 601 (County of London) Squadron with Town HQ at 54 Kensington High Road. Both units conduct flying training at RAF Hendon.

 

The Territorial Army is embodied for 90 days during the general strike.

 

604 (County of Middlesex) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force formed at RAF Hendon with Town HQ at Browheath Hampstead.

 

The London Regiment separate Regimental existance ceased. Each Battalion is re-roled with 13 forming Air Defence Regiments, one becoming a Battalion of the Royal Tank Regiment ( 23^rd) and one forming an Officers Training Corps ( 28^th ). The remainder became Battalions of their Parent Regiments.

 

615 (County of Surrey) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force is formed at RAF Kenley.

 

Precautionary embodiment of the TA anti-aircraft units during the Munich crisis.

 

The Territorial Army is doubled in size.

 

On 21^st August the Territorial Air Defence units and coastal batteries are mobilised for one month.

 

The full mobilisation of Reserves for WW2 is announced on 1^st September.

 

Recruiting begins for the Local Defence Volunteers (later the Home Guard).

 

London based TA AA units are in action against VI Flying Bomb.

 

The Home Guard are stood down.

 

Victory in Europe is declared on 8^th May.

 

Victory over Japan is declared on 15^th August.

 

The Territorial Army is reformed.

 

Formation of the 16^th Airborne Division (TA).

 

Formation of the RMR in London marked by a parade at Finsbury Barracks.

 

The Auxiliary Air Force is reformed and re-titled The Royal Auxiliary Air Force in recognition of service in WW2.

 

11^th Battalion The Parachute Regiment provide a Street-Lining detachment for the Coronation on 2^nd June.

 

Anti-Aircraft command disbanded on the 10^th March.

 

Royal Auxiliary Air Force is reformed with no flying commitments.

 

16 Airborne Division reduced to Brigade strength with the title 44 Airborne Brigade.

 

131 Airborne Engineer Regiment becomes the largest parachute trained unit in the British Army.

 

On 1^st November Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve amalgamate to form the new Royal Naval Reserve.

 

On 22^nd June, to mark the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the Territorial Army, The Queen Reviews 8,000 Territorial soldiers from all over the UK in Hyde Park.

 

The Territorial Army Emergency Reserve (TAER) is formed and is known as the ‘Ever Readies.'

 

A composite company of the Territorial Emergency Reserve is mobilised for internal security duties with the Regular Army in Aden.

 

‘Ever Ready' Officer Lieutenant Jock Smith based at Hornsey is awarded the MC for gallantry in Aden – the first such award to a Volunteer Reservist since WW2.

 

Territorial Army re-titled Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve (TAVR) with effect from 1^st April.

 

The Army Successor Warrant deleted all mention of The London Regiment of 1908.

 

TAVR reverts back to Territorial Army.

 

HMS FITTLETON, crewed by RNR personnel from HMS PRESIDENT, sinks in the English Channel with the loss of 12 Reservists.

 

National Home Defence Exercise ‘Square Leg', involving Home Defence Units of the TA.

 

Exercise 'Crusader' involving the biggest ever deployment of NATO Roled Units to Germany.

 

75^th Anniversary of the Territorial Army.

 

Home Defence Exercise ‘Brave Defender' starts 21^st March.

 

Formation of the Home Service Force with 7 Companies attached to TA Units in Greater London.

 

The new London Regiment created.

 

Royal Observer Corps disbanded.

 

First use of 1996 legislation comes into effect on 11^th October with personnel from 3(V) Military Intelligence Battalion compulsory mobilised.

 

HMS PRESIDENT marks the centenary year of the RNR with a review on Horse Guards.

 

Future use of Reserve Forces White Paper is published on 7^th February.

 

The TA and RFCA Celebrate their Centenary.

 

City of London Marine Dan Holder is awarded the American Bronze Star for services in Afghanistan.

 

Territorial Army re-titled The Army Reserve.

 

On 28^th June, a drumhead service in the presence of HM The Queen, was held at the Royal Hospital Chelsea to commemorate the centenary of the assasination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand that ultimately led to the outbreak of World War One. 

2018

 

London Remembers WW1: A parade, drumhead service and celebratory youth event at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on Saturday 1st September to mark the centenary of 'the beginning of the end' of World War One.  

2023

On 1st May, The London Regiment was redesignated the 1st Battalion The London Guards