London Regiment (1993-2022)

The London Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Army Reserve of the British Army. It was raised in 1993, perpetuating the lineage of some of the battalions of an earlier regiment of the same name. The regiment was the only reserve battalion of the Guards Division and the sole reserve infantry battalion based entirely in London District.[4] Under the Integrated Review the London Regiment lost its regimental status and was re-designated 1st Battalion, London Guards. The former companies of the London Regiment became reserve companies of the four senior foot guard regiments on 1 April 2022 and soldiers previously in the London Regiment transferred to foot guards regiments.[5]

This article is about the London Regiment activated in 1993. Not to be confused with an earlier London Regiment (1908–1938).
London Regiment
Regimental Cap star of the London Regiment
ActiveSince 20 April 1993
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeLine infantry
RoleLight Role Infantry
SizeBattalion
450 personnel[1]
Part ofLondon District
Garrison/HQSt John's Hill, London[2]
MarchLondons Return
EngagementsIraq War
Operation Herrick
Websitewww.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/london-regiment/
Commanders
Royal Honorary ColonelThe Earl of Wessex[3]
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash
TartanHodden Grey (London Scottish)
Saffron (London Irish pipers)
AbbreviationLONDONS

History

The London Regiment was reformed in 1993 through the regimentation of some of the remaining successors of the original regiment (not including, for example, the Artists Rifles or Kensington Regiment (Princess Louise's)). At formation it consisted of:[6][7]

Two companies of the Royal Green Jackets, F Company and G Company, formed part of the regiment between 1998 and 2004.[7]

Pipes & drums of A and D Companies and the Corps of Drums of C Company at the Lord Mayor's Show in 2006

In May 2004 Messines company, which was made up from an HQ and included two platoons from across the London Regiment deployed to Iraq.[8]

Following the restructuring of the British Army in 2004, it was announced that the Guards Division would gain a Territorial Army battalion. This saw the London Regiment retaining its name and multi-badge structure, while transferring from the Queen's Division to the Guards Division. The two Royal Green Jackets companies were transferred to the Royal Rifle Volunteers in preparation for the formation of The Rifles in 2007.[9]

In July 2017 B Company transferred to the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment to become B Company, 4th Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment;[10] and C Company transferred to the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers to become C Company, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.[11] To replace these two units, F Company, 7th Battalion The Rifles returned to the London Regiment, while a new G Company was raised.[12] In addition to the regimental re-structuring, the regiment was moved under command of the 11th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East and was to be known as the 'Guards reserve battalion'.[13][14] In 2020 a FOI answer stated it also fell under HQ London District.[4]

In 2021, under the Future Soldier part of the Integrated Review published on 16 March, it was announced that the London Regiment would be re-designated as 1st Battalion, London Guards by February 2024.[15]

Status from April 2022

The London Regiment was re-designated 1st Battalion, London Guards and ceased to be a regiment in its own right, the former companies of the London Regiment becoming reserve companies of the four senior foot guard regiments on 1 April 2022. Although the companies do not form a regiment as such, there are certain appointments that could be misconstrued as indicators of regimental status: colonel, lieutenant colonel, adjutant and council. Deputy honorary colonels for the existing companies will continue in post to provide continuity for one year. Thereafter, they will be replaced by senior representatives of their respective foot guard regiments.[16]

Structure at March 2022

Immediately prior to the transfer of its companies to foot guards regiments the London Regiment consisted:[17][18]

Order of precedence

References
  1. "Army – Question for Ministry of Defence". p. 1. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  2. "West of St John's Road" (PDF). English Heritage. p. 27. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. "No. 59772". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 May 2011. p. 8211.
  4. "London District". whatdotheyknow.com. Whatdotheyknow. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020. The London Regiment
  5. "Letter From: Lieutenant General C R V Walker DSO, Regimental Lieutenant Colonel regarding the Integrated Review" (PDF).
  6. "History of the Regiment". The London Scottish Regiment. Archived from the original on 12 June 2003. Retrieved 27 April 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. "London Regiment". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  8. "A (London Scottish) Company, the London Regiment in Iraq". The London Scottish Regiment. Archived from the original on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. "The Rifles". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  10. "Tigers come to Edgware". The Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association for Greater London. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  11. "First camp for the enhanced and expanded Fifth Fusiliers". The Fusiliers. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  12. "The Guards come to Kingston". The Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association for Greater London. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  13. "London Regiment". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  14. "London Regiment, the Army 2020 Refine". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  15. "Future Soldier" (PDF) (Press release). London: Ministry of Defence. British Army. 25 November 2021. p. 93. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  16. "Minutes of an Annual General Meeting of the London Regiment Association held on Monday 28 February 2022 at 100 hours at Battalion Headquarters of the London Regiment, 27 St John's Hill, London SW11 1TT" (PDF).
  17. "Summary of Army 2020 Reserve structure and basing changes" (PDF). 3 December 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  18. "Further supplementary evidence submitted by the Ministry of Defence". data.parliament.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  19. "Sometimes you just can't wait to be invited in". facebook.com. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  20. "Great weekend with more LONDONS recruits passing Phase 1 Training at Pirbright". www.facebook.com. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
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