The universal obligation to military service in the Shire levy was long established in England and its legal basis was updated by two acts of 1557 (4 & 5 Ph. & M. cc. 2 and 3), which placed selected men, the 'trained bands', under the command of Lords Lieutenant appointed by the monarch (in the City of London the lieutenancy was exercised by Commissioners headed by the Lord Mayor). While trained bands of the counties most threatened by invasion were given professional captains for training, the large and efficient force of London Trained Bands (LTBs) was drilled by its own officers, many of whom had learned the necessary skills as members of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC). The LTBs were an important element in the army mustered at Tilbury at the time of the Armada. During the English Civil War the six city regiments were joined by six auxiliary regiments, together with three regiments and their auxiliaries from the suburbs (the Liberties). This part-time force constituted Parliament's strategic reserve during the early years of the war, ensuring that the city's extensive fortifications were fully manned, and also providing brigades to reinforce the field armies for specific operations.[1][2] The English Militia was re-established under local control in 1662 after the Restoration of the monarchy, but the LTBs remained a separate body, under their old title.[3]
An Act for amending and reducing into One Act of Parliament, Two several Acts, passed in the Thirty-sixth and Thirty-ninth Years of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Third, for the better ordering and further regulating of the Militia of the City of London.
The London Trained Bands, with their own act of Parliament,[which?] remained outside many of the reforms of the militia system over the next century, although they were still a useful force for putting down civil unrest (for example during the Gordon Riots of 1780). When the City militia were finally reorganised in 1794 the traditional six regiments were reduced to two, the East London Militia and the West London Militia under the Commissioners of Lieutenancy for the city. Unlike most county militia regiments which could be 'embodied' for permanent service anywhere in the country, one of the London regiments had to remain in the city at all times and the other could not legally be employed more than 12 miles away. Both regiments were awarded the prefix 'Royal' in 1804.[3][4][5][6]
In the summer of 1805, with Napoleon's 'Army of England' assembling at Boulogne, the Royal West London Militia, 579 men in eight companies under Lt-Col Edward Wigan, were camped on Clapham Common. Together with the 2nd Tower Hamlets Militia at Mile End, they formed an infantry brigade under the command of Maj-Gen Thomas Grosvenor. Meanwhile the Royal East London, with 588 men under Lt-Col John Thacker Jennings, were distributed with seven companies at Greenwich, one at Woolwich and one at Lewisham. Together with the 1st Tower Hamlets at Deptford, they formed the militia elements in Maj-Gen Sir George James Ludlow's brigade.[7]
The two regiments were amalgamated as the Royal London Militia in 1820, under its own act of Parliament, the Militia (City of London) Act 1820 (1 Geo. 4. c. 100).[3][4][5][6]
Finsbury Barracks.
After years of decline following the Battle of Waterloo, the Militia of the United Kingdom was revived by the Militia Act 1852, enacted during a period of international tension. As before, units were raised and administered on a county basis, and filled by voluntary enlistment. Training was for 56 days on enlistment, then for 21–28 days per year, during which the men received full army pay. Under the Act, Militia units could be embodied by royal proclamation for full-time home defence service in three circumstances:[8][9][10][11]
'Whenever a state of war exists between Her Majesty and any foreign power'.
'In all cases of invasion or upon imminent danger thereof'.
'In all cases of rebellion or insurrection'.
Now, rather than being drawn from city merchants and the HAC, many of the Royal London regiment's officers were retired from the regular army, including a number of members of the exclusive Gentlemen at Arms.[12][13]
The Royal London Militia was embodied for full-time duty from 20 February 1855 during the Crimean War. In 1856 the regiment was at the new North Camp at Aldershot, where the huts had only just been finished and the camp was a sea of mud. At Aldershot the regiment was in the 6th London Brigade for training, alongside the 2nd Royal Surrey, 1st Somerset and Cavan militia regiments. Peace having been signed, the militia dispersed from camp and the Royal Londons were disembodied on 12 June 1856.[3][12][13][14]
The Commission of Lieutenancy for the City built Finsbury Barracks for the Royal London Militia on a site adjacent to the HAC's headquarters at Armoury House. The building was designed by Joseph Jennings and was completed in 1857.[15]
Militia battalions now had a large cadre of permanent staff (about 30). Around a third of the recruits and many young officers went on to join the Regular Army. The Militia Reserve introduced in 1867 consisted of present and former militiamen who undertook to serve overseas in case of war.[16][17][18][19]
In 1871 a number of militia regiments combined their annual training with the Autumn Manoeuvres at Aldershot. The Royal Londons were included in 1st Brigade along with the 1st Royal East Middlesex, 2nd (Edmonton Rifles) Middlesex and 2nd Royal Tower Hamlets militia regiments. The regiments marched and camped around Sandhurst, Frensham and Chobham and took part in divisional 'sham fights'.[20]
Under the 'Localisation of the Forces' scheme introduced by the Cardwell Reforms of 1872, militia regiments were grouped into county brigades with Regular battalions and their local Rifle Volunteer Corps – for the Royal Londons this was in Brigade Nos 51 and 52 with the 60th Rifles and the 2nd Middlesex Militia. This was not particularly convenient, when the regimental depot for the Rifles was in Winchester.[21][12][22] These were purely administrative arrangements, but a mobilisation scheme began to appear in the Army List from December 1875. This assigned Regular and Militia units to places in an order of battle of corps, divisions and brigades for the 'Active Army', even though these formations were entirely theoretical, with no staff or services assigned. The Royal London Militia were assigned to 1st Brigade of 3rd Division, III Corps. The brigade, consisting of three Irish Militia regiments as well as the Royal Londons, would have mustered at Tunbridge Wells in time of war.[12]
4th (Royal London Militia) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
The Childers Reforms of 1881 took Cardwell's reforms further, formally turning the militia regiments into battalions of their linked regular regiments. However, while the 2nd Middlesex remained with the 60th Rifles, the Royal Londons were transferred to the more convenient Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). Consequently, the regiment became the 4th (Royal London Militia) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, on 1 July 1881. When the Royal Fusiliers raised two additional regular battalions in 1898, the Royal Londons became the 6th Battalion.[3][4][5][6][12][23]
The battalion was embodied from 1 May to 18 October 1900 during the Second Boer War, but did not serve overseas.[3][12]
7th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
After the Boer War, the future of the militia was called into question. There were moves to reform the Auxiliary Forces (Militia, Yeomanry and Volunteers) to take their place in the six Army Corps proposed by the Secretary of State for War, St John Brodrick. However, little of Brodrick's scheme was carried out.[24][25] Under the more sweeping Haldane Reforms of 1908, the Militia was replaced by the Special Reserve (SR), a semi-professional force whose wartime role was to provide reinforcement drafts for regular units serving overseas, rather like the earlier Militia Reserve.[26][27][28] The battalion became the 7th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, on 28 June 1908.[4][5][6]
World War I
On the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914 the battalion mobilised at Artillery Place and the men reported daily to Finsbury Barracks until 8 August when a 100-strong party marched to Guildhall to hand over the colours to the Lord Mayor for safekeeping. The battalion then entrained with a strength of 18 officers and 750 other ranks (ORs) under the command of Lt-Col George Cockerill (CO since 30 March) for its war station at Falmouth, Cornwall. Here it carried out the dual tasks of garrison duty and preparing reinforcement drafts of regular reservists, special reservists, recruits and returning wounded for the regular battalions serving overseas. It formed 16th (Reserve) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, at Falmouth from Kitchener's Army volunteers in October 1914 (see below). During this period Lt-Col Cockerill was transferred to a post in Military Intelligence and Maj R.S.I. Hesketh was promoted to take over command.[4][29][30][31][32][33]
The reformed division, both veteran units and newly joined ones such as the SR battalions, had been thoroughly trained for operations on the Western Front, and its first offensive operation, the Battle of the Ancre was meticulously planned. The attack was launched at 05.45 on 13 November behind a Creeping barrage. 7th Royal Fusiliers (7th RF) were in support behind 189th Bde, which successfully overran the German front system of trenches. Thereafter confusion set in, with troops attempting to move onto the next objectives through fog, shellholes and waterlogged communication trenches. By 06.30 the results were patchy: some parties were in the German support and reserve lines, in other places the front line had not been secured. 190th Brigade was now ordered forward, but 7th RF was held up by fire in the German front line. Disorganised attempts to get forward to the first or even second objectives went on all day, at the end of which a mixed force of 63rd (RN) Division was just short of the second objective in front of Beaucourt-sur-l'Ancre, and part of 7th RF was on the first objective, but by then it was too dark to reorganise. Next morning the barrage was renewed at 06.20, but only about 80 men of 7th RF were in position to take part in the attack, which captured Beaucourt. A protective field gun barrage deterred German counter-attacks, and 63rd (RN) Division was relieved on the morning of 15 November. 7th Royal Fusiliers had gone into action with 22 officers and 629 ORs; they lost 13 officers and 331 ORs.[34][35][37][38][39]
63rd (RN) Division was back in action on the Ancre Heights in January and February 1917, including the Actions of Miraumont (17–18 February), but 190th Bde did not take part in the attacks.[34][35][40][41] On 23 February the Germans began their withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line (Operation Alberich). Patrols from 7th RF discovered this next day, and pushed forward fighting patrols. On the morning of 25 February the battalion advanced nearly 2 miles (3.2km) in 'artillery formation' (open order) as 63rd (RN) Division followed up through Miraumont until it was relieved by a fresher division later in the day.[42][43]
Arras
The division went back into the line for the Arras Offensive. It stood fast on the opening day, and was in reserve thereafter, until it was committed to the attack on 23 April (the Second Battle of the Scarpe). The assembly trenches the battalion dug 200 yards (180m) from the German positions were destroyed by shellfire and a new line had to be dug during the night of 21/22 April. Its objective was the village of Gavrelle, but despite lavish artillery support it found that the barbed wire had not been cut sufficiently. The hold-up to 7th RF exposed the left flank of 190th Bde, which the battalion had been assigned to protect. However, the division did succeed in capturing Gavrelle and holding it against fierce counter-attacks. Casualties to 7th RF had again been heavy.[34][35][44][45]
For the next attack (the Battle of Arleux) the battered 7th RF formed a composite battalion with the 4th Bedfords. The attack by 188th Bde and 1st HAC on 28 April failed, and for its renewal next day the only reinforcement available was the composite battalion: 1st HAC and this battalion recaptured a strongpoint won and lost the previous day, and then 'bombed' their way forward through the German defences to get in touch with 22nd (Kensington) Bn Royal Fusiliers of 2nd Division. 2nd Division was able to 'dribble' some reinforcements from 23rd (1st Sportsman's) Bn Royal Fusiliers up to help, and together the mixed parties then worked their way up to within 200 yards (180m) of Oppy Wood. Later the much-reduced 63rd (RN) Division was relieved, but fighting continued at Oppy Wood for another two months.[34][35][46][47][48][49]
The mud of Passchendaele.
Winter 1917–18
The division remained in the now-quiet Oppy Wood sector from July to September and was not committed to the offensive again until the final stages of the Third Ypres Offensive, the Second Battle of Passchendaele. On 26 October the division tried to advance up the valley of the Lekkerboterbeek, but the mud was knee-deep and the advance proceeded at a pace of less than a yard per minute, falling far behind the creeping barrage, and with rifles clogged with mud. The men fell back to their starting position if they could. On 30 October they tried again, this time on higher ground above the Lekkerboterbeek, but the mud was still knee-deep, the men lost the barrage, and were caught by the enemy artillery, casualties being particularly heavy in 190th Bde. All attempts to get forward failed and men lay out in the mud all day and the next night under fire from an uncaptured pillbox until a final failed attack on 07.45 on 31 October. The battalion was relieved that night[34][35][50][51][52]
After the Ypres operation the CO, Lt-Col Playfair, was sent to hospital and Maj E.G.L'Estrange Malone took command. After resting and refitting, the 63rd (RN) Division moved south and by 21 December was holding the front line on Welsh Ridge, where the German counter-attack after the Battle of Cambrai had been halted. The battalion was ordered to capture a prisoner for identification purposes; it was a bright moonlit night with frost on the ground so any movement in No man's land was likely to be seen. The raid sent out under Lance-Corporal Norris spotted an enemy patrol on the same mission, and lured it towards a standing patrol of the 7th RF, which captured one of the Germans, securing the identification only three and a half hours after the order arrived. Lance-Corporal Norris was awarded the Military Medal (MM).[53]
Over the Top, the Artists Rifles in 190th Bde's attack at Welsh Ridge, 30 December 1917, by John Nash, who participated in the attack as a sergeant.
On the night of 29/30 December, with snow on the ground, the Germans heavily shelled the division's supporting artillery with Mustard gas, then at 06.30 began an intense bombardment of the front line, smashing trenches, dugouts and dumps. Fifteen minutes later the German infantry attacked in snow camouflage and employing flamethrower detachments. The British artillery, machine guns and rifles took a heavy toll of them, but in places they broke into the British forward outposts in the old Hindenburg Line. 7th Royal Fusiliers were pushed out of Eagle Trench, with many of the outposts captured, because there were no communication trenches back from the old German trenches and the ground behind was still covered by the old German wire. The Medical Officer and Regimental Aid Post were among those captured. A counter-attack by the brigade reserve recovered most of the ground at noon. A second attack next day made no headway. Casualties were heavy on both sides, with 7th RF losing 9 officers and 244 ORs; the battalion's 'trench strength' was now only 11 officers and 167 ORs. The battalion was temporarily amalgamated with the 1st Artists Rifles.[34][35][55][56][57][58]
Spring 1918
When the German spring offensive (Operation Michael) was launched on 21 March 1918, 63rd (RN) Division was occupying part of the FlesquièresSalient, the last remaining gain from the Battle of Cambrai. This was recognised as being vulnerable, so was only held by the outpost line, the main battle zone being a shorter line further back. The Germans steadily shelled the salient with mustard gas between 10 and 16 March, possibly hoping that the British would withdraw from it anyway; by the time it was relieved 7th RF had about 250 men evacuated to hospital, but it had to go back into the line on 20/21 March. The battalion received a draft of over 100 reinforcements at 01.00 on 21 March: after a three-day journey in lorries they were sent straight up into the line in the dark, never having been in a trench before.[59][60][61]
The German bombardment began at 04.00 on 21 March and the infantry attacked out of the morning fog. B Company of 7th RF beat off the attack to their front but found their left flank uncovered where the Germans had got into the trenches of the neighbouring battalion and they had to withdraw, with their company commander killed. C Company came up to counter-attack, finding men from both flanking battalions mixed up in the Royal Fusiliers' trenches. A Company counter-attacked to retake the trenches to the right. Having stabilised their front the battalion held on all day, but were ordered to begin withdrawing from the salient at 01.00 on 22 March, destroying the heavy equipment before leaving. The battalion withdrew along a duckboard track under artillery fire; about 11.00 the British artillery opened up and stopped the Germans from following up further. The division now held the old British front line. However, the retirement was resumed at 20.00 that evening.[62][63][64]
The battalion went back through Trescault to the Metz Switch trench at the southern edge of Havrincourt Wood. This was part of the British 'Green Line', but the trenches were barely started, being only 2 feet (0.61m) deep, with no dugouts and no field of fire, though there were some huts in Léchelle. At this point the 1st Artists Rifles and the 4th Bedfords were holding a line east of Ytres, with 7th RF in support. The position rapidly grew critical, with heavy shellfire driving the men out of the huts. Gaps were opening along Third Army's line as neighbouring divisions fell back, and without further withdrawal 63rd (RN) Division's frontline troops were in danger of being cut off. 7th Royal Fusiliers had to fall back over the open to the Rocquigny–Bus road under Shrapnel shell and machine gun fire. By the time the battalion arrived, Lt-Col Malone and the second-in-command had both been evacuated to hospital so it was commanded by Capt J. Forster, who rallied the scattered men with a hunting horn. At 19.00 7th RF was ordered to fill the gap between 190th Bde and 47th (1/2nd London) Division, but the gap was too wide and the Germans were already in Bus.[63][65][66][67]
The nearby ammunition dumps and stores had been set alight and blazed all night. At dawn on 24 March 7th RF was covering the Rocquigny–Bus road and held up the enemy's advance for a time while Rocquigny was heavily bombarded. At 08.00 the battalion fell back on Le Transloy, where the men were congratulated by the divisional commander on their fine work. But in a few hours the enemy pressure on their position was such that the battalion was ordered to fall back once more. It retired over the old Somme battlefields through Flers and High Wood to Bazentin le Petit, acting as the division's flank guard. The battalion reached Bazentin at 18.00 after several encounters with the enemy and was ordered into divisional reserve, spending the night in the open in a chalk quarry at Courcelette.[63][65][68][69]
At noon next day (25 March) the battalion took up position on the ridge covering Courcelette as the troops in front were forced back. Thinking that the British were on the run, the Germans attacked in masses and were shot down in large numbers on the slopes, but with both flanks 'in the air' 7th RF was forced to withdraw slowly towards Thiepval at 14.00, covered by a rearguard as the Germans pressed on both flanks. Many of the men were cut off as the engagement became general. By 20.00 the battalion was in old German positions along the Thiepval ridge, where 63rd Division was covering the Ancre crossings, and it held this position until 04.00 on 26 March. It then crossed the river, 7th RF using Authuile bridge, and held the eastern edge of Aveluy Wood. From this high ground they watched the Germans moving towards Aveluy at 08.00, when the bridges were blown. An hour later the battalion was relieved and withdrew though the wood to Martinsart and Englebelmer.[70][71][72]
During the day the Germans had occupied Albert, and that night they began advancing out of the town. 190th Brigade was alerted to counter-attack at 03.00 on 27 March, for which 7th RF was in support. The German advance was halted and the battalion remained on the Bouzincourt–Aveluy. line. Later the Germans secured a foothold in Aveluy Wood but were halted when 190th Bde was brought up again. By now the brigade was too weak to counter-attack, and the fighting died down.[73][74][75]
Although completely exhausted, 63rd (RN) Division, remained close to the line in reserve while drafts of reinforcements began to arrive. While this process was still going on, 7th RF went back into the front line near Mesnil on 3 April, under the command of acting-Major P.L.E. Walker of the 7th Hussars. The final phase of Operation Michael (the Battle of the Ancre) came on 5 April. The German preliminary bombardment cut all communications and most of the officers were casualties. German infantry got round both flanks and were firing into the battalion from the rear. With many of the men overwhelmed the whole brigade was forced back after hand-to-hand fighting in the afternoon. At 04.30 next day 7th RF was still out of touch with the 4th Bedfords on the left until the adjutant filled the gap with a Lewis gun team. Early in the day Maj Walker and all the officers were casualties and a non-commissioned officer took over. The survivors joined a counter-attack by the Royal Marine Light Infantry that regained much of the lost ground at 07.45 and a position was consolidated by 14.00. The 7th RF was relieved at dusk, having lost 12 officers and 205 ORs in two days, but the Germans had made little progress.[76][77]
Summer 1918
63rd (RN) Division took no further part in the Spring fighting while its battalions were slowly brought back to strength. By July the division was in the Mailly area, and the reconstituted 7th RF was active in carrying out trench raids that progressively advanced the divisional front. On 4 July the battalion carried out a raid that did considerable damage to the German front line and took prisoners. Sergeant West with his prisoner got lost in No man's land, but he stuck to his prisoner and eventually brought him in through another part of the division's line; West was awarded the MM. On the night of 22/23 July 7th RF captured and occupied the enemy's forward posts.[78]
Hundred Days Offensive
The Allies launched their Hundred Days Offensive on 8 August and 63rd (RN) Division joined in at the Battle of Albert on 21 August. Zero hour was 04.55, and the leading formations found themselves attacking through a thick fog; by the time 63rd (RN) Division's leading brigades passed through the fog was thickened by smoke and the advance became confused. The attack was held up, and when 7th RF with 190th Bde passed through in turn it took them until after dark to consolidate positions alongside Logeast Wood.[79][80][81] The Germans counter-attacked next day and shortly after 12.00 they pushed into a gap between 63rd (RN) and 3rd Divisions, turning 7th RF's position. There was a fierce struggle before the ground was recovered. The day was hot and the battalion was suffering from lack of water and ammunition. Arrangements to air-drop ammunition to the forward positions did not work well – it fell in No man's land and in the wood – and 7th RF had to borrow ammunition from 4th Bedfords until supplies were brought up at 18.00. The division was relieved that night[82][83]
The supporting artillery having been brought up, 63rd (RN) Division renewed the attack on 26 August, attempting to capture Thilloy, Ligny Thilloy and Riencourt-lès-Bapaume, near Bapaume. The two attacking brigades were held up and in the renewed attack next day 7th RF advanced with the 4th Bedfords. The barrage at Zero (11.00) fell short, causing casualties among the troops assembled for the attack, which failed. In the afternoon another attack was delivered, and the troops penetrated into Thilloy. But the battalion was now seriously weakened, with particularly heavy losses among the officers. The leaderless survivors withdrew and the battalion was relieved after what the regimental history admits was 'a disastrous day'. 190th Brigade did not take part in the division's next few operations.[84][85]
190th Brigade was back in the line for the Battle of the Canal du Nord on 27 September, when it crossed the canal after some stiff fighting, and then crossed the old Hindenburg support line. Here they were held up at about 08.00 and requested artillery support did not materialise, so the advance was halted until the rest of the division passed through. The advance continued over the next two days, across part of the Marcoing Line and the St Quentin Canal. At 06.30 on 30 September 7th RF put in an attack towards Cambrai from near Proville, but it was difficult ground and the battalion was held up by converging machine gun fire after advancing only 200 yards (180m).[86][87][88][89]
There was then a pause before the Battle of Cambrai was launched on 8 October. 63rd (RN) Division's objective was Niergnies, and 7th RF held its position while the attack went in. During the day the Germans counter-attacked using captured tanks, but the division recovered from its surprise and beat off the attacks: 7th RF only suffered three casualties.[90][91][92]
63rd (RN) Division was then pulled out and sent north to join First Army. The advance was now turning into a pursuit, and the division's last action was the Passage of the Grande Honnelle on 7 November when the division pushed its way across the river. On 10 November the division secured the high ground beyond Harveng, south of Mons.[93] 7th Battalion Royal Fusiliers was at Harveng when the Armistice with Germany came into effect next day.[29] It was disembodied on 3 June 1919.[4][94]
16th (Reserve) Battalion
After Lord Kitchener issued his call for volunteers in August 1914, the battalions of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd New Armies ('K1', 'K2' and 'K3' of 'Kitchener's Army') were quickly formed at the regimental depots. The SR battalions also swelled with new recruits and were soon well above their establishment strength. On 8 October 1914 each SR battalion was ordered to use the surplus to form a service battalion of the 4th New Army ('K4'). Accordingly, the 7th (Extra Reserve) Bn at Falmouth formed the 16th (Service) Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers in October 1914. [c] It trained for active service as part of 103rd Brigade in 34th Division. On 10 April 1915 the War Office decided to convert the K4 battalions into 2nd Reserve units, to provide drafts for the K1–K3 battalions in the same way that the SR was doing for the Regular battalions. The Royal Fusiliers battalion became 16th (Reserve) Battalion in 5th Reserve Brigade and moved with it to Purfleet in Essex in May 1915. It moved with the brigade to Shoreham-by-Sea in September 1915. On 1 September 1916 the 2nd Reserve battalions were transferred to the Training Reserve and 16th Royal Fusiliers absorbed the 9th (Reserve) Battalion, Queens Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) and was redesignated 22nd Training Reserve Bn, still in 5th Reserve Bde at Shoreham. The training staff retained their Royal Fusiliers badges. The battalion was redesignated again on 1 September 1917 as 285th (Infantry) Bn, Training Reserve. However, on 27 October that year it was transferred to the King's Royal Rifle Corps as 52nd (Graduated) Bn in 202nd Brigade of 67th Division at Canterbury, moving to Colchester in March 1918, remaining there for the rest of the war. On 8 February 1919 it was converted into a service battalion and joined the British Army of the Rhine, where it was absorbed into 18th (Service) Bn of the KRRC on 10 April.[4][29][30][96][97][98][99][100][101]
Postwar
The SR resumed its old title of Militia in 1921 and then became the Supplementary Reserve in 1924, but almost all militia battalions remained in abeyance after World War I. They remained in the Army List , but by 1939 the 7th Royal Fusiliers had no officers listed.[d] The militia were not activated during World War II and were all formally disbanded in April 1953.[27]
The Royal Fusiliers War Memorial.The Royal Naval Division Memorial.
The City of London Militia Act 1794 (34 Geo. 3. c. 81) and the City of London Militia Act 1795 (35 Geo. 3. c. 27) that formed the East and West Regiments safeguarded the right of the former London Trained Bands to march through the city with colours flying, bands playing, and bayonets fixed. This privilege was also enjoyed by the 7th Royal Fusiliers.[3][5]
Uniforms and insignia
The regiment's uniform was red with blue facings, usually associated with 'Royal' regiments, but which the London Militia had adopted at some stage in its history and was officially acknowledged in 1795, before the 'Royal' title was conferred in 1804.[5][102]
The badge was the Coat of arms of the City of London, including the motto Domine dirige nos ('Lord direct us'). On the Shako (and later helmet) plates, and the officers' shoulder-belt plates, this badge was displayed within a wreath of oak leaves. The officers' Coatee (and later tunic) buttons displayed the arms on a shield within a crowned circle, the whole superimposed on a cut star.[5] Once the regiment became part of the Royal Fusiliers it adopted that regiment's badge and insignia.[12]
Commanders
The following were among the commanders and senior officers of the regiment:[12][13]
↑ It is incorrect to describe the British Militia as 'irregular': throughout their history they were equipped and trained exactly like the line regiments of the regular army, and once embodied in time of war they were fulltime professional soldiers for the duration of their enlistment.
↑ The 7th (Extra Reserve) Battalion was one of only a few SR battalions that was employed for combat during World War I, probably because the Royal Fusiliers had three SR battalions supporting four regular battalions instead of the usual 1:2 ratio.
↑ The War Office cancelled the order for most Extra Reserve battalions on 25 October,[95] but 7th (ER) Bn Royal Fusiliers went ahead and formed 16th (S) Bn.
↑ However, the Royal Fusiliers did have a number of Supplementary Reserve officers Category B attached to it.
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The 116th Brigade was an infantry formation of the British Army during World War I. Originally raised in December 1914 from locally-raised volunteer units of 'Kitchener's Army' known as 'Pals battalions', it was later redesignated and the number was transferred to a different 'Pals' brigade. It fought with 39th Division on the Somme and the Ancre, at Ypres and in the German spring offensive. After the appalling casualties in that campaign it was relegated to a training organisation preparing US Army units for active service. It was disbanded in 1919.
The 118th Brigade was an infantry formation of the British Army during World War I. Originally raised in December 1914 as part of 'Kitchener's Army' it was later redesignated and the number was transferred to a new brigade formed in July 1915. This initially commanded 'Pals battalions' under training; later it took over experienced Territorial Force battalions that were already serving on the Western Front. It fought with 39th Division on the Somme and the Ancre, at Ypres and in the German spring offensive. After the appalling casualties in that campaign it was relegated to a training organisation preparing US Army units for active service. It was disbanded shortly after the Armistice with Germany.
The 7th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, was a volunteer unit of Britain's Territorial Army from 1908 until 1967. Raised in Salford, Greater Manchester, it fought as infantry at Gallipoli, in Egypt and on the Western Front during the First World War. It served as a searchlight unit during the Second World War, particularly during the 'Liverpool Blitz', and continued in an air defence role postwar.
The 3rd Battalion, London Regiment was a volunteer unit of the British Army under various titles from 1860 to 1961. Originally raised from railwaymen, the battalion sent a detachment to the Second Boer War and several battalions fought in World War I. Shortly before World War II, it became a searchlight unit and defended the UK during the Blitz, remaining in the air defence role in the postwar Territorial Army.
The German attack on Vimy Ridge was a local German attack on Vimy Ridge. The attack took place on 21 May 1916 on the Western Front during the First World War. At the Third Battle of Artois the French Tenth Army captured positions on the western slope of Vimy Ridge and the German 6th Army was forced back to positions on the steeper eastern slope. Both sides resorted to a continuous underground offensive. The Tenth Army was transferred south in March 1916, during the Battle of Verdun and the British First Army and Third Army on either flank extended their lines to take over Vimy Ridge.
The 1st Battalion, London Regiment was a volunteer unit of the British Army under various titles from its foundation in 1859 in Bloomsbury, London, by the author of Tom Brown's Schooldays. It served in Malta, Gallipoli, Egypt and on the Western Front during World War I. In World War II it served in Iraq, North Africa and Italy. It amalgamated with other Territorial units of the Royal Fusiliers in the 1960s.
The 2nd Battalion, London Regiment was a volunteer infantry battalion of the British Army under various titles from 1860 to 1961. It served in Malta, Gallipoli, Egypt and on the Western Front during World War I. In World War II it saw service in Iraq, North Africa and Italy. After a postwar spell as an air defence unit, it reverted to the infantry role, and merged into the Territorials of the Royal Fusiliers.
The 2nd Royal Lancashire Militia (The Duke of Lancaster's Own Rifles) was an auxiliary regiment raised in the county of Lancashire in North West England during the French Revolutionary War. It later became part of the King's (Liverpool Regiment). Although primarily intended for home defence, its battalions served in Ireland and saw active service during the Second Boer War. After conversion to the Special Reserve (SR) under the Haldane Reforms one of its battalions was among just a handful of SR units to see combat during World War I, fighting in many actions on the Western Front from early 1915 until the Armistice in 1918. After a shadowy postwar existence the unit was finally disbanded in 1953.
The King's Own Militia, later the 3rd and 4th Battalions, South Staffordshire Regiment was an auxiliary regiment in Staffordshire in the West Midlands of England. From 1662, and again after 1777, the regiment's primary role was in home defence and internal security. It was a favourite regiment of King George III, and spent much of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars protecting the king's residences, being rewarded with the title 'King's Own' in 1805. It served in the Mediterranean garrisons during the Crimean War. Under the Cardwell and Childers Reforms it became part of the South Staffordshire Regiment and raised a second battalion. Both battalions saw active service during the Second Boer War, and trained thousands of reinforcements during World War I. Later, one of the battalions served in combat on the Western Front, being virtually destroyed during the German Spring Offensive. After a shadowy postwar existence the battalions were formally disbanded in 1953.
The 4th Middlesex or Royal South Middlesex Militia was an auxiliary regiment raised in Middlesex in the Home counties of England just before the Crimean War. It later became part of the Royal Fusiliers. Primarily intended for home defence, it served in England and Ireland during Britain's major wars. It was converted to the Special Reserve under the Haldane Reforms and supplied reinforcements to the Royal Fusiliers' fighting battalions during World War I. After a shadowy postwar existence the unit was finally disbanded in 1953.
The 22nd (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (Kensington) was a 'Pals battalion' raised in London for 'Kitchener's Army' in World War I. Half of the volunteers came from the Royal Borough of Kensington, the other half were 'Colonials' from around the British Empire. This unusual battalion served on the Western Front from November 1915 until its disbandment in February 1918, seeing action at the Somme, the Ancre, Arras and Cambrai.
The 10th (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (Stockbrokers) was an infantry unit of 'Kitchener's Army' in World War I. Recruited from the financial community of the City of London it was the original 'Pals battalion'. It served on the Western Front from July 1915 until the Armistice, seeing action at the Somme and the Ancre, at Arras and Ypres, against the German spring offensive, and in the final Hundred Days Offensive.
The 13th (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, was an infantry unit recruited as part of 'Kitchener's Army' in World War I. It served on the Western Front from July 1915 until the Armistice, seeing action at the Somme and the Ancre, at Arras and Ypres, against the German spring offensive, and in the final Hundred Days Offensive.
The 17th (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (Empire), was a 'Pals battalion' recruited as part of 'Kitchener's Army' in World War I. It served with the 2nd Division on the Western Front from November 1915 until the Armistice, seeing action on the Somme and the Ancre, at Arras and Cambrai, against the German spring offensive, and in the final Hundred Days Offensive, when it made a daring crossing of the St Quentin Canal.
The 21st (Service) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, was an infantry unit recruited by Charles Duncombe, 2nd Earl of Feversham as part of 'Kitchener's Army' in World War I. It served on the Western Front, including the first tank attack at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette as well as at Messines and Ypres before moving to the Italian Front. It was disbanded early in 1918 to provide reinforcements to other units.
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