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A proud heritage: A chronological record of notable events

 

This part is a chronology of the major events in the history of the London Reserve Forces.


Landmark Events

London's Reserve Forces: A Chronological Record of Notable Events
 
1903
Naval Forces Act is passed on 30th 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.

 

1907

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

 

The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry is formed.

 

1908
The Territorial Associations are set up on 1st 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 1st April.
 

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

 

1909

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

 

1910

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

 

1911

On 3rd February, the 7th 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.

 

1914
Mobilisation of the Naval Reserves took place on 1st August.
 
Notice of General Mobilisation in the UK was delivered on 3rd August.
 
Great Britain declares War on Germany on 4th August.
 
On 5th October, Sailors of the London Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve arrive in Antwerp with the Royal Naval Division.
 
On 5th October, the Royal Naval Division was in Action. 1/ 14th (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 31st October.
 

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

 

1915
On 2nd May, Second Lieutenant G H Woolley of the 9th (County of London) Battalion The London Regiment (Queen Victoria's) becomes the first Territorial to win the VC.
 

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

 

1916
The Battle of the Somme began on 1st July.
 
Conscription was introduced.
 

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

 

1918
On 11th 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.

 

1921
On 1st 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 21st (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles).

 

1922

The London Air Defence Organisation is formed.

 

1925

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.

 

1926

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

 

1930

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

 

1937
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 ( 23rd) and one forming an Officers Training Corps ( 28th ). The remainder became Battalions of their Parent Regiments.
 

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

 

1938

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

 

1939
The Territorial Army is doubled in size.
 
On 21st August the Territorial Air Defence units and coastal batteries are mobilised for one month.
 

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

 

1940

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

 

1944
London based TA AA units are in action against VI Flying Bomb.
 

The Home Guard are stood down.

 

1945
Victory in Europe is declared on 8th May.
 

Victory over Japan is declared on 15th August.

 

1947
The Territorial Army is reformed.
 

Formation of the 16th Airborne Division (TA).

 

1948

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

 

1951

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

 

1952

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

 

1955

Anti-Aircraft command disbanded on the 10th March.

 

1956

Royal Auxiliary Air Force is reformed with no flying commitments.

 

1958

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

On 22nd 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.

 

1962

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

 

1965

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

 

1966

‘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.

 

1967
Territorial Army re-titled Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve (TAVR) with effect from 1st April.
 

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

 

1973

TAVR reverts back to Territorial Army.

 

1976

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

 

1980
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.

 

1983

75th Anniversary of the Territorial Army.

 

1985

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

 

1986

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

 

1993

The new London Regiment created.

 

1994

Royal Observer Corps disbanded.

 

2001

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

 

2003

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

 

2005

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

 

2008

The TA and RFCA Celebrate their Centenary.

 

2012

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

 

2013

Territorial Army re-titled The Army Reserve.

 

2014

On 28th 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
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