London District (British Army)

London District

Insignia of the London District
Active 1905–present
Country  United Kingdom
Branch  British Army
Type Regular/Territorial Army
Part of Field Army
Garrison/HQ Horse Guards
Commanders
Current
commander		 Major-General Benjamin J Bathurst CBE

London District (LONDIST) is the name given by the British Army to the area of operations encompassing the Greater London area. It was established in 1870 as Home District.[1]

History

In January 1876 a ‘Mobilization Scheme for the forces in Great Britain and Ireland’ was published, with the ‘Active Army’ divided into eight army corps based on the District Commands. 3rd Corps was to be formed within London District, based in Croydon. This scheme disappeared in 1881, when the districts were retitled ‘District Commands.[2]

It was re-formed in 1905 as London District to be an independent district within the larger command structure of the army, and has remained so ever since. In 1906, when the Chief of the General Staff moved to the Old War Office Building,[3] HQ London District moved to Horse Guards.[4]

In September 1939, the district included the 1st and 2nd London Divisions, the 22nd Armoured Brigade, the Life Guards and Royal Horse Guards and five Guards infantry battalions.[5] During the Second World War the operational headquarters of London District was temporarily based at Leconfield House in Curzon Street.[6]

After the War London District returned to Horse Guards, where it remains under the command of the General Officer Commanding (GOC), currently Major-General Benjamin Bathurst, CBE. The incumbent is concurrently the Major-General Commanding the Household Division. The Garrison Sergeant Major is currently Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) Andrew 'Vern' Stokes COLDM GDS.[7]

London District included the 56th (London) Brigade from January 1987 to 1993.[8]

Forces

London District, in addition to its traditional roles, serves as an administrative apparatus for operational infantry battalions that are not attached to a deployable brigade, but instead are available for independent deployment as needed.

HQ London District is responsible for the administration of all Army units within Greater London that are not part of another formation, including those based at Windsor:

Structure London District

References

  1. ↑ From Restoration to the 21st Century Archived January 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ Army List 1876–1881.
  3. ↑ The Old War Office Building
  4. ↑ Tabor, p. 19
  5. ↑ Niehorster, London District
  6. ↑ "The Secret Architecture of London". Geocities. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  7. ↑ "WO1 (GSM) Andrew 'Vern' Stokes, Coldstream Guards". Trooping the Colour. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  8. ↑ 56 (London) Brigade at regiments.org Archived July 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.

Sources

Coordinates: 51°30′17″N 0°07′38″W / 51.5046°N 0.1272°W / 51.5046; -0.1272

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