London Scottish (regiment)
| London Scottish | |
|---|---|
 Cap Badge of the London Scottish | |
| Active |
1859–1919 1920–Present Day |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 Army Reserve |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light infantry |
| Size | RHQ and one company |
| Part of | London Regiment |
| Garrison/HQ |
59 Buckingham Gate (1886–1985) Horseferry Road drill hall (1985–Present) |
| Nickname(s) | Cockney Jocks (Piccadilly Allsorts) (Duke of Bangkok's Rifles) |
| Motto(s) | Strike Sure |
| March | Highland Laddie |
| Anniversaries | 31 October 1914. First TA unit into action in WWI, Messines Ridge, 1st Battle of Ypres |
| Commanders | |
| Honorary Colonel | Baron Robertson of Port Ellen KT, GCMG, FRSA, PC |
| Colonel of the Regiment | Brigadier Alistair Bruce of Crionaich, OBE VR ADC DL |
| Insignia | |
| Tartan | Hodden Grey |
The London Scottish was a Volunteer infantry regiment of the British Army. Formerly a regiment, the unit is now 'A' (London Scottish) Company of the London Regiment.
History
Formation
The regiment was founded on the formation of the Volunteer Force in 1860.[1] Originally as part of the Volunteer Force sponsored by The Highland Society of London and The Caledonian Society of London, a group of individual Scots raised The London Scottish Rifle Volunteers under the command of Lt Col Lord Elcho, later The Earl of Wemyss and March.[2] The regiment became the 7th (London Scottish) Middlesex Volunteer Rifle Corps and then, in 1908, the 14th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (London Scottish).[3]
First World War
The 1/14th Battalion was mobilized on the outbreak of war, departing for France on 15 September 1914. On 31 October 1914 the battalion encountered German forces at Messines in Belgium.[4] The 2/14th Battalion embarked for France in June 1916 but was then transferred to Salonika and Palestine.[4]
Inter-war
In 1937, on the break-up of the London Regiment, the unit was re-designated the The London Scottish, The Gordon Highlanders.[3]
Second World War
The London Scottish raised three battalions during the Second World War, two of which served overseas. Both of the overseas battalions served with the Middle Eastern Forces in Sicily and Italy. The battalions were:
- 1st Battalion - The regular peacetime battalion of the regiment, served as infantry within the 168th (London) Infantry Brigade (alongside the 1st London Irish Rifles and 10th Royal Berkshire Regiment), part of the 56th (London) Infantry Division (nicknamed "The Black Cats"), playing a significant part in the Italian Campaign, fighting in the Allied invasion of Sicily, fighting at Monte Camino, Battle of Anzio, Gothic Line (afterwards transferred to 167th (London) Infantry Brigade) and Operation Grapeshot, the final offensive in Italy in 1945.[5]
- 2nd Battalion - Raised as a 'duplicate' of the 1st Battalion, with a core of officers and senior NCOs from that battalion. The 2nd Battalion remained in the United Kingdom as an infantry battalion committed to home defence. Initially serving in the 141st (London) Infantry Brigade, 47th (London) Infantry Division, it was later transferred to numerous other brigades and acted in a training role.[6]
- 3rd Battalion - When the duplicate battalion was formed in April 1939, the regiment had enough recruits to form a third battalion; permission was granted provided it was formed as an anti-aircraft (AA) regiment of the Royal Artillery. It was designated 97th (London Scottish) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA and formed with HQ and two batteries (298 and 299) at Westminster.[7] It served as part of 48th AA Brigade in 1st AA Division (the old 47th (2nd London) Division) defending London during the Blitz.[8][9][10] In March 1943 it left for North Africa where it joined British Eighth Army,[8][10][11] and served with it in the Allied invasion of Sicily and Italian Campaign.[8][12] With the depletion of the Luftwaffe and the reduced requirement for AA defences, it was converted in November 1944 into 97th (London Scottish) Garrison Regiment, RA, later designated 610 Infantry Regiment, RA.[8][10][13][14][15] When the TA was reconstituted in 1947, 610 Regiment was reformed as 497th (London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA at Hammersmith, later renamed 497th (Hammersmith) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA, without any London Scottish connection.[16]
Post-war
In 1967 the London Scottish tradition was resurrected on the formation of G (London Scottish) Company 1st Battalion 51st Highland Volunteers.[3] Since 1992, the tradition has been carried on by A (London Scottish) Company of the London Regiment, which provides Reserve support to the Foot Guards.[17]
Regimental Band
Regimental Drum
Alliances
Victoria Crosses
Robert Edward Cruickshank, Charles William Train, and George Allan Mitchell were awarded the Victoria Cross while serving with the Regiment.
Uniforms
From its establishment in 1859 The London Scottish wore Hodden Grey uniforms with dark blue facings.[18] This unique colour remained as full dress for the entire regiment until 1914[19] and survives in the modern kilts and mess dress.[20]
Gallery
Lord Elcho
Tartan: Hodden Grey
World War I Memorial
World War I Memorial
World War I Memorial
World War I Memorial
Bromsgrove cemetery, memorial for 2nd Lieutenant R.D. Cotton MC
References
- ↑ War Office Circular, 12 May 1859, published in The Times, 13 May.
- ↑ Blain, Rev. Michael (2007). The Canterbury Association (1848-1852): A Study of Its Members’ Connections (PDF). Christchurch: Project Canterbury. pp. 29–30. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- 1 2 3 "A Company history". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
- 1 2 "The London Regiment". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
- ↑ Joslen, p. 230
- ↑ Joslen, p. 238
- ↑ 1 AA Division 1939 at British Military History
- 1 2 3 4 1 AA Division 1940 at British Military History
- ↑ 1 AA Division 1940 at RA 39–45 Archived 2013-10-20 at the Wayback Machine.
- 1 2 3 97 HAA Rgt at RA 39–45 Archived 2013-10-20 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Joslen, pp. 484–5.
- ↑ Joslen, pp. 466–7.
- ↑ 97 Garrison Rgt at RA 39–45
- ↑ 610 Infantry Rgt at RA 39–45
- ↑ Joslen, p. 467.
- ↑ 497 HAA at British Army 54 on
- ↑ "History of the Regiment". The London Scottish Regiment. Archived from the original on June 12, 2003. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
- ↑ Robert and Christopher Wilkinson-Latham, page 157 Infantry Uniforms Book Two" ISBN 0713705256
- ↑ Major R. M. Barnes, page 301 "The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments", Sphere Books Ltd 1971
- ↑ Page 25 "Regiment Issue 35 - The London Regiment", Nexus ISSN 00819-8277
Sources
- Lt-Col H.F. Joslen, Orders of Battle, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945, London: HM Stationery Office, 1960/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2003, ISBN 1843424746.