TWICE A CITIZEN Celebrating a century of service by the Territorial Army in London www.TA100.co.uk The Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Greater London Twice a Citizen “Every Territorial is twice a citizen, once when he does his ordinary job and the second time when he dons his uniform and plays his part in defence.” This booklet has been produced as a souvenir of the celebrations for the Centenary of the Territorial Field Marshal William Joseph Slim, Army in London. It should be remembered that at the time of the formation of the Rifle Volunteers 1st Viscount Slim, KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC in 1859, there was no County of London, only the City. Surrey and Kent extended to the south bank of the Thames, Middlesex lay on the north bank and Essex bordered the City on the east. Consequently, units raised in what later became the County of London bore their old county names. Readers will learn that Londoners have much to be proud of in their long history of volunteer service to the nation in its hours of need. From the Boer War in South Africa and two World Wars to the various conflicts in more recent times in The Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan, London Volunteers and Territorials have stood together and fought alongside their Regular comrades. Some have won Britain’s highest award for valour - the Victoria Cross - and countless others have won gallantry awards and many have made the ultimate sacrifice in serving their country. This booklet may be recognised as a tribute to all London Territorials who have served in the past, to those who are currently serving and to those who will no doubt serve in the years to come. Written and compiled by Major Gareth Blyth and Major Derrick Harwood. Published by The Reserve Forces and Cadets Association of Greater London, Fulham House, 87 Fulham High Street, London SW6 3JS Tel: 020 7384 4640 www.reserve-forces-london.mod.uk Designed and produced by DNA Limited. The Trained Bands, Militia and the Armed Associations 1 The Territorial Army traces its direct history to the formation of the Territorial Force in 1908, but the story of volunteer service goes back a lot further. The concept of the various formations was to counteract the threat of invasion, but when the perceived threat had passed, they were soon disbanded. Among the earliest of these formations were the Trained Bands raised to meet the threat of the Spanish Armada in the 16th Century. Following the English Civil War and the Restoration of the Monarchy, the Militia was formed, which raised a force from the shires, according to their populations, to be ready for the King’s use. Each Militiaman was required to train for a number of paid days per year. A member of the Trained By 1794, fears of French expansionism made Britain raise A member of the Armed Bands, 1643 Associations, 1799 volunteer companies known as ‘Armed Associations’. Most of these were disbanded in the early 19th century, although two units, both in London, were permitted to continue service: the Honourable Artillery Company and the Duke of Cumberland’s Sharpshooters, who became the Royal Victoria Rifle Club. The Yeomanry Cavalry were allowed to remain in service and did good work in assisting the authorities in times of civil unrest. Duke of Cumberland’s The City of London Armed Associations, 1803 Sharpshooters, 1805 Top right: The cap badge of the Honourable Artillery Company The Rifle Volunteers 2 By 1859, the government was concerned about the menacing attitude towards Britain by the French. With a large proportion of the Regular Army committed abroad, and the daily threats of invasion appearing in the French press, the British public was greatly alarmed about the security of Britain. In that year, the government sanctioned the large-scale formation of Volunteer Corps, consisting of Light Horse, Artillery, Engineers, Mounted Rifles and Rifles. The new force caught the imagination of the public, and within a Rifleman of 2nd South year had a strength of over 170,000. Membership of the Volunteers Rifleman of 14th Middlesex Middlesex RVC, 1859 was initially drawn from the middle classes, as Volunteers had to (Hampstead) RVC, 1859 provide their own uniforms, equipment, weapons and horses. Membership of some London volunteer units was based on the occupation or profession of its members as in the 38th Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps (Artists Rifles), and some were based on ethnicity, such as the 18th Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps (London Irish Rifles). A year later, there were so many independent companies throughout the country that it was felt that a higher formation was necessary. In London, consolidated battalions were Drum Major of 15th Middlesex (London Scottish) formed, although many companies continued Review of the Volunteers in Hyde Park in 1860 RVC, 1871 to wear their own uniform. On 3 June 1860, HM Queen Victoria reviewed over 19,000 Top right: The cap badge of the 41st Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps. The centre of the device shows three muskets above three bayonets, Volunteers in Hyde Park. the 41st having been raised by the Enfield Small Arms Factory. The Volunteer Battalions 3 In 1881, Edward Cardwell, Secretary of State for War, introduced a number of sweeping initiatives to the Army, which included the abolition of the purchase of commissions and flogging as a punishment except when on active service. Another initiative saw the Volunteer Corps become more closely affiliated to their Regular regiments and the infantry were re-numbered as volunteer battalions of the newly created county regiments. An example of this was the 3rd Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps (RVC), which became the 1st Recruiting poster for the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment at Wimbledon (Volunteer) Battalion, The Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment). In 1882, two Officers and 100 men from the 24th Middlesex RVC (Post Office Rifles) sailed for Egypt where they were employed as an Army Post Office Corps. For their services, they were awarded the Battle Honour ‘Egypt 1882’. Following this success, the 24th was tasked to form a Field Telegraph Corps, which served in 1885 at Suakin in the Sudan alongside a postal detachment. By the late 1890s, most Volunteers had replaced the grey or green uniforms worn up to then, and adopted the scarlet tunic, Oxford Soldier of the 2nd VB The Earl of Denbigh, The Queen’s Royal Colonel Commandant blue trousers and helmet of the Regular force worn with white Regiment of Foot, 1871 Honourable Artillery metal, rather than brass or gilding metal badges and buttons. Company, 1893 - 1933. He was responsible for bringing the Regiment Top right: The cap badge of the 8th (County of London Battalion), The into the new Territorial London Regiment (Post Office Rifles). It was adopted in 1908 and Force in 1908 includes the Battle Honours ‘Egypt 1882’ and ‘South Africa 1900-02’ South Africa 1900-02 4 When a threat of war in South Africa became apparent in 1899, the Volunteers offered their services, but the War Office turned this down – believing that the Regular Forces could easily defeat the Boer farmers. However, after the Army suffered three defeats in six days in December 1899, which became known as City Imperial Volunteers Infantry Detachment of 1st Middlesex ‘Black Week’, the War Office had a change (Victoria and St George’s Rifles) soon after their arrival in South Africa of heart. On 20 December 1899, the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Alfred Newton, made a formal offer to raise and equip 1000 men from within the A member of the City Imperial Volunteers City. This force, which was funded by City Banks, Livery Companies and West End firms, became known as the City Imperial Volunteers (CIV) and was made up of personnel from existing Volunteer regiments. The CIV served with distinction, taking part in a number of actions, and returned home in October 1900. The Volunteers were welcomed back to London by a great crowd, which accompanied them on their march through the Capital, ending with a banquet in the Guildhall. Members of the City Imperial Volunteers Nearly every Volunteer unit in London formed London’s welcome home to CIV Cyclists in Hyde Park, 1900 in South Africa Service Companies to serve with their affiliated Top right: The two medals awarded for Regular Regiment for the rest of the war. The war ended in 1902, service in the Boer War. On the left is the Queen’s medal and on the right is and in 1905, the Battle Honour ‘South Africa’, with appropriate the King’s Medal. The Queen’s medal dates, was awarded to those units who had supplied volunteers. was awarded until Queen Victoria died in 1900, when a new medal was awarded for King Edward VII’s reign. The Territorial Force 1908 5 The Volunteer Corps continued to grow, and by 1907, the Volunteer infantry alone numbered 221 battalions. Under the Army Reforms of 1907, the existing Yeomanry and Volunteer Forces were to be combined into a new organisation to be known as the Territorial Force. The Secretary of State for War was Richard Haldane and his reforms took effect on 1 April 1908. It is this reorganisation that we are celebrating this year as the Centenary of the Territorial Army. Recruiting Poster for the 25th (County of London) With the creation of the new Territorial Force, there Battalion The London Sergeants of the 7th Battalion The Duke of Cambridge’s Own Regiment (Cyclists) were a number of new Territorial regiments with no (Middlesex Regiment), 1 April 1908 affiliated Regular regiment.