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]
Structure 2007:[9]
- Regulars:
- Household Cavalry - Mounted Ceremonial Regiment
- 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards - Light Role Infantry Battalion
- 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards - Light Role Infantry Battalion
- 2nd Battalion, Mercian Regiment - Light Role Infantry Battalion
- No.2 (Nijmegan) Company, Grenadier Guards - Public Duties separate Company
- No.7 Company, Coldstream Guards - Public Duties separate Company
- No. VII (F) Company, Scots Guards - Public Duties separate Company
- King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery - Ceremonial troop sized artillery unit
- 20 Transport Squadron, Royal Logistic Corps - Squadron sized transport squadron.
- Army Reserve:
- Royal Yeomanry
- London Regiment
- 106th (Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Artillery
- Honourable Artillery Company
- 135 Independent Geography Squadron, Royal Engineers
- 151 (London) Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
- Central Volunteer Headquarters RA
- University of London Officers' Training Corps
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:
- Regular Army Units
- Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge, London
- King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich, London
- 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, Lille Barracks, Aldershot
- 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow, London
- 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, Victoria Barracks, Windsor
- Nijmegen Company, Grenadier Guards based at Wellington Barracks
- No 7 Company, Coldstream Guards based at Wellington Barracks
- F Company, Scots Guards based at Wellington Barracks
- 20 Transport Squadron, Royal Logistic Corps based at Regent's Park Barracks, (provides all the transport needs for London District and the Royal Household)
- 238 Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals (provides all communications for London District)
- Army Reserve Units
- Royal Yeomanry, Fulham House, London
- London Regiment, St John's Hill Army Reserve Centre, Battersea, London
References
- ^ From Restoration to the 21st Century Archived 7 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Army List 1876–1881.
- ^ The Old War Office Building
- ^ Tabor, p. 19
- ^ Niehorster, London District
- ^ "The Secret Architecture of London". Geocities. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
- ^ "WO1 (GSM) Andrew 'Vern' Stokes, Coldstream Guards". Trooping the Colour. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
- ^ 56 (London) Brigade at regiments.org Archived 18 July 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Units". 12 February 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
Sources
- Tabor, Paddy, The Household Cavalry Museum, Ajanta Book Publishing, 2010, ISBN 978-1-84820-882-7
External links
- HQ London District – on British Army official website
- London District (1939)