LONDON IRISH RIFLES
The London Irish Rifles Company is based in Flodden Road, Camberwell. Formed in 1860, the 28th Middlesex (London Irish) Rifle Volunteer Corps was popular, and numbered among its ranks the Marquises of Donegal and Conyngham, the Earls of Arran and Belmore, Lord Palmerston (who joined as a private soldier) and WH Russell of The Times.
Re-numbered as the 16th in 1880, the ‘Irish’ became a Battalion of the Rifle Brigade in the following year. During the war in South Africa, the battalion sent eight officers and two hundred men for active service. One officer won the Distinguished Service Order, and another member gained seven bars to his South Africa Medal. In recognition of their service, the London Irish were granted the battle honour of ‘South Africa, 1900-1902’.
The London Irish transferred to the Territorial Force in 1908 as the 18th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (London Irish Rifles). During the First World War, the London Irish Rifles raised three battalions. The 1st Battalion went to France in March 1915 as part of the 47th (2nd London) Division. It saw its first action at Festubert in May.
In September 1915, at the Battle of Loos, the 1st Battalion distinguished itself by the capture of enemy trenches led by the Captain of the football team, Sergeant Edwards who took his football and kicked it towards enemy trenches. His fellow soldiers joined in and, despite intense enemy gun fire, the ball was kicked across No Man's Land until it was finally booted into the German trenches. In a desperate and bloody battle, the London Irish Rifles captured and held their objective. The football itself is still preserved in the Regimental Museum, and the memory of Sergeant Edwards is commemorated on Loos Sunday.
The 2nd Battalion also served on the Western Front, where its first duty was to take over part of the line at Vimy Ridge. From France, the Battalion moved to Macedonia, and later served in Palestine. There, on 23rd December 1917, at Khurbet Adesah, the Battalion's officers and NCOs were reduced to one subaltern and one sergeant. The 2nd Battalion was disbanded in July 1918. The 3rd Battalion was a Reserve Battalion throughout the War.
In 1937, after the former London Regiment was disbanded, the ‘Irish’ became known as the London Irish Rifles, The Royal Ulster Rifles. The Caubeen - the plumed bonnet - was adopted officially for wear by all ranks. Unlike other Irish regiments, the London Irish wear the Caubeen pulled down on the left side (instead of the right), a distinction maintained to this day.
In 1939, the London Irish Rifles was doubled to two battalions. The 1st left England in August 1942 to serve in Iraq and Italy, taking part in the battles for Monte Camino and Anzio. The 2nd Battalion served in North Africa and Italy.
After the War, the Battalion re-formed as a Battalion of the Royal Ulster Rifles, but the 1967 re-organisation of the TA reduced the London Irish to company strength. The three Irish Line infantry Regiments had combined to form the Royal Irish Rangers, and the company became D Company (London Irish Rifles), 4th Battalion The Royal Irish Rangers, remaining so until the re-formation of The London Regiment.
The London Irish were based in Duke of York’s Headquarters until 2000, when they moved to Flodden Road, Camberwell. Flodden Road TA Centre was originally the home of 21st (County of London) Battalion The London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles).
