1999 - 2006
Formed as a result of the Strategic Defence Review, the third incarnation of the London Regiment came into being on 1st April 1999 and consisted of six companies:
- A (The London Scottish) Company
- B (Queen's Regiment) Company
- C (City of London Fusiliers) Company
- D (London Irish Rifles) Company
- F (RGJ) Company
- G (RGJ) Company
- HQ (Anzio) Company
The block of two companies' worth of Royal Green Jacket personnel made an immediate impact on HQ (Anzio) Company, which continued to hold its "Anzio" title, as the horse-trading lead to RGJ personnel being given slots there and in Regimental HQ. At the same time, post-SDR TA infantry battalions no longer had Intelligence Cells or a Provost Sections. The London Scottish alone lost a Quarter-Master, Regimental Signals Warrant Officer, Provost Colour-Sergeant, Intelligence Colour-Sergeant, Media Ops Officer and Media Ops Sergeant as a result of the SDR changes and RGJ merger. As a battalion, from recruit training pass-off parades to participation in the Lord Mayor's Show, the combination of Light Division foot drill with standard "heavy" infantry foot drill constantly presented difficulties. In the wider Army, the Light Infantry adopt standard drill in mixed parades, but the London Regiment solution (as part of the maintenance of historic identities) was to split parades in two, with the RGJ component in one marching contingent and the rest of the battalion in another.
A new London Regiment device was designed by the College of Arms, this time much more like a cap-badge and the sense that elements were at large within Regimental HQ intent on it becoming the cap-badge remained prominent. A new London Regiment tie was also designed, involving a much more complex sequence of stripes to accommodate representation of the Royal Green Jackets.
The post-SDR London Regiment was unusual not just for its six companies. The London Scottish and the Queen's Regiment Companies both had Machine Gun Platoons. The London Irish and the G (RGJ) Companies both had Reconnaisance Platoons.
Scarcely had the new regiment settled down, with the balance of posts in Regimental HQ and HQ Company evened out across the battalion, than the Army was faced with yet another re-structure. Future Army Structure / Future Infantry Structure was to create single multi-battalion regiments in each Divisional area, with a single identity and cap-badge for each of the new large regiments. The intention was to allow each battalion to be fixed in role (armoured, mechanised, light, airborne) and geography. As each regiment would have battalions in these different roles at different locations, career progression for soldiers would be achieved through rotation through the battalions, rather than the periodic "Arms Plot" re-roling of battalions. The TA infantry in each Divisional area would become part of the new large regiments, with the same cap-badge and a clear role in support of its regular battalions. The London Regiment presented a problem for FAS / FIS, but the solution continued the innovation the London Regiment has established a reputation for: It would become the first TA support battalion for the five regiments of Foot Guards as part of the Household Division.
Next: 2006 - Present Day >
|
|
