Short History of the London Rifle Brigade Part 1

Short History of the London Rifle Brigade.

by Unknown.

NOTE

Pending the full pre-war history, which is to be written by better hands, the very sketchy outline in Part I. is given in order to form the connecting link between the Regiment in peace, since its formation, and the present time.

It does not attempt to give the smallest idea of the hard work, often accomplished under disadvantageous circ.u.mstances, carried out by all ranks, which made possible the work done in the war.

That the Regiment even now exists is solely due to Lieut.-Colonel Lord Bingham (now Brigadier-General the Earl of Lucan), whose cheery optimism through the dark times previous to the birth of the Territorial Force was such a great tower of strength.

Any profits which may accrue from this pamphlet will be given to the London Rifle Brigade Prisoners' Aid Fund.

_October, 1916._

PART I.

[Sidenote: =Formation.=]

The London Rifle Brigade, formerly the 1st London Volunteer Rifle Corps (City of London Rifle Volunteer Brigade), and now, officially, the 5th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment, London Rifle Brigade, familiarly known to its members and the public generally by the sub-t.i.tle or the abbreviation "L.R.B.," was founded July 23rd, 1859, at a meeting convened by the Lord Mayor. It has always been intimately a.s.sociated with the City of London, its companies being under the patronage of the various Wards.

Within a week of its formation the muster of the Regiment exceeded 1,800; two battalions were formed and headquarters were taken at No. 8, Great Winchester Street, where they remained for 34 years, and subsequently in Finsbury Pavement.

In 1893 the Regiment entered its present headquarters in Bunhill Row.

These were designed by the late Lieut.-Colonel Boyes, erected entirely from regimental funds, supplemented by contributions from members of the Brigade, from various City Companies and other friends of the Regiment, and const.i.tute the finest building of its kind in London.

Since the formation of the Territorial Force these headquarters have been shared with the Post Office Rifles.

[Sidenote: =Honorary Colonel.=]

Mr. Alderman Carter was at first appointed Honorary Colonel, but in 1860 it was suggested that a military Honorary Colonel would be more appropriate than a civilian one, and Mr. Carter (then Lord Mayor) approached H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, who, in response to the unanimous wish of the Regiment, accepted the appointment, which he held until his death in 1904. During this period he rarely missed attending the annual inspection.

[Sidenote: =Commanding Officers.=]

In 1862 a resolution was pa.s.sed at a meeting "that Regimental Commanding Officers should now and always be Officers of professional experience and ability." This tradition has been departed from on only two occasions prior to the war, as shown in the list given on the following page.

NAME. FROM. TO.

G. M. Hicks (late 41st Regiment) 30/12/59 January, 1862.

G. Warde (late 51st Regiment) February, 1862 Early, 1876.

Sir A. D. Hayter, Bt. (late Early, 1876 1881.

Grenadier Guards) W. H. Haywood (Ex London Rifle 1881 1882.

Brigade) Lord Edward Pelham-Clinton June, 1882 1890.

(late Rifle Brigade) H. C. Cholmondeley (late Rifle 1890 February, 1901.

Brigade) Edward Matthey (Ex London Rifle February, 1901 4/6/01.

Brigade) Lord Bingham (late Rifle Brigade) June, 1901 1913.

Earl Cairns (late Rifle Brigade) 1913 1915.

Norman C. King (Ex London Rifle 1915 Brigade)

_1st Battalion._

Earl Cairns 4/8/14 16/3/15.

A. S. Bates (Ex London Rifle 16/3/15 15/8/16.

Brigade) R. H. Husey (Ex London Rifle 15/8/16 Brigade)

_2nd Battalion._

G. R. Tod (late Seaforth September, 1914 Highlanders)

_3rd Battalion._

H. C. Cholmondeley 30/11/14 1915.

Norman C. King 4/6/15

[Sidenote: =South African War.=]

Colonel Cholmondeley was appointed to command the Mounted Infantry Section of the C.I.V., to which regiment the London Rifle Brigade contributed 2 officers (Captain C. G. R. Matthey and Lieutenant the Hon.

Schomberg K. McDonnell) and 78 other ranks.

When the Volunteer Active Service Companies were raised, 17 members were accepted for service with the Royal Fusiliers, and an additional 76 joined the Imperial Yeomanry and R.A.M.C.

The total death roll of the Regiment was seven.

Colonel Cholmondeley, Lieutenant E. D. Johnson (Imperial Yeomanry), and Colour-Sergeant T. G. Beeton (C.I.V. Infantry) were mentioned in despatches.

[Sidenote: =Honours.=]

Colonel Cholmondeley received the C.B. for his services in South Africa, and Lieutenant the Hon. Rupert Guinness was made a C.M.G. for his work with the Irish Hospital.

When the Coronation honours were announced in 1902, Colonel Edward Matthey, V.D., received the C.B., a fitting award for his long services to the Volunteer Force. Before joining the L.R.B. in 1873 as a private he had already been 13 years in the Victoria Rifles. He retired in 1901, having served in every rank. His interest in the Regiment has been, and still is, without limit.

_To face page 4._

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE CONVENT.

_8th to 16th November, 1914._]

The work he has done for its welfare, while still serving, and since retirement, cannot be chronicled here, but, when the full history of the Regiment is written, Colonel Matthey's name will be found writ large on its pages.