Ref 30. The London Scottish

1860 - 1900

The regiment was founded on the formation of the Volunteer Force in 1859 sponsored by The Highland Society of London and The Caledonian Society of London. A group of individual Scots from these societies raised The London Scottish Rifle Volunteers under the command of Lt Col Lord Elcho, later The Earl of Wemyss and March.

The regiment became the 7th (London Scottish) Middlesex Volunteer Rifle Corps and then, in 1908, the 14th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (London Scottish).

The London Scottish became 'A' (London Scottish) Company of the London Regiment. The London Regiment is an infantry regiment in the Army Reserve of the British Army. It was raised in 1993, perpetuating the lineage of some (but not all) the battalions of an earlier regiment of the same name.

The London Regiment is the only reserve infantry battalion completely in the London District (though the Parachute Regiment reserve maintains a considerable presence in London). The 1/14th Battalion was mobilized on the outbreak of the First World War war, departing for France on 15 September 1914. On 31 October 1914 the battalion encountered German forces at Messines in Belgium. The 2/14th Battalion embarked for France in June 1916 but was then transferred to Salonika and Palestine. In 1936-7, on the break-up of the London Regiment, the unit was re-named The London Scottish. The London Scottish raised three battalions during the Second World War, two of which served overseas. Both of the overseas battalions served with the Middle Eastern Forces in Sicily and Italy. In 1967 the London Scottish tradition was resurrected on the formation of G (London Scottish) Company 1st Battalion 51st Highland Volunteers. Since 1992, the tradition has been carried on by A (London Scottish) Company of the London Regiment, which provides Reserve support to the Foot Guards.