London District (British Army)

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]

For the historical district in Upper Canada, see London District, Upper Canada.

London District
Insignia of the London District
Active1905–present
CountryUnited Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeRegular/Territorial Army
Part ofHome Command
Garrison/HQHorse Guards
Commanders
Current
commander		Major-General Chris Ghika

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 Chris Ghika. 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]

By 2007 the units in the district included the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment; the 1st Battalions of the Welsh Guards and Coldstream Guards; 2nd Battalion, Mercian Regiment; Nijmegan Company, Grenadier Guards, No. 7 Company, Coldstream Guards, and F Company, Scots Guards, the three Guards incremental companies; King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery; 20 Transport Squadron, Royal Logistic Corps;[9] headquarters and much of the Army Reserve's Royal Yeomanry; the London Regiment; 106th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery; the Honourable Artillery Company; 135 Independent Geography Squadron, Royal Engineers; 151 (London) Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps; Central Volunteer Headquarters RA; and the University of London Officers' Training Corps.[10]

Forces

London District supervises several operational infantry battalions that are not attached to a deployable brigade, but instead are available for independent deployment as needed; as well as carrying out ceremonial and vital asset/facilities protection, including of the Royal Family. The Headquarters is also regionally aligned with the Caribbean region as part of defence engagement.[11]

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:


References
  1. From Restoration to the 21st Century Archived 7 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Army List 1876–1881.
  3. The Old War Office Building
  4. Tabor, p. 19
  5. Niehorster, London District
  6. "The Secret Architecture of London". Geocities. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  7. "WO1 (GSM) Andrew 'Vern' Stokes, Coldstream Guards". Trooping the Colour. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  8. 56 (London) Brigade at regiments.org Archived 18 July 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  9. "Units". 12 February 2008. Archived from the original on 12 February 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  10. "London UOTC". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  11. "Information regarding British Army brigades being regionally aligned" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. Ministry of Defence UK. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2020. Responsible Organisation HQ London District Region Caribbean
  12. "London District" (PDF). whatdotheyknow.com. Whatdotheyknow. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020. The 1st Battalions of the Grenadier, Coldstream, Irish, and Welsh Guards rotate in pairs between public duties/ceremonial and field army roles on a two-yearly cycle...London Regiment

Sources
  • Tabor, Paddy, The Household Cavalry Museum, Ajanta Book Publishing, 2010, ISBN 978-1-84820-882-7

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