20th (County of London) Bn The London
Regiment
In 1860 the 1st Administrative Battalion, Kent Rifle Volunteer Corps was formed at Blackheath to administer existing local Lewisham corps of 3rd KRVC at Lee (7 November 1859), 8th KRVC at Sydenham (1859, disbanded 1869), 21st KRVC at Lewisham (1860, disbanded 1861), 27th KRVC at Deptford (1860) and 34th KRVC at Deptford (1860) and a number of other out of borough KRVC units. In 1880 it was renamed the 3rd Kent (West Kent) Rifle Volunteers and in 1881 became the volunteer battalion of the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).
Holly Hedge House
The 20th London Regiment was formed on 1st April 1908 with Headquarters at Holly Hedge House, Blackheath, when the old Volunteer battalions became part of the new Territorial Force. In the majority of cases the new Territorial battalions were linked to a regiment of the regular army but the London Regiment was unique in that it contained no regular battalions. It was the largest infantry regiment in the army with 26 battalions in peacetime, eventually increasing to 88 battalions over the course of the First World War.
To War!
In 1916 the battalion was transfered to The Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) and was reconstitued in the Territorial Army with Headquarters at Blackheath in 1920. Being named 20th London regiment (The Queen's Own) in 1922. With it's lineage being discontinued in 1961. The 1st Battalion was formed 4 August 1914 and formed part of the 2nd London Division which was a Territorial Force Division and already in existence at the outbreak of the war. The Division and Brigades were not numbered until April 1915 previously just named.
They arrived in France in March 1915 and served in France and Flanders until the Armistice. They were involved in battles in France and Flanders: Battle of Aubers. 9 May 1915, including the attack on Fromelles and the attack at Rue du Bois. Battle of Festubert. 15-25 May 1915. Battle of Loos. 25 Sep-8 Oct 1915. Actions of the Hohenzollern Redoubt. 13-19 Oct 1915. And the German attacks on Vimy Ridge. 21 May 1916. Battle of Flers-Courcelette. 15-22 Sep 1916, including the capture of Martinpuich. Battle of Le Transloy. 1-18 Oct 1916, including the capture of Eaucourt l’Abbaye, Le Sars and the attacks on Butte de Warlencourt. Battle of Messines. 7-14 Jun 1917, including the capture of Wytschaete. Local operations around St. Julian. 19, 22, 27 Aug 1917. German counter attacks. 30 Nov-3 Dec 1917. First Battle of Bapaume. 24-25 Mar 1918. Battle of the Ancre. 5 Apr 1918. Battle of Amiens. 8-11 Aug 1918. Battle of Albert. 21-23 Aug 1918, including the capture of Chuignes. Second Battle of Bapaume. 31 Aug-3 Sep 1918. The final advance to Artois. 2 Oct-11 Nov 1918, including the capture of Douai. [source: wikipedia]
They arrived in France in March 1915 and served in France and Flanders until the Armistice. They were involved in battles in France and Flanders: Battle of Aubers. 9 May 1915, including the attack on Fromelles and the attack at Rue du Bois. Battle of Festubert. 15-25 May 1915. Battle of Loos. 25 Sep-8 Oct 1915. Actions of the Hohenzollern Redoubt. 13-19 Oct 1915. And the German attacks on Vimy Ridge. 21 May 1916. Battle of Flers-Courcelette. 15-22 Sep 1916, including the capture of Martinpuich. Battle of Le Transloy. 1-18 Oct 1916, including the capture of Eaucourt l’Abbaye, Le Sars and the attacks on Butte de Warlencourt. Battle of Messines. 7-14 Jun 1917, including the capture of Wytschaete. Local operations around St. Julian. 19, 22, 27 Aug 1917. German counter attacks. 30 Nov-3 Dec 1917. First Battle of Bapaume. 24-25 Mar 1918. Battle of the Ancre. 5 Apr 1918. Battle of Amiens. 8-11 Aug 1918. Battle of Albert. 21-23 Aug 1918, including the capture of Chuignes. Second Battle of Bapaume. 31 Aug-3 Sep 1918. The final advance to Artois. 2 Oct-11 Nov 1918, including the capture of Douai. [source: wikipedia]
