Short History of the London Rifle Brigade

In Short

Published in 1916 as a concise regimental record, this volume traces the London Rifle Brigade from its Victorian peacetime origins as a City volunteer unit to its vital role on the Western Front during World War I. The text outlines the rapid creation of three operational battalions, detail-heavy logistics, grueling winter fatigue duties, and severe combat engagements at Ploegsteert, Ypres, and Gommecourt. It serves as both a historical account and a tribute to fallen soldiers, highlighting the transformation of civilian clerks and city workers into a disciplined military force through meticulous operational record-keeping and lists of honors.

The Story

The narrative begins with the founding of the London Rifle Brigade in July 1859 during a public meeting called by the Lord Mayor of London. Firmly rooted in the capital's civic institutions, the unit draws its members from various City Wards, growing into a prestigious Territorial Force unit. The text details its early physical training, sporting achievements, and military shooting competitions, as well as its preliminary operational service during the South African War.

Upon the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, the brigade mobilizes instantly. Recruits flood its Bunhill Row headquarters, leading to the rapid formation of Second and Third Battalions to support home defense and provide continuous reinforcement drafts. The 1st Battalion undergoes rigorous training at Crowborough before embarking for France in November 1914. Upon arrival, the men encounter the stark realities of continental warfare: miserable transport in overcrowded freight cars labeled "Hommes 40 Chevaux 8," damp and unheated quarters, and continuous fatigue labor under artillery fire.

By late November 1914, the battalion enters the front lines at Ploegsteert Wood. The text records the harshness of winter trench warfare, where soldiers construct timber-lined defenses like "Bunhill Row" while enduring waist-deep mud and relentless working parties. In April 1915, the brigade moves into the Ypres Salient. Here, during the Second Battle of Ypres, they face massive enemy artillery bombardments, early chemical gas attacks, and brutal infantry pushes near Fortuin and Shell Trap Farm. The unit suffers massive casualties but holds its ground, highlighted by actions such as Rifleman Douglas Belcher earning the Victoria Cross for defending an exposed breastwork with a handful of survivors.

Reduced to a fraction of its original strength, the battalion is temporarily withdrawn to General Headquarters for guard duties, railhead security, and prisoner escorts before re-entering the line with the 3rd Division late in 1915. The record closes in mid-1916 with the 1st Battalion enduring the catastrophic actions around Gommecourt during the Somme offensive, supported at home by an administrative depot that manages casualty funds, packages for prisoners of war, and officer candidate selections.

How It Unfolds

The Victorian foundation Established at a meeting called by the Lord Mayor in 1859, the unit quickly expands, building dedicated headquarters at Bunhill Row and earning early battle honors in South Africa.

Mobilization and transport When war breaks out in 1914, the battalion mobilizes instantly, training at Crowborough before embarking for France, where soldiers endure cold, unheated billets and grueling forced marches over paved roads.

Trench routine at Ploegsteert Entering the firing line in late 1914, the troops build wooden support trenches, undertake endless night-time fatigue work, and endure heavy artillery fire alongside regular army units.

The trial at Ypres In April and May 1915, the battalion faces heavy bombardment, artillery enfilade fire, and toxic gas in the Ypres Salient, holding the line despite losing hundreds of men in days.

Rear-guard and reorganization Severely depleted, the battalion spends summer 1915 managing railheads, guarding prisoners, and training before returning to winter trenches near Poperinghe under terrible weather conditions.

The Somme offensive By mid-1916, under new leadership, the battalion takes part in the fierce combat at Gommecourt, completing its primary objectives amidst massive casualties while home depots support its casualties and prisoners.

The People

• Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Bingham (later Earl of Lucan) — The dedicated officer whose steady leadership and optimistic outlook keep the regiment afloat through difficult reorganization periods preceding the creation of the Territorial Force.
• Colonel Edward Matthey — A long-serving veteran who climbs from private in 1873 to commanding officer, earning awards for his relentless work building up the unit’s infrastructure and headquarters.
• Lieutenant-Colonel A. S. Bates — Takes command of the 1st Battalion in France during March 1915, guiding the unit through the heavy bombardment of Ypres until sick leave forces his return home in August 1916.
• Rifleman (later Sergeant) Douglas Belcher — A brave rifleman awarded the Victoria Cross for defending an exposed piece of trench with four survivors and two Hussars, holding off enemy infantry through rapid rifle fire.
• Lieutenant-Colonel R. H. Husey — An athletic officer who leads winning march teams before the war, takes over command of the 1st Battalion in August 1916, and earns military honors during battle on the Somme.

In Its Own Voice

"French trains and the French railway system became familiar later on in all their ramifications, but at first 'Hommes 40 Chevaux (en long) 8' aroused suspicions that were only too well justified..."

This observation notes the rough, cramped conditions troops encountered immediately upon entraining for the front line in late 1914.

"The London Rifle Brigade had lost most of its men in the earlier fighting. It began the day 278 strong, and before evening 91 more had gone."

Quoted from historical accounts within the text, this passage illustrates the severe casualty rates sustained during the defensive fighting near Ypres in May 1915.

"Ration parties took as much as seven hours to accomplish one round journey."

This brief remark captures the extraordinary difficulty of moving supplies through the deep, waterlogged mud of the frontline winter trenches.

What It's Really About

The text explores how a peacetime volunteer organization built on civic pride converts into a modern military unit capable of holding key defensive positions against heavy artillery and chemical weapons. Beneath the matter-of-fact operational logs lies an examination of institutional duty, camaraderie, and organizational resilience. The book illustrates how logistical discipline, structured training, and strong connections to home support networks sustain a regiment through near-total physical destruction on the battlefield.

Why Read It Today

Military historians and readers interested in World War I will value this historical chronicle for its unvarnished, contemporary perspective written while the conflict was still underway. The writing avoids romanticized prose, presenting a direct, day-by-day record of march distances, casualty figures, weather conditions, and tactical positions.

Reading the account gives a clear sense of the incredible physical hardships borne by soldiers: waterlogged trenches, endless fatigue labor, winter mud, and near-constant artillery shelling. While the text's formal style, condensed tactical lists, and detailed appendices of officer names and medal recipients make it read more like an official record than a standard narrative novel, it provides an authentic look at the sheer endurance required of London’s territorial soldiers.