London Regiments in the First World War

From the streets of Britain's capital to battlefields across the globe, London's infantry regiments played a central role in the First World War. Explore our growing collection of specialist research hubs covering the city's historic regiments, their battalions, recruitment areas and wartime service, helping you better understand the soldiers who served in them.

Explore the London Regiment Research Hubs

Select a regiment below to explore its history, battalions and wartime service through a dedicated research hub designed to help uncover the stories of the soldiers who served during the First World War.

Buffs (East Kent Regiment)

One of Britain's oldest infantry regiments, with roots dating to 1572 and a strong East Kent identity.

East Surrey Regiment

Recruited across eastern Surrey and south London, including the wartime Wandsworth battalion raised for Kitchener's Army.

Currently in Development

King's Royal Rifle Corps

Originating as the 60th Rifles, it combined rifle traditions with unusually strong links to London recruitment.

London Regiment

A vast Territorial formation whose battalions reflected districts, professions and communities across the capital.

Middlesex Regiment

Nicknamed the "Die-Hards," it recruited heavily from north-west London and Middlesex towns such as Enfield and Hounslow.

Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)

Raised in 1661, it was the oldest English line infantry regiment in the whole of the British Army.

Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Kent's western county regiment, recruiting from towns including Maidstone, Tonbridge, Bromley and neighbouring south-east London districts.

Currently in Development

Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own)

An elite rifle regiment distinguished by dark green uniforms, rapid movement and traditions inherited from Napoleonic light infantry.

Currently in Development

Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)

Closely associated with the City, it raised numerous wartime battalions, including the famous Sportsmen's and Stockbrokers' units.

Understanding London's Infantry Regiments

Map showing London within the United Kingdom and the geographical origins of north west England's historic infantry regiments.

More than a County

London's infantry regiments occupied a unique place within the British Army's regimental system. While most infantry regiments recruited primarily from a single historic county, London's military landscape extended across the capital, its suburbs and neighbouring counties including Middlesex, Surrey and Kent. As the city expanded during the nineteenth century, so too did the number and variety of regiments associated with London.

Alongside county regiments such as the Middlesex Regiment, Buffs (East Kent Regiment), Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment and East Surrey Regiment stood formations with very different traditions. The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), King's Royal Rifle Corps and Rifle Brigade each developed their own distinctive identities, while the London Regiment itself comprised numerous Territorial battalions linked to individual districts across the capital. Together, they formed one of the most diverse military regions in Britain.

For today's researchers, London can be one of the most rewarding—but occasionally confusing—areas to explore. A soldier's regiment was not always determined by where he lived, and overlapping recruiting areas mean men from the capital and neighbouring counties often served in different units. Understanding these regimental relationships provides valuable context when identifying battalions and interpreting wartime service.

The Capital At War

When Britain declared war in August 1914, London occupied a unique position within the United Kingdom. As the capital of the British Empire, it was the nation's political, financial and administrative centre, home to millions of people drawn from every corner of Britain and beyond. This vast population provided an immense pool of volunteers, allowing London's infantry regiments to expand rapidly as the British Army grew from a small professional force into a mass citizen army.

Unlike many county regiments, which recruited primarily from rural communities or individual counties, London's regiments reflected the extraordinary diversity of the capital itself. Clerks from the City, dockworkers from the East End, shopkeepers, railwaymen, teachers, labourers and professional men all enlisted, often serving side by side within the same battalion. The city's size and influence also encouraged the formation of numerous specialist and locally raised units, while the London Regiment alone expanded into dozens of battalions serving across multiple theatres of war.

Several of Britain's most distinguished infantry regiments were closely associated with the capital. The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), King's Royal Rifle Corps and Rifle Brigade all possessed proud traditions that stretched back centuries, while neighbouring regiments such as the Middlesex Regiment and the Queen's regiments recruited extensively from London's expanding suburbs. Together, these units fought in virtually every major campaign of the First World War, from the trenches of the Western Front to Gallipoli, Salonika, Mesopotamia and Palestine.

London's contribution extended far beyond the battlefield. As the seat of government and the centre of Britain's transport, communications and financial systems, the capital coordinated much of the nation's war effort while continuing to supply a constant stream of recruits. Few regions influenced the outcome of the First World War in so many different ways, making London's infantry regiments an integral part of both the city's history and Britain's wartime story.

Frequently Asked Questions About London Regiments

Which infantry regiments were based in London during the First World War?

London was home to one of the British Army's most diverse collections of infantry regiments during the First World War. These included the London Regiment, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), Middlesex Regiment, Buffs (East Kent Regiment), Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, King's Royal Rifle Corps, Rifle Brigade and East Surrey Regiment. Together, they recruited from the capital and surrounding counties, raising dozens of battalions that served across every major theatre of the war.

Which regiment represented the City of London during the First World War?

The regiment most closely associated with the City of London was the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). Originally raised in 1685, it maintained close links with the financial and commercial heart of the capital and expanded dramatically during the First World War, raising numerous battalions that served on the Western Front, Gallipoli and in several other theatres. Other London regiments also maintained strong associations with the City, including Territorial battalions of the Middlesex Regiment and the London Regiment itself, reflecting the capital's complex military geography.

How was the London Regiment organised during the First World War?

Unlike most county regiments, the London Regiment was a large Territorial Force formation made up of numerous battalions, each associated with a particular district or community within the capital. Rather than operating as a single regiment with Regular battalions, its Territorial battalions developed their own identities while serving alongside the wider British Army. During the First World War, London Regiment battalions fought in France and Flanders, Gallipoli, Salonika, Palestine and other theatres, earning an outstanding reputation for their service.

Did London come under attack during the First World War?

Yes. Although the fighting took place overseas, London became one of the first major cities to experience aerial bombardment. German Zeppelin airships began raiding the capital in 1915, followed later by Gotha bomber aircraft capable of carrying larger bomb loads. These attacks caused civilian casualties, damaged homes and businesses, and brought the realities of modern warfare to Britain's capital, marking a significant development in the history of aerial warfare.

These raids also prompted the development of Britain's home air defences and changed how civilians experienced war, bringing the conflict directly to the streets of London.

How can I research a soldier who served in a London regiment?

If you know a soldier's service number, regiment or battalion, the Army Service Explorer provides an ideal starting point. By analysing First World War service numbers, it can identify a soldier's most likely battalion before directing you to the relevant regiment research hub. There you can explore battalion histories, recruitment patterns and wartime service to build a clearer picture of the soldier's military experience.

Which London regiment should I research if I only know where my ancestor lived?

That depends on where your ancestor lived and, in some cases, where he chose to enlist. Men from the capital could join the London Regiment, Royal Fusiliers, Middlesex Regiment or several neighbouring county regiments, while those living in Surrey or Kent often enlisted into regiments associated with those counties. If you have a service number, the Army Service Explorer can help identify the most likely regiment and battalion before directing you to the appropriate research hub.

Continue Your Research

Whether you're starting with a service number, regiment, battalion or simply a soldier's name, the Army Service Explorer helps identify the most likely military unit, understand its wartime role and explore where it served during WWI

Or Explore Another Regiment Library

The Army Service Explorer covers infantry regiments from across Britain and Ireland. Continue exploring our growing collection of regional First World War regiment libraries.

North East England Regiments

Scottish Regiments

Midlands Regiments

North West Regiments

South East England Regiments

West Country Regiments

Wales & Borders Regiments

Island of Ireland Regiments

Or compare with WWII Regiments and Corps here