UNITS THAT USED THE VICKERS

The London Regiment:

The Great War

The London Regiment consisted of Territorial Infantry Battalions that would have had an MG Section as part of its Battalion Headquarters. These weapons would have been brigaded when the Machine Gun Corps was formed in 1915. The guns, and crews, would have been formed into a Machine Gun Company.

During the Great War, the Battalions were distributed as follows:

5th

Also known as the 1/5th (City of London) Battalion TF (London Rifle Brigade).

9th

Also known as the 1/9th (City of London) Battalion TF (Queen Victoria's Rifles).

The 9th Battalion was part of the 13th Brigade, attached to the 5th Division. It's MG Section was transferred on 24 December 1915 to form the 13th Bde. MG Coy..

As a unit of the 5th Infantry Division, it will have taken part in the following battles and engagements.

1914
23 and 24 August	Battle of Mons [II. Corps].
23 August to 05 September	RETREAT FROM MONS [II. Corps].
26 August	Battle of le Cateau [II. Corps].
01 September	Crepy en Valois.
06 to 09 September	Battle of the Marne [II. Corps]
13 to 20 September	BATTLE OF THE AISNE [II. Corps]
13 September	Passage of the Aisne.
20 September	Actions on the Aisne Heights.
10 October to 02 November	Battle of la Bassee [II. Corps].
05 to 19 November	BATTLE OF YPRES [I. Corps]
1915
17 to 22 April	Capture of Hill 60 [II. Corps, Second Army].
23 April to 01 May	BATTLE OF YPRES [V. Corps, Second Army].
23 April	Battle of Gravenstafel Ridge (13th Bde.) [V. Corps].
24 April to 01 May	Battle of St. Julien (13th Bde.) [V. Corps, from 27 April, in Plumer's Force].

13th

Also known as the 1/13th (County of London) Battalion TF (Kensington).

Due to their role in the Second World War as MG Battalions, please visit here for more information.

14th

Also known as the 1/14th (County of London) Battalion TF (London Scottish).

16th

Also known as the 1/16th (County of London) Battalion TF (Queen's Westminster Rifles).

18th

Also known as the 1/18th (County of London) Battalion TF (London Irish Rifles).

19th

Also known as the 1/19th (County of London) Battalion TF (St. Pancras).

27th

Also known as the Inns of Court Regiment.

Inter-war Period

In 1922, the Machine Gun Corps was disbanded and the guns returned to the Infantry Battalion as a Machine Gun Platoon and then formed as a Machine Gun Company in the early 1930s.

Second World War

This remained until the formation of Divisional Machine Gun Battalions in 1936 where guns were brigaded once again.

Post-Second World War

Upon the disbandment of Divisional Machine Gun Battalions in the post-WW2 restructure of the British Army, the Vickers Machine Gun assest reverted to individual Battalions as part of the Support Company as a Machine Gun Platoon.

Sources