The London Irish
From the River Po, the 1st Battalion moved to Trieste after the war to keep the peace in a disputed area between Italy and Jugoslavia where, in spite of troublesome demonstrations, the pipes and drums of the regiment were always popular. The battalion was eventually moved to Rimini where a temporary amalgamation with the 1st London Scottish took place prior to disbandment of the wartime unit in 1946. The 2nd battalion was engaged in combing the Carintia Hills in Southern Austria for stragglers of war, until January 1946 when the battalion was disbanded and details transferred to the 1st battalion.
So to the post war years. In 1947 the regiment was re-formed at the Duke of York's Headquarters, Chelsea, under the command of Lt-Col The Viscount Stopford MBE. The parent regiment, the Royal Ulster Rifles, received approval from HM The King to form an alliance with The Irish Regiment of Canada, old friends of the London Irish who had served alongside them in Italy in 1944 when the pipes and drums of both regiments had managed to perform together during the infrequent periods of respite from the fighting to force the Gothic Line. In November 1949 Field Marshall The Earl Alexander of Tunis became Honorary Colonel of the regiment, both battalions having been in his command in Sicily 1943.
One of the tasks of the new peace-time regiment was to take in and provide further training for National Servicemen of Irish descent from the London area after their period of service with the three Irish regular infantry regiments. On the 6th February 1954 the Royal Ulster Rifles received the Freedom of the city of Belfast, and a strong detachment, including the band from the London Irish Rifles was sent over for this ceremonial occasion.
In 1967 with the disbanding of the London Regiment, the three Irish Regular Infantry Regiments had combined to form the Royal Irish Rangers, and the London Irish Rifles became D Company ( London Irish Rifles ) 4th Battalion The Royal Irish Rangers, remaining so until the re-formation of The London Regiment. The Royal Irish Rangers later amalgamated with the Ulster Defence Regiment to form the Royal Irish Regiment, with the Northern Irish Territorial Army ( TA ) company remaining as Rangers.
The London Irish Rifles moved from their historic home, Duke of York's Barracks, Chelsea to Flodden Road, Camberwell in The traditions of the great regiment carry on through D ( London Irish Rifles ) Company, part of the Territorial Army's London Regiment.
So to the post war years. In 1947 the regiment was re-formed at the Duke of York's Headquarters, Chelsea, under the command of Lt-Col The Viscount Stopford MBE. The parent regiment, the Royal Ulster Rifles, received approval from HM The King to form an alliance with The Irish Regiment of Canada, old friends of the London Irish who had served alongside them in Italy in 1944 when the pipes and drums of both regiments had managed to perform together during the infrequent periods of respite from the fighting to force the Gothic Line. In November 1949 Field Marshall The Earl Alexander of Tunis became Honorary Colonel of the regiment, both battalions having been in his command in Sicily 1943.
One of the tasks of the new peace-time regiment was to take in and provide further training for National Servicemen of Irish descent from the London area after their period of service with the three Irish regular infantry regiments. On the 6th February 1954 the Royal Ulster Rifles received the Freedom of the city of Belfast, and a strong detachment, including the band from the London Irish Rifles was sent over for this ceremonial occasion.
In 1967 with the disbanding of the London Regiment, the three Irish Regular Infantry Regiments had combined to form the Royal Irish Rangers, and the London Irish Rifles became D Company ( London Irish Rifles ) 4th Battalion The Royal Irish Rangers, remaining so until the re-formation of The London Regiment. The Royal Irish Rangers later amalgamated with the Ulster Defence Regiment to form the Royal Irish Regiment, with the Northern Irish Territorial Army ( TA ) company remaining as Rangers.
The London Irish Rifles moved from their historic home, Duke of York's Barracks, Chelsea to Flodden Road, Camberwell in The traditions of the great regiment carry on through D ( London Irish Rifles ) Company, part of the Territorial Army's London Regiment.
