London Scottish (regiment)

London Scottish
Cap Badge of the London Scottish
Active	1859–1919 1920–Present Day
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Army Reserve
Type	Infantry
Role	Light infantry
Size	RHQ and one company
Part of	London Regiment
Garrison/HQ	London
Nickname(s)	Cockney Jocks (Piccadilly Allsorts) (Duke of Bangkok's Rifles)
Motto(s)	Strike Sure
March	Highland Laddie
Anniversaries	31st October 1914. First TA unit into action in WWI, Messines Ridge, 1st Battle of Ypres
Commanders
Current commander	Major Rob Pitt
Honorary Colonel	Baron Robertson of Port Ellen KT, GCMG, FRSA, PC
Colonel of the Regiment	Colonel David Rankin-Hunt LVO MBE TD
Notable commanders	Lord Elcho, Lt Col GA Malcolm, Lt Col RTS MacPherson, Lt Col T Rex-Appleton, Lt Col MAJ Overton, Maj MWH Ludlow.
Insignia
Tartan	Hodden Grey

The London Scottish was a Volunteer infantry regiment of the British Army. Formerly a regiment, the unit is now 'A' (London Scottish) Company of the London Regiment.

The regiment was founded in 1859, part of the widespread volunteer movement which developed in the face of potential French invasion after Felice Orsini's attack on Napoleon III was linked to Britain.

Originally as part of the Volunteer Force sponsored by The Highland Society of London and The Caledonian Society of London, a group of individual Scots raised The London Scottish Rifle Volunteers under the command of Lt Col Lord Elcho, later The Earl of Wemyss and March. Over many years the London Scottish have changed titles and composition, and today they are a company of The London Regiment, titled A (London Scottish) Company.

The regiment raised three battalions during World War I, with the 1/14th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (London Scottish) serving on the Western Front.

The 1/14th Battalion was mobilized on the outbreak of war, departing for France on 15th September 1914. On 31 October 1914 the battalion encountered German forces at Messines in Belgium. It was the first Territorial unit to see active service in this war. Following ongoing action on the Western Front throughout 1914-18, the 1/14th formed part of the British army of occupation at Cologne.

The 2nd Battalion of the London Scottish embarked for France in June 1916 but was then transferred to Salonika and Palestine. A third battalion served as a training and reserve unit, supplying reinforcements to the two fighting battalions of the London Scottish throughout the war.

The London Scottish lost 1,542 dead in World War I. In 1918 two Victoria Crosses were awarded to soldiers of the regiment during fighting near Jerusalem