The London Territorials at the Somme

London's Territorials Attacking at the Somme

London Territorial Force units, often known as "London's Territorials" or the London Regiment, was composed primarily of  London professionals, bankers, clerks, post office workers, and craftsmen. The regiment raised 88 battalions for the war, with roughly 80% of the men being London residents. The London battalions formed the London District, which consisted principally of the 1st and 2nd London Divisions. Most of the battalions served on the Western Front, with a scattering of units deployed to Gallipoli, Palestine, and Salonika.

The Regiment made their mark on Western Front, quite early. The London Scottish was the first Territorial unit to go into battle on the Western Front in October 1914. The London Irish Rifles may have established the practice of kicking soccer balls towards the enemy's trenches during an over-the-top attack at Loos in 1915. It would be in 1916, however, during the Battle of the Somme, that they saw their most memorable service. At great cost, these Kitchener Army units shattered the prewar myth that civilian volunteers could not fight as well as regulars.  

They played their role at the Somme primarily with the the 56th (1st London) Division and the 47th (2nd London) Division. They were involved in major actions including: the 1 July assault on Gommecourt, the attacks on Ginchy and High Wood (September 1916), and the final, costly, and unsuccessful assault on the Butte de Warlencourt in October 1916. 

At the Somme the London Regiment battalions suffered appalling loses. Over the first five days of the battle, the regiment recorded 1,433 men killed in action. Over the 141-day battle, several battalions recorded killed-wounded-missing totals greater than the manning standards for the unit.

Sources:  Several online articles on the London Regiment