Hi, can anyone give me a re-activation date for the 18th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City Of London)? This WWI formation seems to have been reactivated some time in 1940 - I can see it rostered under 2nd London Infantry Brigade for a couple of months starting in November 1940....but can't find ANY mention of it anywhere before that...can anyone assist?
The war diary starts in April 1940 WO 166/4543 18 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). 1940 Apr.- 1941 Apr
According to my rather old Malcolm Bellis Regiments book, 18 R Fus formed part of 168 Infantry Brigade from 11/40 to 2/41 and part of 73 Infantry Brigade from 3/41 to 5/41. 2nd London Infantry Brigade was apparently redesignated 168 Inf Bde also in 11/40. Both Brigades served only in UK. Chris
18th (Pioneer) Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) The battalion was raised in Devon on March 21st, 1940. It served on the shores of Kent at Lydd and old Romney. It became an infantry battalion on October 24th, 1940. 168th (London) Infantry Brigade – 5 November 1940 to 15 February 1941 The battalion served under the brigade in the United Kingdom. The battalion was withdrawn to Wales after leaving the 168th Brigade. 73rd Independent Infantry Brigade – 27 March 1941 to 17 May 1941 The battalion joined the brigade in Wales. Service as Royal Artillery It was located at Pembrokeshire when it was converted to the 100th Light AA Regiment, Royal Artillery (330th-332nd Btys) on December 1st, 1941. It served under the 56th (London) Infantry Division from February 3rd, 1942 until November 9th, 1944. The regiment remained in the United Kingdom until August 25th, 1942. It was then sent by sea to Iraq, where it arrived on November 4th, 1942. It remained in Iraq until March 24th, 1943 and in Palestine until March 28th, 1943. It then moved to Egypt briefly until April 4th, 1943. It was located in Libya until April 19th, 1943 and in North Africa until May 26th, 1943. It returned to Libya until August 31st, 1943, when it was sent to Italy. It landed in Italy on September 9th, 1943, where it served until March 28th, 1944. It then returned to Egypt on April 2nd, 1944 and rested and reffited there until July 11th, 1944. It returned to Italy on July 17th, 1944 and was disbanded in Italy on January 8th, 1945.
Guys, thanks for the above.... Looking through all that it only seems to have converted to an infantry battalion and been brevetted under 2nd London/168th (London) Infantry Brigade as of the beginning of November 1940. Sonce I first posted this thread question, I've also found it on THIS list of Infantry brigades... http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/939BXIE.pdf ....but of course there's no mention of it BEFORE that 5th November date on page two. I take it as it only officially converted to an infantry brigade in October, that this was it's first "posting" so to speak? I don't suppose anyone happens to know...short of actually getting my hands on the war diary...where it was stationed during the September 1940 "Sealion period" as a pioneer battalion? Dryan, does your comment... ...refer to that period before October 24th....or is that just the way those three phrases happened to fall?
The exact wording from the Regimental History is "The 18th Battalion was formed in Devonshire (16th April 1940) and did good service on the threatened shores of Kent, at Lydd and Old Romney. Withdrawn to Wales early in 1941, it was at Pembroke when the order came which transferred the battalion into 100th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (R.A.) on 30th December of that year. "
Gotcha now - so "did good service on the threatened shores of Kent, at Lydd and Old Romney" could indeed just refer to its role under 2nd London/168 Inf Brigade from November 1940 on. Thanks for the clarification! It seems that during this time it was the unit holding the line of the Royal Military Canal - manning pillboxes etc..
There is an edit button to the left of the 'Multiquote' button . It's in light grey text so not easy to see. I have corrected typo for you. You should be able to edit your own posts.
