The London Regiment was created in 1908 as part of the Haldane Reforms, and consisted entirely of Territorial Force (TF) infantry battalions, with no Regular component.

The Regimental Colour bore the battle honour South Africa 1900–02 in recognition of the detachments of volunteers from the parent units who had served in the Second Boer War.

The garden city was quickly taken, then A Company bombed their way into the chalk pit where they captured two German field guns which a few weeks later were exhibited on Horse Guards Parade in London.

Apart from a small group of Germans who held out in a corner of the copse for 48 hours, the brigade had taken all its objectives and the 1/19th (who had lost their CO killed) and 1/20th began consolidating the line under the command of Lt-Col Hubback of the 1/20th.

[32] During 1916 the battalion was engaged in the following operations:[17][26][27][29] Vimy Ridge – the units of 47th Division were involved in frequent crater-fighting in this sector from April to July 1916, including the major German attack on 21 May.

[37] Battle of Cambrai – 141 Bde took over the recently captured Bourlon Wood on 29 November in time to be hit by the German counter-attack the following morning.

The main blow fell on Fifth Army to the south, but the Londoners were heavily bombarded with high explosive and gas shells, and later in the day the Germans attacked behind a smoke screen.

Three parties attacked with artillery support at 22.55 on the night of 24/25 April and despite the enemy's 'SOS' barrage and searchlights, succeeded in cutting through the wire entanglements and entering the trenches, which were found to be empty and blocked: the preparations for the raid had successfully alerted the Bulgarians.

[18][65][66] The division's first offensive action in Palestine was during the attack on Beersheba beginning on 31 October, but 180 Bde was held in reserve and the men of 2/20th were able to watch the progress of the operation.

The following morning, two mess cooks of 2/20th, Privates Andrews and Church, bringing up dixies of cocoa for the troops, got lost and found themselves near the gates of the City.

[74][75] After the fall of Jerusalem, the battalion was rested until 26 December, when a final Turkish counter-attack was made to forestall the next British advance and 2/20th was called forward to reinforce the line.

Next day two companies of 2/20th Bn (B and C) led the attack on this dominating hill, descending into a wadi and then climbing up under severe artillery and machine-gun fire.

[78][79] The battalion spent the next few weeks on outpost duty in the Wilderness between Jerusalem and Jericho, apart from an operation to collect a large number of rifles from the inhabitants of some villages who were suspected of harbouring Turkish deserters.

On 19 February 1918 the advance was resumed to capture Jericho, with 2/20th Bn tasked with assaulting the Arak Ibrahim ridge and the high ground east of it, to clear the way for 2/18th and 2/19th to attack towards Talat ed Dumm the following day.

The 60th Division was now placed on the Indian establishment (losing its London identity) and its surplus British battalions were broken up or sent to the Western Front as reinforcements, including the 2/20th.

The advance having been held up, 2/20th Bn was ordered to renew the attack on 30 August with a dawn assault behind a creeping barrage and with tank support (both being new experiences for the battalion).

After forming up in the dark, the battalion attacked and by 07.30 had taken its objectives and established a continuous line, except on the right, where B company was broken into separate groups after tackling numerous machine gun positions.

The following morning the 2/20th led the renewed attack, moving close behind the barrage and getting beyond their objectives, before repelling counter-attacks: divisional HQ described it as a 'clever and successful operation'.

2/20th had to cross the dry Canal du Nord by means of ladders to reach their jumping-off points, and then at 09.50 advanced through 76 Bde towards the second objective, which was captured at a rush.

After a difficult night approach march, the village was found to be strongly held, and despite two artillery bombardments, the isolated and scattered battalion was unable to hold it.

[101] At 02.00 on 20 October the division attacked Solesmes, 2/20th being given the task of encircling it from the North to take a clearly defined ridge after 186 Bde enveloped the town from the South.

It advanced towards the fortress town of Maubeuge and entered the outskirts, but when the Armistice with Germany came into force on 11 November, the division had lost touch with the retreating Germans.

62nd Division was among those selected for the British Army of Occupation, and set out from Maubeuge on 16 November, led by the 2/20th Bn, marching through liberated Belgian villages until they crossed the frontier at Sinzenich, near Cologne on 24 December.

[106] The following officers commanded 2/20th Londons during the First World War:[107] The 3/20th Bn was formed on 9 March 1915 as a reserve battalion to provide drafts to the 1/20th and 2/20th Bns.

In June a partial mobilisation of the TA was begun in a process known as 'couverture', whereby each AA unit did a month's tour of duty in rotation to man selected gun and searchlight positions.

[6][115][116][124][121][125][126] The regiment supplied a cadre of experienced officers and men to 236th S/L Training Rgt at Oswestry where it provided the basis for a new 532 S/L Bty formed on 14 November 1940.

[127] By early 1944, With the lower threat of attack by the weakened Luftwaffe, AA Command was being forced to release manpower for the planned invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord).

In March 1949 it was redesignated 569 (The Queen's Own) (Mixed) Light Anti-Aircraft/Searchlight Regiment, reflecting a partially changed role and the inclusion of members of the Women's Royal Army Corps (hence the designation 'Mixed').

Past members from the Regiment within The Royal Artillery Association still attend the annual Jerusalem dinner held at The Grove Park Army Reserve Centre.

The regiment was awarded the following battle honours, those shown in bold type being those selected to be displayed on the Regimental Colours:[1] South Africa 1900–02 Loos, Somme 1916, '18, Flers-Courcelette, Le Transloy, Messines 1917, Ypres 1917, Langemarck 1917, St Quentin, Bapaume 1918, Ancre 1918, Hindenburg Line, Havrincourt, Canal du Nord, Cambrai 1918, Selle, Sambre, France and Flanders 1915–18, Doiran 1917, Macedonia 1916–17, Gaza, Jerusalem, Jericho, Jordan, Palestine 1917–18.