The Stanhope Memorandum of December 1888 proposed a more comprehensive Mobilisation Scheme for Volunteer units, which would assemble in their own brigades at key points in case of war.

The assembly point for the brigade was at Caterham Barracks, the Guards' depot conveniently situated for the London Defence Positions along the North Downs.

[7] Edmund Kennard became the battalion's Honorary Colonel in 1885 and was succeeded in command by Lt-Col Arthur W. Chambers; they continued in these positions until the end of the Volunteer Force in 1908.

The 15th Middlesex RVC contributed volunteers to those raised by the Rifle Brigade's VBs, who earned the battalion its first Battle honour: South Africa 1900–01.

The 1st Administrative Battalion, Tower Hamlets RVCs was formed in May 1861 to administer the following units:[4][6][7][16][17] Charles Buxton was promoted to major and then to Lt-Col of the 1st AB on 1 June 1861, when Sir Fowell took the title of Captain-Commandant of the 3rd RVC.

[7][23] Sir Fowell's younger brother, Edward North Buxton, another partner in the brewery, was commissioned as an ensign in the 7th Tower Hamlets RVC on 19 August 1862.

[24] Charles Buxton left the 1st AB in the later 1860s, and was appointed Hon Colonel of the 1st (Poplar) Tower Hamlets Artillery Volunteer Corps in August 1870.

[7][25] Unlike the 15th Middlesex, which retained its HQ at Custom House throughout its existence, the 1st Tower Hamlets AB and its constituent RVCs moved around the East End frequently.

[7][37][38][39][40][41] The infantry battalions of the 2nd London Division had just reached Perham Down on Salisbury Plain for their annual training when war broke out on 4 August 1914.

[35][43][44] In October 1914 the 2nd London Division was selected to be sent to reinforce the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) on the Western Front, and it pushed on with organisation and training.

This was to be the jumping-off line for the attack, and was equipped with recesses for gas cylinders (the BEF was to use chemical weapons for the first time); a second assembly trench was also dug 50 yards (46 m) behind.

At the end of the day the brigade had reached the mining spoilheap known as the Loos Crassier, but it was held by only two companies (one from 1/17th) and a platoon, and was unable to provide much flank protection for the neighbouring division which suffered heavy casualties.

High Wood was reported clear of the enemy by 13.00, and operations on either flank had gone well, but 141st Bde was so disorganised from heavy casualties, particularly among officers, that in the afternoon it was temporarily formed into a composite battalion under Lt-Col Norman of the 1/17th.

[37][41][48][55][56] 47th (2nd L) Division moved into the Hill 60 sector of the Ypres Salient in October 1916 and took part in regular raids and crater fighting for a number of months.

In the weeks leading up to the battle, 141st Bde held the divisional front and carried out preparations for the attacks, including digging new trenches and establishing ration and ammunition dumps.

The 300 yards (270 m) wide German front trench system at Hill 60 was so smashed up by the explosions that 140th Bde was able to cross it in 15 minutes, close behind the creeping barrage, and the demoralised defenders surrendered readily.

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

Hearing that Tournai on the other side of the river was unoccupied, the Divisional Engineers threw footbridges across on 9 November; 1/17th made its way across them and after wading though marshes set up a bridgehead.

[38][40][80][81][84] Over succeeding weeks the 2/17th alternated in the L1 sector of the line, in support and in reserve with the 2/19th Londons.The 60th Division adopted coloured flashes painted on each side of the steel helmet to aid recognition: 180th Bde used a triangle, which was black in the case of the 2/17th Bn.

The units were brought up to strength by drafts from England and went by train to Marseille where they embarked for Salonika, The division assembled in camps there in the first half of December, then the brigades were sent up to the line independently.

180th Brigade was sent in two columns starting on 17 and 18 December to the area round Lake Ardzan for employment on the XII Corps defence line between the rivers Vardar and Spanc.

180th Brigade led 60th (2/2nd L) Division on towards El Muweileh, where it concentrated on the night of 5/6 November for an attack on the Kauwukah trench system (the Battle of Hareira and Sheria).

Lieutenant-Col Dear of the 2/17th agreed with his fellow commanding officers to make the attack when the explosions ended; it went in at 05.30 next morning, the 2/17th charging in silence across the wadi, then rushing four machine guns posted on a mound beyond.

[80][81][96][97][98][99] The pursuit through the Judaean Hills saw the 60th (2/2nd L) Division advancing by separate brigade groups in support of the Desert Mounted Corps, 180th Bde moving with the main body through Zuheilikah.

By the time the reformed division was ready for action the Final Allied Advance had begun, and Second Army was cautiously following a deliberate German retirement.

The division served in home defence until after the German defeat in the Battle of Britain, when it became possible to send reinforcements to Middle East Forces for operations against the Italian Army.

The battalion's first motorised patrol identified the Afrika Korps opposite, and when the German offensive (Operation Sonnenblume) began on 31 March 9th RB was heavily engaged.

It was in action against scattered enemy forces on 22 November when the Germans broke through and began moving rapidly towards the frontier and Eighth Army's rear areas.

This was converted into 86 Primary Training Wing on 20 March 1944 and passed into suspended animation once more when the personnel were transferred to 27th Greenjackets Holding Bn on 29 November 1945.

[3][7][34] The following served as Honorary Colonel of the battalion and its predecessors:[7] The battalion was awarded the following battle honours (those in bold were emblazoned on the colours):[7][16][34][35] South Africa, 1900–02 Aubers, Festubert, 1915, Loos, Somme 1916, '18, Flers–Courcelette, Morval, Le Transloy, Messines 1917, Ypres, 1917, '18, Langemarck, 1917, Cambrai, 1917, St Quentin, Bapaume, 1918, Ancre, 1918, Albert, 1918, Coirtrai, France and Falnders, 1915–18, Doiran, 1917, Macedonia, 1916–17, Gaza, El Mughar, Nebi Samwill, Jerusalem, Jericho, Jordan, Tell 'Asur, Palestine, 1917–18 Mersa el Brega, Agedabia, Derna Aerodrome, Tobruk, 1940, Chor es Sufan, Saunnu, Gazala, Defence of Alamein Line, Medjez el Bab, Kasserine, Thala, Fondouk, Fondouk Pass, El Kourzia, Tunis, Hammam Lif, North Africa 1941–43, Cassino II, Liri Valley, Melfa Crossing, Monte Rotondo, Capture of Perugia , Arezzo, Advance to Florence, Tossignano, Italy 1944–45.