There were sufficient recruits from the GPO staff to form a Post Office company, which was placed under Captain John Lowther du Plat Taylor's command.

[2] The Government's response was to raise special constables to protect London buildings against future "Fenian outrages".

[3] The GPO special constables had been supervised and trained by Major JL du Plat Taylor (and Civil Service Rifles' NCOs).

After the crisis was over the GPO special constables approached du Plat Taylor to request that they be formed into a Rifle Volunteer unit.

[1] In 1882 a detachment of two officers and 102 men volunteered for service in Egypt, where they performed postal and telegraph duties under the command of General Garnet Wolseley.

[6] At the Capture of Wurst Farm, in September 1917, the 2/8th lost over half its fighting strength, dead or wounded, but its men were awarded a total of 40 gallantry medals.

These included a Victoria Cross won by Sergeant A. J. Knight, making him the only Post Office Rifleman to win this honour.

Ten honours (shown in bold type) were selected by the regiment to be displayed on the King's Colours:[6] Further reorganisations took place after World War I.

In 1935, it was converted from infantry to the searchlight role as the 32nd (7th City of London) Anti-aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers, and the 'Post Office Rifles' name was finally dropped.