We were blessed with superb warm autumnal weather as the Association came together for our annual Loos Parade at the London Troops War Memorial in the City of London. A great turnout of Members was serenaded by the Pipes and Drums as usual and it was then off to a local watering hole for some post-parade analysis.
Looking ahead for the rest of the year, there will be an LIR marching contingent at the Royal British Legion National Remembrance Parade in November and we shall be leading the annual Stormberg Parade in Belfast in December. Our members will also join up with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea at their wreath laying ceremony at Sloane Square on Remembrance Sunday.
As you will know, we have completed the re-location of the London Irish Rifles War Memorial to Belfast and we now look forward to a formal re-dedication of the War Memorial at St Anne’s Cathedral on 17 January 2027. Full details will be sent out to Members by the end of October.
Full details of all future events will be provided directly to members well beforehand.
QUIS SEPARABIT
Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Ant Maher VR
Chairman of the London Irish Rifles Association.
NOEL GUNNING
We are very sad to announce the death of former London Irish Rifleman, Mr Noel Gunning, who served with the 1st Battalion in the 1960s and, more recently, was a Vice President of the Regimental Association. Noel performed numerous duties for the Association over the past few years including acting as Events Officer and Honorary Treasurer and will greatly missed by us all.
We would like to send our heartfelt condolences to Jean Gunning and all Noel’s family.
QS
LONDON IRISH RIFLES ASSOCIATION
We have a thriving Regimental Association, which is open to all former members of the London Irish Rifles and who take part in regular events in the UK as well as occasional battlefield tours.
Associate Membership is also available for family members of London Irish Riflemen or anyone who supports the Aims and Objectives of the Regimental Association and has its interests at heart.
You can contact the Membership Secretary by eMail: membershipsec@londonirishrifles.com
Our postal address is: London Irish Rifles Association, PO Box 6306, Windsor, SL4 9JD.
PIPES AND DRUMS OF THE LONDON IRISH RIFLES ASSOCIATION
Members of the Pipes and Drums perform at Association parades and events including those to commemorate St Patrick’s Day, Loos Sunday and Remembrance Sunday and leading the Combined Irish Regiments’ Annual Parade at the Cenotaph in June.
You can contact the Pipes and Drums by eMail: bandpresident@londonirishrifles.com
HISTORY OF THE LONDON IRISH RIFLES
We have moved our Collection to the ‘UNTOLD’ Museum and the London Irish Rifles War Memorial to St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast.
THE LONDON REGIMENT – 1993 to 2022
Following the incorporation of the London Irish Rifles as a company of the London Regiment in 1993, men from D Company served in The Falkland Islands, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan and Cyprus over the subsequent 30 years.
During Operation Telic, the company contributed to the formation of Cambrai Company (Operation Telic 3) and Messines Company (Operation Telic 4) alongside numerous individual postings and there were also a number of smaller group mobilisations throughout the conflict in Iraq.
Men from D Company also deployed to Afghanistan with Somme Company in 2007 (Operation Herrick 7), Amiens Company in 2010 (Operation Herrick 12) and Arras Company in 2011 (Operation Herrick 13) as formed units within Guards’ Division formations.
1ST BATTALION, LONDON GUARDS
In May 2022, the London Regiment became the 1st Battalion, London Guards and D Company was re-named as No 15 (Loos) Company, Irish Guards.