Origins The origins of the Kensington Regiment dated from 1859 with the formation of the
Volunteer Force, part of a 'volunteer revival' as a result of a perceived French military threat, which had grown under the leadership of
Napoleon III. A number of Volunteer Rifle Corps were formed in West London. These included the
2nd (South) Middlesex Volunteer Rifle Corps (VRC) formed under the patronage of the
Viscount Ranelagh and the
4th Middlesex Volunteer Rifle Corps (VRC), formed under the patronage of the
2nd Baron Truro. By 1892 both units had been linked as Volunteer Battalions to the
King's Royal Rifle Corps, and continued this link until the formation of the
Territorial Force in 1908. At this time the headquarters of the 2nd (South Middlesex) was at Beaufort House,
Walham Green and the 4th (West Middlesex) were at
Iverna Gardens, High Street, Kensington.
Second Boer War Men from both units voluntarily went out to
South Africa with the
City Imperial Volunteers, thereby earning their Corps the right to the Battle Honour of 'South Africa 1900-1902'.
First World War During
World War I the regiment was increased to war fighting capacity, with three separate battalions being formed. In 1937, on the break-up of the London Regiment, its 13th Battalion was re-designated the Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment,
The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own). In 1938 the Kensingtons became a two-battalion regiment.
Second World War During the
Second World War the regiment changed its role from infantry to a heavy fire support unit armed with mortars, medium machine-guns and Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns. The 1st Kensingtons served with the
British Expeditionary Force in France, and later deployed to
North Africa to be part of
British First Army to prepare for the
Sicilian campaign, and later the
Italian front, with the
78th Battleaxe Infantry Division. The 2nd Kensingtons served first in
Iceland and were to see action from Normandy to
Arnhem, with the
49th (West Riding) Infantry Division.
Postwar In 1947, the Regiment became part of the
Royal Corps of Signals with the
Army Phantom Signal Regiment (Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment). The regiment was re-formed as 41 (Princess Louise's Kensington) Signal Regiment in 1961 and became a trunk communications Signal Regiment with squadrons in
Portsmouth,
Coulsdon and
Hammersmith. In 1967, with the reorganisation of the Territorial Army, the unit became a squadron of
31 (City of London) Signal Regiment. The Squadron was reassigned from 31 (City of London) Signal Regiment to
38 (City of Sheffield) Signal Regiment in 2010. In 2014, 41 (Princess Louise's Kensington) Signal Squadron amalgamated with 47 (
Middlesex Yeomanry) Squadron to form
31 (Middlesex Yeomanry and Princess Louise's Kensington) Signal Squadron, part of
71 (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment. == References ==