Group    From 28/2/1860  To 1945

Artists Rifles

Categories: Armed Forces, Art

The 38th Middlesex (Artists') Rifle Volunteers was formed, in response to a threat of invasion by Napoleon III, by Edward Sterling in London with headquarters initially at Burlington House, where the war memorial is. The artists, in at least some respects, behaved just like most soldiers: their bawdy marching songs, included 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' which one volunteer remembers as "remarkable for having 11 verses, only one of which was respectable, and that one was usually left out". Lots of information at the Picture source website.

The unit's badge, designed by L. C. Wyon, shows the heads of the Roman gods Mars and Minerva in profile, representing war and wisdom. According to the Artists Rifles Association it was also “the title of the first Regimental March, the words of which were written by an Artist, George Cayley *. A regimental rhyme records: ‘Mars, he was the God of war, and didn't stop at trifles. Minerva was a bloody whore. So hence The Artists' Rifles.’”

Early members included Leighton, Millais, Rossetti, MorrisWatts, Val Prinsep and Burne-Jones. Later Noel Coward.

Also known as the "20th Middlesex","28th Battalion, the London Regiment" and various other similar names. We have to admit we don't understand the naming conventions of the armed forces.

The regiment was disbanded in 1945, reformed in 1947 and transferred to the Army Air Corps as the 21st Special Air Service (Artists Rifles) – the SAS.

* The only George Cayley we can find is a scientist and pioneer of aviation.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Artists Rifles

Commemorated ati

Artist Rifles

The Artist Rifles was formed here at the studio of Henry Wyndham Phillips, 1860.

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Artists Rifles HQ

To call this a memorial is stretching our definition to breaking point, but, ...

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Artists Rifles War Memorial

To the glorious memory of the 2003 members of the Artists Rifles, 28th Battal...

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London Troops War Memorial

Designed by Aston Webb with figures by Alfred Drury. The Duke of York who un...

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Other Subjects

24th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (The Queen's)

24th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (The Queen's)

London unit which served in WW1. Their Wikipedia page gives details about the origins of the battalion, their battle honours and how in 1937 the battalion reverted to the Queen's Royal Regiment (W...

Group, Armed Forces

2 memorials
E. G. Noyce

E. G. Noyce

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Trooper Simon Andrew Tipper

Trooper Simon Andrew Tipper

Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this soldier: Born Kidderminster, Worcestershire. In June 1982 he married Louise Croxson in Wandsworth. He died at the scene of the Hyde Park bo...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy

1 memorial
A. Bridgman

A. Bridgman

Resident of Willesden who volunteered and died in the Anglo Boer War, 1899-1900.

Person, Armed Forces, South Africa

War dead, Other war
1 memorial
Admiral Sir Caspar John

Admiral Sir Caspar John

Born 18 Fitzroy Street. Pioneer in the fleet air arm. British first sea lord from 1960 -1963. Invested as Knight Grand Cross, Order of the Bath (G.C.B.) 1960. Died Hayle, Cornwall.

Person, Armed Forces

1 memorial