enlistment

[john w.]

If you enlisted prior to the war starting say 1912 or 1913. You joined as a professional soldier. Who would decide the number of the regiment you joined (if that's the right terminology).

Some regiments had reserve battalions and if you were young then you might be allocated that because of your age. But what if you were older? would you still have to start in a reserve battalion. If you were, would it be because he had asked? the length of his service contract? Could anything be read into the recruits placement?

Obviously the reserve battalion would feed drafts in once war began, hence the question before war started.

John

[Ste]

John,

full time recruits in 1912 or 13 would join the Regulars, but don't forget that service in the Territorials on a part time basis was also an option.

The 'number' is that of a battalion, within a regiment. For example, most infantry recruits in my town joined one of the two Regular battalions of the South Lancashire Regiment, which were numbered 1st and 2nd. The Regiment also had a reserve (3rd) battalion.

However, provided vacancies were available, recruits could choose to serve with other Regiments. Many local men served with the King's (Liverpool), the Lancashire Fusiliers, the Manchesters, the Guards, and so on. Of course, others went into the Royal Engineers, the various branches of th Royal Artillery and the Royal Navy.

Most Regiments had two Regular battalions. Usual practice was for one to be stationed abroad for long periods at a time, whilst the other remained in at home. Therefore, if you enlisted in 1912 you would likely go to the 'home' battalion of the Regiment, from which the 'overseas' battalion could periodically replenish its strength. Movement between the battalions of a Regiment was not unusual.

Regards,

Ste

[Annette Burgoyne]

Hi John

There's a Devil in the Drum, by John Lucy gives an excelant idea of the process of joining up, training and Army life full stop. John Lucy and his brother joined up in 1912.

Regards

Annette

[Muerrisch]

If you enlisted prior to the war starting say 1912 or 1913. You joined as a professional soldier. Who would decide the number of the regiment you joined (if that's the right terminology).

Some regiments had reserve battalions and if you were young then you might be allocated that because of your age. But what if you were older? would you still have to start in a reserve battalion.

If one enlisted as a professional soldier in 1912 one could opt for any regiment or corps with vacancies [subject to height and other criteria], although the recruiter could lean on one. Initial training was usually but not invariably at the Depot, that is, the home of the regiment in its recruiting district. The depot held all the impedimenta, records, trophies and central admin. A small full-time staff was established. The depot was also home to the Special Reserve battalion [and, for large regiments of four regular battalions, an Extra Reserve] but not the Territorials, who were scattered around the county or counties. The Special Reserve was not a fighting unit, but was specifically to provide drafts in time of war, and to absorb the under age [19] regulars, the unfit, the not-yet-fully trained, and returning sick and wounded.

After initial training a soldier was usually sent to the home service battalion in the first instance. Thereafter he was most likely sent to the overseas battalion as part of a draft, annual or even more frequently.

[john w.]

The Special Reserve was not a fighting unit, but was specifically to provide drafts in time of war, and to absorb the under age [19] regulars, the unfit, the not-yet-fully trained, and returning sick and wounded.

Are you saying then that some regiments which had these reserve and extra reserve battalions, knew there was a war coming?

Is this why they were set up?

John

[Aurel Sercu]

Are you saying then that some regiments which had these reserve and extra reserve battalions, knew there was a war coming?

Is this why they were set up?

And adding another or related question to John's question above :

When were the (Extra) Reserve battalions (or most of them) raised ? Was it more than a year or two before the war broke out ? E.g. also in the beginning of the century ?

And being on line I will make use of the opportunity and ask another question :

When a 25 (or even older) man enlisted before the war, in a regiment with 1st Bn, 2nd Bn, 3rd Reserve Bn and 4th Extra Reserve Bn., was he likely to be enlisted in the 1st or 2nd Bn. ? Would enlisting in the 3rd or 4th have been uncommon or exceptional ? And if he enlisted in 3rd or 4th Bn. what may have been the reason(s) for doing so ? (Sorry if an answer has already been suggested above, but I just want to be sure...)

Aurel

[Ste]

When a 25 (or even older) man enlisted before the war, in a regiment with 1st Bn, 2nd Bn, 3rd Reserve Bn and 4th Extra Reserve Bn., was he likely to be enlisted in the 1st or 2nd Bn. ?

I think it depended upon which battalion was at home at the time. If the 1st were 9 years into a 12 year stint in India and Egypt, whilst the second were at the depot, it would be the 2nd.

I'm not sure what factors decided whether a recruit went into a reserve battalion, other than the strength of the 'normal' battalions. i.e., if they were at full esstablishment I presume a recruit would go to a reserve battalion, which was ordinarily kept at no more than 50% of full establishment.

Regards,

Ste

[Muerrisch]

There may be a misunderstanding of the role of the Reserve battalions pre war. They were part timers, both officers and men, with a small cadre of regular instructors. All infantry regiments had at least one battalion. The SA war [boer War] showed up need for a large and fully trained supplement to the Army Reserve, that is, soldiers doing their Reserve period after a regular engagement. The SR was raised in 1908, from the corpse of the Militia. Training period varied with arm of service and also at different times but was about 6 months continuous, and thereafter a few attendances per annum, or when mobilized. Pay whilst in uniform identical to regulars. Socially inferior to regulars and superior to TF. Equal ranks also graded so a regular corporal of whatever seniority was senior to a Special who was senior to a Territorial.

Must go, shopping run.

[Chris_Baker]

As ever, there's a page on The Long, Long Trail about the reserves which explains quite a bit about their presence and purpose. It is here.

[john w.]

Thanks for the information, duh.. should have looked for the info on the Long, Long Trail first....

Never mind.. thanks Chris for the pointer

John

[Ste]

There may be a misunderstanding of the role of the Reserve battalions pre war. They were part timers, both officers and men, with a small cadre of regular instructors.

Of course, sorry for misleading, and thanks for pointing it out.

It seems I am referring to the Special Reserve - men who wanted to volunteer for part time service, but had to do 6 months full time in a reserve battalion upon enlistment. Therefore, if you volunteered for the Special Reserve in, say, March 1914, you would effectively have been a full time 'Regular' for 5 months before the war broke out.

S