The Long, Long Trail

Before the Great War the British army was very small in comparison with those of its European neighbours. The army's main role since the conclusion of the Second Boer War in South Africa between 1899-1902 was policing of the British Empire, 'upon which the sun never set'. Britain's traditional armed strength lay in the Royal Navy and there was no preconceived intention to commit a large army to a Continental war.

Army planning in the crisis years leading up to 1914 had provided for a small Expeditionary Force (BEF) of six infantry divisions, equipped as a mobile force that could be deployed anywhere. Following reforms carried out after the poor performance in South Africa, this small army could be considered to be among the best in terms of equipment and training, although in many respects of armament - critically as it turned out, especially in heavy artillery - it fell well short of the Germans. Informal discussions took place with the French army following the establishment of the Entente. They concluded that the most likely war scenario envisaged a German attack on France, in which case the BEF would take up a position to the left of the French front - a small adjunct to the mighty French army; indeed one no bigger (if perhaps with greater promise) than that of the Belgian army. Great Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914, following the German invasion of Belgium.

In the last days of peace, the British Government committed only four - not six - infantry Divisions to the Expeditionary Force going to France. There were genuine fears of German invasion of the home country, and troops would be needed. Mobilisation and embarkation for France proceeded faultlessly, and all men and equipment moved across the Channel as planned. They moved swiftly into position and first encountered the enemy at Mons on 23rd August 1914.

The 4th Division, which was already mobilised in England in accordance with pre-war planning, moved to France just in time to take part in the defensive stand made at Le Cateau on 26th August 1914. The 6th Division, similarly ready, moved out and joined the BEF. They missed the great retreat but took part in the advance to the Aisne. Meanwhile, many battalions of the regular army were ordered to move from various stations around the Empire. Among the earliest to arrive in England had sailed from Malta, South Africa, and Gibraltar. They were formed up into the 7th Division, arguably amongst the strongest units assembled by the British, consisting of trained soldiers, needing fewer reservists to be made up to full strength. The 7th Division was initially ordered to the defence of Antwerp and landed at Zeebrugge on 6th October 1914 - but it was soon moved to the vicinity of Ypres, where it played a central role in the first defensive battle there. All of the Divisions named thus far were very heavily engaged in these early days of the war; indeed by the close of the First Battle of Ypres, they were all but destroyed. They took great pride in their achievements, and were always known as The Old Contemptibles. See details of medal entitlements for men who served in 1914

It took much longer for those units posted in India, Burma and other Empire posts in the Far East, and Bermuda and other places in the Caribbean, to arrive in England. Not only was the journey longer, but their places were filled by Territorial battalions who had to equip and prepare for overseas service. Eventually, however, four more Divisions were composed of regular soldiers. The 8th, 27th and 28th were deployed on the Western Front during early 1915, seeing their first major action at Ypres. The 29th Division was committed to the amphibious assault on Gallipoli.

It was during very late 1914 and early 1915 that the enormous scale and strength of the British Empire came to the rescue of the small and by now beleaguered regular British Army on the Western Front. During this time came the Indian Corps, composed of a mixture of British regular and Indian Army troops. They took over a significant portion of the line then occupied by the British, and took part in the early battles of 1915. The first Canadian contingent also arrived at this time. Elsewhere, Australian and New Zealand troops were being assembled in Egypt, initially destined for the Western Front but eventually being ordered to their everlasting fame on Gallipoli.

Some British regular battalions remained with the Indian Army, taking part in the actions in Mesopotamia.

Most of the units of the regular army were not up to wartime establishement when war broke out, and it was necessary to call up men of the Reserves. This was especially true of the units and formations that were in Great Britain in August 1914; the units serving overseas were generally in a better condition. Thus the first units to move to France consisted of a mixture involving a large number of Reserve troops.

The idea of a National Reserve was to register and organise all officers and men who had already served in and left any of the military and naval forces. In August 1914 there were approximately 350,000 men in Reserve. On mobilisation many of them rejoined the service, either through their Rserve obligations, or as volunteers. According to the Official History, the remainder of them eventually formed the nucleus of the Royal Defence Corps.

The Army Reserve was composed of men who had already served time in the army. It consisted of two Classes in 1914, although Class II is unimportant to the events of the war.

Class I Reserve consisted of Sections A, B, D and the Special Reserve. (Note that these categories had nothing to do with the medical categories that were used later in the war).

Section A consisted of Reservists who had elected to join this Section on transfer to the Reserve (from the regular Army) or were permitted to join from Section B within 6 months of their transfer to the Reserve. Reservists serving in Section A were limited to 6000 men with preference to soldiers who had served abroad. Service in Section A was for the first 12 months after leaving the regular army. This could be extended for an additional 12 months. Requirements included the ability to immediately answer the call to colours.

Section B were all men fulfilling their Reserve commitment with the colours not in Section A. That is, if a man had served his 7 years with the regular forces he was now fulfilling his remaining 5 years Reserve time.

Section D men were those who completed their first obligated period of service and were re-engaged to serve another 4 years. Section D could not be called out until the whole of Sections A and B were called. This was also known as the Supplemental Reserve.

Class II Reserve is pretty much irrelevant by 1914.

Special Reserve consisted of two Sections, which were divided into three categories.

Section A was limited to 4000 men. Those who elected to serve in it were liable to be called out on service in any part of the world. Section A men were not liable for more than 12 months service unless some portion of the Special Reserve was put on permanent service in accordance with the Reserve Forces Act 1882.

Section B men are all other special reservists.

Category (a) consisted of men enlisted in the South Irish Horse, King Edward's Horse, RFA, RGA, RE etc. Term of service was 6 years except South Irish Horse which was 4 years.

Category (b) was men in the Territorial Force who also agreed to accept the liability of the Special Reserve.

Category (c) men were those who enlisted as Mechanical Transport Drivers ASC, Horse Transport Drivers ASC and RFC (MW) Personnel for 1 year at a time and were only allowed to re-engage a year at a time. They received no pay unless called up and the service limit age was 50 years. They could not transfer to any other branch of the Special Reserve during their term of service.

The above is a quick synopsis of the Reserve forces in 1914. Note that there was no Section C.

Section A and B men were sent immediately to the Regular Battalions as these men had recently (with-in past 5 years) served with the colours. The Section D men were sent to the Special Reserve Battalion.