Home > Army Organisation > The various Army Reserves
 
Before the war
In August 1914, in addition to the 247,500 troops of the regular army, there were three forms of reserves. The Army Reserve was 145,350 strong, and the Special Reserve had another 64,000 men. See below also for the National Reserve.
 
The Army Reserve
There were three main sections of the active Army Reserve:
Section A Section B Section D
Men who had completed their service in the regular army, and who undertook to rejoin if required in an emergency that did not require general mobilisation. A man could serve no more than 2 years in Section A. Pay was 7 shillings a week. Men who had completed their service in the regular army, and who were serving their normal reserve period. (A regular served either 7 years with the colours and 5 on reserve, or vice versa). Pay was 3 shillings and 6 pence per week. Men who had completed their normal reserve period, who re-enlisted for another 4 years reserve service. Pay was 3 shillings and 6 pence per week, same as Section B.
All reservists had to be available to be called out for 12 days training per year.
 
The Special Reserve
Special Reservists enlisted for 6 years and had to accept the possibility of being called up in the event of a general mobilisation and to undergo all the same conditions as men of the Army Reserve. Their period as a Special Reservist started with six months full-time training (paid the same as a regular), and they had 3-4 weeks training per year thereafter. A man could extend his service by up to four years, but could not serve beyond the age of 40. A fomer regular soldier could also re-enlist as a Special Reservist and serve up to the age of 42.
 
The reserve battalions of the infantry regiments, usually the 3rd Battalion with certain exceptions, were for the Special Reserve. In all, including the 'Extra Reserve' battalions that some regiments had, there were 101 Reserve battalions in existence in August 1914. Their job was to provide reinforcement drafts for the active service battalions. Staffed by regular soldiers, each SR Battalion had a complement of 8 officers, 1 RSM, 38 NCOs, 10 Drummers and 40 Privates of the regular army, and the official establishment when all reservists were on duty was a little over 600 (ie smaller than a full-scale serving battalion).
The Guards regiments had no reserve battalions, but they formed them soon after outbreak of war.
The Territorial Force had no reserve as such, but see National Reserve below.
There were 3 Special Reserve cavalry regiments: North Irish Horse, South Irish Horse and King Edward's Horse. All served on the Western Front.
 
Just like its non-commissioned equivalent, the Special Reserve of Officers was for civilians who fancied being a part time army officer.
 
The National Reserve
The National Reserve was created prior to 1914 and was, in essence, a register maintained by Territorial Force County Associations of all those who had military experience, but who had no other reserve obligation. It was divided in three classes – I those under 42 in age, II officers and senior ranks under 55 and junior ranks under 50 for home service only, III those who were not medically fit for Classes I and II. Its strength as at 1 Oct 1913 was 215,000 all ranks.
 

In October 1914, the National Reserve was formed into Protection Companies, which were attached to existing TF battalions, for the guarding of railways and other vulnerable points in Britain. That November, all Class I and II men were ordered to present themselves for enlistment. In March 1915 the Protection Companies became Supernumerary Companies TF. In July 1915 there was a widescale trawl of these companies to identify men capable of marching 10 miles with a rifle and 150 rounds of ammunition. Those who were medical Category A went to Service battalions, while Category C's were posted to Provisional battalions. Cat B men were formed into the 18th-24th Battalions of the Rifle Brigade TF. These battalions were sent to Egypt and India at the end of 1915 to replace TF units committed to the Dardanelles and Mesopotamia. The rump left in Britain eventually formed the 25th Battalion Rifle Brigade TF and served as a Garrison battalion at Falmouth. As for the Supernumerary Companies, they were eventually formed into the Royal Defence Corps.
[With thanks to Charles Messenger for this information]

 
On the outbreak of war
All reservists that were surplus to the immediate needs of the regular army battalions were posted to the Special Reserve. Thus the (usually) 3rd Battalion of each regiment was masively and very rapidly expanded. Very large numbers of men passed through the SR battalions before being posted to the regular units.
The Territorial Force formed "second line" units.
No reserve units were initially established for the New Armies, but it was soon recognised that something would be needed to continue recruitment and provide reinforcements. The Fourth New Army's six Divisions of K4 were broken up and the units converted to reserve battalions. They became known as the "2nd Reserve" after the SR, which was "1st Reserve". 76 Battalions of the "2nd Reserve" existed after this change. They were formed into 26 Reserve Infantry Brigades in January 1916.
 
 The "2nd Reserve" units were converted into the Training Reserve in September 1916.
 
During and after the war
Various new classes of reserve were created during the war.
 
Class W Reserve and its Territorial Force equivalent Class W(T) were introduced in June 16 by Army Order 203/16. They were ‘for all those soldiers whose services are deemed to be more valuable to the country in civil rather than military employment’. Men in these classes were to receive no emoluments from army funds and were not to wear uniform. They were liable at any time to be recalled to the colours. From the time a man was transferred to Class W, until being recalled to the Colours, he was not subject to military discipline.
 
Class T Reserve was introduced in October 16 by Army Order 355/16. There was no Territorial equivalent. Class T consisted of men in about 30 specific skilled trades (almost all industrial/munitions related) who would otherwise have been transferred to Class W. Terms and conditions were as for Class W.
 

Class P Reserve and Class P(T) were introduced by the same Army Order 355/16. These classes consisted of men
- ‘whose services are deemed to be temporarily of more value to the country in civil life rather than in the Army’
- and who were not lower than medical grade C iii
- and as a result of having served in the Army or TF would, if discharged, be eligible for a pension on the grounds of disability or length of service.

Men in Classes P and P(T) were, for the purposes of pay, allowances, gratuity and pension, treated as if they been discharged on the date of their transfer to Class P or P(T); that is. they did receive money from the Army. Other terms and conditions were as for Class W.

Authorisation was given in early December 1918 for all classes of the P and W reserves (with the exception of conscientious objectors in the latter case) to be discharged forthwith, irrespective of their original terms of engagement.
 
Class Z Reserve was authorised by an Army Order of 3 December 1918. There were fears that Germany would not accept the terms of any peace treaty, and therefore the British Government decided it would be wise to be able to quickly recall trained men in the eventuality of the resumption of hostilities. Soldiers who were being demobilised, particularly those who had agreed to serve "for the duration", were at first posted to Class Z. They returned to civilian life but with an obligation to return if called upon. The Z Reserve was abolished on 31 March 1920.