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British Expeditionary Force order of battle (1914)
Encyclopedia
The British Expeditionary Force order of battle 1914, as originally despatched to France in August and September 1914, at the beginning of the First World War. The British Army prior to World War I traced its origins to the increasing demands of imperial expansion together with inefficiencies highlighted during the Crimean War
, which led to the Cardwell
and Childers Reforms
of the late 19th century. These gave the British Army its modern shape, and defined its regimental system. The Haldane Reforms
of 1907, formally created an Expeditionary force and the Territorial Force
.
The British Army was different from the French
and German
Armies at the beginning of the conflict in that it was made up from volunteers, not conscripts. It was also considerably smaller than its French and German counterparts.
The outbreak of the First World War in August 1914 saw the bulk of the changes in the Haldane reforms put to the test. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) of six divisions was quickly sent to the Continent.
This order of battle
includes all combat units, including engineer
and artillery
units, but not medical, supply
and signal
units.
Commanders are listed for all formations of brigade size or higher, and for significant staff positions.
forces in the United Kingdom, with a strength of six infantry
divisions and one cavalry
division (72 infantry battalions and 14 cavalry regiments), plus support units.
It was planned that the seven divisions would be centrally controlled by General Headquarters and as such no plans were made for intermediate levels of command. One corps staff was maintained in peacetime, but the decision was made on mobilisation to create a second (and later a third) in order to better conform with the French command structure; both of these had to be improvised.
At the time of mobilisation, there were significant fears of a German landing in force on the English east coast, and as such the decision was taken to hold back two divisions for home defence, and only send four, plus the cavalry division, to France for the present. The 4th was eventually despatched at the end of August, and the 6th in early September.
The initial Commander-in-Chief of the BEF was Field-Marshal Sir John French
. His Chief of Staff was Lieutenant-General Sir A. J. Murray, with Major-General H. H. Wilson as his deputy. GSO 1 (Operations) was Colonel G. M. Harper, and GSO 1 (Intelligence) was Colonel G. M. W. Macdonogh.
The Adjutant-General was Major-General Sir C. F. N. Macready, with Major-General E. R. C. Graham as Deputy Adjutant-General and Colonel A. E. J. Cavendish as Assistant Adjutant-General. The Quartermaster-General was Major-General Sir W. R. Robertson, with Colonel C. T. Dawkins as Assistant Quartermaster-General. The Royal Artillery
was commanded by Major-General W. F. L. Lindsay, and the Royal Engineers by Brigadier-General G. H. Fowke.
On 6 September the 3rd Cavalry Brigade was detached to act jointly with the 5th, under the overall command of Brigadier-General Gough. This force was redesignated the 2nd Cavalry Division
on 16 September.
, with Colonel J. Vaughan as GSO 1 and Brigadier-General B. F. Drake commanding the Royal Horse Artillery
.
. His senior staff officers were Brigadier-General J. E. Gough (Chief of Staff), Brigadier-General H. S. Horne (commanding Royal Artillery) and Brigadier-General S. R. Rice (commanding Royal Engineers).
. His senior staff officers were Brigadier-General G. T. Forestier-Walker (Chief of Staff), Brigadier-General A. H. Short (commanding Royal Artillery) and Brigadier-General A. E. Sandbach (commanding Royal Engineers).
Lieutenant-General Grierson died on a train between Rouen and Amiens on 17 August; General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien
took over command at Bavai, on 21 August at 4pm.
landed in France on the night of 22 August and 23. It was commanded by Major-General T. D'O. Snow, with Colonel J. E. Edmonds as GSO 1. Brigadier-General G. F. Milne commanded the Royal Artillery, and Lieutenant-Colonel H. B. Jones commanded the Royal Engineers.
(Royal Garrison Artillery
units)
units in France were commanded by Brigadier-General Sir David Henderson, with Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Sykes
as his Chief of Staff.
A Royal Horse Artillery battery contained six 13-pounder guns
, whilst a Royal Field Artillery battery contained six 18-pounder guns
, or six 4.5-inch howitzers
. A heavy battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery contained four 60 pounder guns
. Each battery had two ammunition wagons per gun, and each artillery brigade contained its own ammunition column
.
Each division received an anti-aircraft detachment of 1-pounder pom-pom
guns in September, attached to the divisional artillery.
The Cavalry Division had a total of 12 cavalry regiments in four brigades, and each infantry division had 12 battalions in three brigades. The strength of the Cavalry Division (not counting 5th Cavalry Brigade) came to 9,269 all ranks, with 9,815 horses, 24 13-pounder guns and 24 machine-guns. The strength of each infantry division came to 18,073 all ranks, with 5,592 horses, 76 guns and 24 machine-guns.
and by the reserves.
The total strength of the Regular Army in July was 125,000 men in the British Isles, with 75,000 in India and Burma and a further 33,000 in other overseas postings. The Army Reserve came to 145,000 men, with 64,000 in the Militia (or Special Reserve) and 272,000 in the Territorial Force.
Aside from those earmarked for the Expeditionary Force, there were three battalions of Guards and eight of line infantry (including those in the Channel Islands
) - roughly a division's worth. In the event, six battalions of these regulars were deployed to the Continent along with the Expeditionary Force, to act as army troops. The Border Regiment
and Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment) had the unusual distinction of being the only two regular infantry regiments not to contribute troops to the Expeditionary Force; both would first see action with 7th Division, which landed in October.
Three cavalry regiments - the 1st Life Guards, 2nd Life Guards, and Royal Horse Guards
- were stationed in the London District and not earmarked for the Expeditionary Force; these each provided a squadron for a composite regiment, which served with the 4th Cavalry Brigade
. In addition, there were three Royal Field Artillery brigades, and a number of Royal Horse Artillery batteries, not earmarked for overseas service.
After the Expeditionary Force had departed, this left a total regular establishment of three cavalry regiments (somewhat depleted) and five infantry battalions - less than a tenth of the normal combat strength of the home forces, and mostly deployed around London. This defensive force would be supplemented by the units of the Territorial Force
, which were called up on the outbreak of war - indeed, many were already embodied for their summer training when mobilisation was ordered - and by the Special Reserve.
The Territorial Force was planned with a mobilisation strength of fourteen divisions, each structured along the lines of a regular division with twelve infantry battalions, four artillery brigades, two engineer companies, &c. - and fourteen brigades of Yeomanry
cavalry. It was envisaged that these units would be used solely for home defence, though in the event almost all volunteered for overseas service; the first battalions arrived on the Continent in November.
- the equivalent of four regular divisions - with five in Malta
, four in South Africa, four in Egypt
, and a dozen in various other Imperial outposts. A further nine regular cavalry regiments were serving in India, with two in South Africa and one in Egypt.
The forces in the rest of the British Empire
were not expected to contribute to the Expeditionary Force. A sizeable proportion of these were part of the ten-division Army of India
, a mixture of local forces and British regulars; planning had begun in August 1913 to arrange how the Indian forces could be used in a European war, and a tentative plan had been made for two infantry divisions and a cavalry brigade to be added to the Expeditionary Force; these were despatched, in the event, but did not arrive in France until October.
In the event, most of the overseas garrison units were withdrawn as soon as they could be replaced with Territorial battalions, and new regular divisions were formed piecemeal in the United Kingdom. None of these units arrived in time to see service with the Expeditionary Force.
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
, which led to the Cardwell
Cardwell Reforms
The Cardwell Reforms refer to a series of reforms of the British Army undertaken by Secretary of State for War Edward Cardwell between 1868 and 1874.-Background:...
and Childers Reforms
Childers Reforms
The Childers Reforms restructured the infantry regiments of the British army. The reforms were undertaken by Secretary of State for War Hugh Childers in 1881, and were a continuation of the earlier Cardwell reforms....
of the late 19th century. These gave the British Army its modern shape, and defined its regimental system. The Haldane Reforms
Haldane Reforms
The Haldane Reforms were a series of far-ranging reforms of the British Army made from 1906 to 1912, and named after the Secretary of State for War, Richard Burdon Haldane...
of 1907, formally created an Expeditionary force and the Territorial Force
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
.
The British Army was different from the French
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
and German
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
Armies at the beginning of the conflict in that it was made up from volunteers, not conscripts. It was also considerably smaller than its French and German counterparts.
The outbreak of the First World War in August 1914 saw the bulk of the changes in the Haldane reforms put to the test. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) of six divisions was quickly sent to the Continent.
This order of battle
Order of battle
In modern use, the order of battle is the identification, command structure, strength, and disposition of personnel, equipment, and units of an armed force participating in field operations. Various abbreviations are in use, including OOB, O/B, or OB, while ORBAT remains the most common in the...
includes all combat units, including engineer
Military engineer
In military science, engineering refers to the practice of designing, building, maintaining and dismantling military works, including offensive, defensive and logistical structures, to shape the physical operating environment in war...
and artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
units, but not medical, supply
Military Supply Chain Management
Military supply chain management is a cross-functional approach to procuring, producing and delivering products and services. The broad management scope includes sub-suppliers, suppliers, internal information and funds flow.-Supply:...
and signal
Military communications
Historically, the first military communications had the form of sending/receiving simple signals . Respectively, the first distinctive tactics of military communications were called Signals, while units specializing in those tactics received the Signal Corps name...
units.
Commanders are listed for all formations of brigade size or higher, and for significant staff positions.
Plans for the Expeditionary Force
Under pre-war plans, an expeditionary force was to be organised from among the Regular ArmyRegular Army
The Regular Army of the United States was and is the successor to the Continental Army as the country's permanent, professional military establishment. Even in modern times the professional core of the United States Army continues to be called the Regular Army...
forces in the United Kingdom, with a strength of six infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
divisions and one cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
division (72 infantry battalions and 14 cavalry regiments), plus support units.
It was planned that the seven divisions would be centrally controlled by General Headquarters and as such no plans were made for intermediate levels of command. One corps staff was maintained in peacetime, but the decision was made on mobilisation to create a second (and later a third) in order to better conform with the French command structure; both of these had to be improvised.
At the time of mobilisation, there were significant fears of a German landing in force on the English east coast, and as such the decision was taken to hold back two divisions for home defence, and only send four, plus the cavalry division, to France for the present. The 4th was eventually despatched at the end of August, and the 6th in early September.
GHQ
John French, 1st Earl of Ypres
Field Marshal John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, KP, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCMG, ADC, PC , known as The Viscount French between 1916 and 1922, was a British and Anglo-Irish officer...
. His Chief of Staff was Lieutenant-General Sir A. J. Murray, with Major-General H. H. Wilson as his deputy. GSO 1 (Operations) was Colonel G. M. Harper, and GSO 1 (Intelligence) was Colonel G. M. W. Macdonogh.
The Adjutant-General was Major-General Sir C. F. N. Macready, with Major-General E. R. C. Graham as Deputy Adjutant-General and Colonel A. E. J. Cavendish as Assistant Adjutant-General. The Quartermaster-General was Major-General Sir W. R. Robertson, with Colonel C. T. Dawkins as Assistant Quartermaster-General. The Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
was commanded by Major-General W. F. L. Lindsay, and the Royal Engineers by Brigadier-General G. H. Fowke.
Cavalry
There was no permanently-established cavalry division in the British Army; on mobilisation, the 1st through to 4th Cavalry Brigades were grouped together to form a division, whilst the 5th Cavalry Brigade remained as an independent unit.On 6 September the 3rd Cavalry Brigade was detached to act jointly with the 5th, under the overall command of Brigadier-General Gough. This force was redesignated the 2nd Cavalry Division
2nd Cavalry Division (United Kingdom)
The 2nd Cavalry Division was a regular British Army division that saw service in World War I. It also known as Gough's Command, after its commanding General and was part of the initial British Expeditionary Force which landed in France in September 1914....
on 16 September.
Cavalry Division
The Cavalry Division was commanded by Major-General Edmund AllenbyEdmund Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby
Field Marshal Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby GCB, GCMG, GCVO was a British soldier and administrator most famous for his role during the First World War, in which he led the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in the conquest of Palestine and Syria in 1917 and 1918.Allenby, nicknamed...
, with Colonel J. Vaughan as GSO 1 and Brigadier-General B. F. Drake commanding the Royal Horse Artillery
Royal Horse Artillery
The regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
.
- 1st Cavalry Brigade (Brigadier-General C. J. BriggsCharles James BriggsLieutenant-General Sir Charles James Briggs KCB KCMG was a British Army officer who held high command in World War I.-Military career:...
)- 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)The 2nd Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1685 by King James II. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards in 1959....
- 5th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) Dragoon Guards
- 11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars
- 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)
- 2nd Cavalry Brigade (Brigadier-General H. de Lisle)
- 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards
- 9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers
- 18th (Queen Mary's Own) Hussars
- 3rd Cavalry Brigade (Brigadier-General H. de la P. GoughHubert GoughGeneral Sir Hubert de la Poer Gough GCB, GCMG, KCVO was a senior officer in the British Army, who commanded the British Fifth Army from 1916 to 1918 during the First World War.-Family background:...
)- 4th (Queen's Own) Hussars
- 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers
- 16th (The Queen's) Lancers
- 4th Cavalry Brigade4th Cavalry Brigade (United Kingdom)The 4th Cavalry Brigade was formation of Regiments of the British Army during the First World War, which was formed again in 1939 from Yeomanry Regiments for service during the Second World War...
(Brigadier-General Hon. C. E. BinghamCecil Edward BinghamMajor General The Hon Sir Cecil Edward Bingham GCVO KCMG CB was a British Army officer who held high command during World War I.-Military career:...
)- Household Cavalry Composite RegimentHousehold Cavalry Composite RegimentThe Household Cavalry Composite Regiment was a temporary, wartime-only, cavalry regiment of the British Army consisting of personnel drawn from the 1st Life Guards, 2nd Life Guards and Royal Horse Guards...
- 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiners)
- 3rd (King's Own) Hussars
- Household Cavalry Composite Regiment
- Divisional troops:
- III Brigade RHA
- D Battery, RHAD Battery Royal Horse ArtilleryD Battery Royal Horse Artillery are a Close Support Battery of 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery They are currently based in Caen Barracks in Hohne, Germany-See also:*British Army*Royal Artillery*Royal Horse Artillery*List of Royal Artillery Batteries...
- E Battery, RHAE Battery Royal Horse ArtilleryE Battery Royal Horse Artillery are a Close Support Battery of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery They are currently based in Assaye Barracks in Tidworth-Current Role:...
- D Battery, RHA
- VII Brigade RHA
- I Battery, RHA
- L Battery, RHAL (Néry) Battery Royal Horse ArtilleryL Battery Royal Horse Artillery are the Tactical Group Battery of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. They are currently based in Assaye Barracks in Tidworth.-Current Role:...
- 1st Field Squadron, RE
- III Brigade RHA
- 5th Cavalry Brigade5th Cavalry Brigade (United Kingdom)The 5th Cavalry Brigade, was a part of the British Army, it served in both world wars in World War One it was part of the 2nd Cavalry Division, and during the Second World War it was formed in 1939 from Yeomanry Regiments and part of the 1st Cavalry Division....
(Brigadier-General Sir P. W. Chetwode)- 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys)
- 12th (Prince of Wales's Royal) Lancers
- 20th Hussars20th HussarsThe 20th Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. In 1922 it was amalgamated with the 14th Hussars to form the 14th/20th Hussars, later the 14th/20th King's Hussars.-History of the 20th Hussars:...
- J Battery, RHAJ (Sidi Rezegh) Battery Royal Horse ArtilleryJ Battery Royal Horse Artillery are a Close Support Battery of 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. They are currently based in Caen Barracks in Hohne, Germany....
I Corps
I Corps was commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Douglas HaigDouglas Haig
Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig was a British soldier and senior commander during World War I.Douglas Haig may also refer to:* Club Atlético Douglas Haig, a football club from Argentina* Douglas Haig , American actor...
. His senior staff officers were Brigadier-General J. E. Gough (Chief of Staff), Brigadier-General H. S. Horne (commanding Royal Artillery) and Brigadier-General S. R. Rice (commanding Royal Engineers).
1st Division
1st Division was commanded by Major-General S. H. Lomax, with Colonel R. Fanshawe as GSO 1. Brigadier-General N. D. Findlay commanded the Royal Artillery, and Lieutenant-Colonel A. L. Schreiber commanded the Royal Engineers.- 1st (Guards) Brigade (Brigadier-General F. I. Maxse)
- 1st Coldstream GuardsColdstream GuardsHer Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
- 1st Scots GuardsScots GuardsThe Scots Guards is a regiment of the Guards Division of the British Army, whose origins lie in the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland...
- 1st The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
- 2nd The Royal Munster Fusiliers
- 1st Coldstream Guards
- 2nd Infantry Brigade (Brigadier-General E. S. Bulfin)
- 2nd The Royal Sussex Regiment
- 1st The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
- 1st The Northamptonshire Regiment
- 2nd The King's Royal Rifle Corps
- 3rd Infantry Brigade (Brigadier-General H. J. S. Landon)
- 1st The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
- 1st The South Wales BorderersThe South Wales BorderersThe South Wales Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army. It first came into existence, as the 24th Regiment of Foot, in 1689, but was not called the South Wales Borderers until 1881. The regiment served in a great many conflicts, including the American Revolutionary War, various...
- 1st The Gloucestershire RegimentThe Gloucestershire RegimentThe Gloucestershire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army. Nicknamed "The Glorious Glosters", the regiment carried more battle honours on their regimental colours than any other British Army line regiment.-Origins and early history:...
- 2nd The Welch Regiment
- Divisional Troops
- Mounted Troops
- A Squadron, 15th (The King's) Hussars
- 1st Cyclist Company
- Artillery
- XXV Brigade RFA25th Brigade Royal Field Artillery25th Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed with 113rd, 114th and 115th Batteries, and attached to 1st Infantry Division. In August 1914 it mobilised and was sent to the Continent with the British...
- 113th Battery, RFA
- 114th Battery, RFA
- 115th Battery, RFA
- XXVI Brigade RFA26th Brigade Royal Field Artillery26th Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed with 116th, 117th and 118th Batteries, and attached to 1st Infantry Division. In August 1914, it mobilised and was sent to the Continent with the British...
- 116th Battery, RFA
- 117th Battery, RFA
- 118th Battery, RFA
- XXXIX Brigade RFA39th Brigade Royal Field Artillery39th Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed with 46th, 51st and 54th Batteries, and attached to 1st Infantry Division. In August 1914, it mobilised and was sent to the Continent with the British...
- 46th Battery, RFA
- 51st Battery, RFA
- 54th Battery, RFA
- XLIII (Howitzer) Brigade RFA43rd (Howitzer) Brigade Royal Field Artillery43rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed with 30th, 40th and 57th Batteries, each equipped with 4.5-inch howitzers, and attached to 1st Infantry Division...
- 30th (Howitzer) Battery, RFA
- 40th (Howitzer) Battery, RFA
- 57th (Howitzer) Battery, RFA
- 26th Heavy Battery, RGA
- XXV Brigade RFA
- Engineers
- 23rd Field Company, RE
- 26th Field Company, RE
- Mounted Troops
2nd Division
2nd Division was commanded by Major-General C. C. Monro, with Colonel Hon. F. Gordon as GSO 1. Brigadier-General E. M. Perceval commanded the Royal Artillery, and Lieutenant-Colonel R. H. H. Boys commanded the Royal Engineers.- 4th (Guards) Brigade (Brigadier-General R. Scott-Kerr)
- 2nd Grenadier GuardsGrenadier GuardsThe Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
- 2nd Coldstream GuardsColdstream GuardsHer Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
- 3rd Coldstream GuardsColdstream GuardsHer Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
- 1st Irish GuardsIrish GuardsThe Irish Guards , part of the Guards Division, is a Foot Guards regiment of the British Army.Along with the Royal Irish Regiment, it is one of the two Irish regiments remaining in the British Army. The Irish Guards recruit in Northern Ireland and the Irish neighbourhoods of major British cities...
- 2nd Grenadier Guards
- 5th Infantry Brigade (Brigadier-General R. C. B. Haking)
- 2nd The Worcestershire Regiment
- 2nd The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
- 2nd The Highland Light Infantry
- 2nd The Connaught RangersThe Connaught RangersThe Connaught Rangers was an Irish regiment of the British Army, formed by the amalgamation in 1881 of the 88th Regiment of Foot and the 94th Regiment of Foot. It was disbanded in 1922.-History:...
- 6th Infantry Brigade6th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)- World War I :The brigade was part of 2nd Division. It was composed as follows;*1st Battalion, The King's *2nd Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment*13th Battalion , The Essex Regiment...
(Brigadier-General R. H. Davies, New Zealand Staff Corps)- 1st The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
- 2nd The South Staffordshire Regiment
- 1st Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment)
- 1st The King's Royal Rifle Corps
- Divisional Troops
- Mounted Troops
- B Squadron, 15th (The King's) Hussars
- 2nd Cyclist Company
- Artillery
- XXXIV Brigade RFA34th Brigade Royal Field Artillery34th Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed with 22nd, 50th and 70th Batteries, and attached to 2nd Infantry Division. In August 1914, it mobilised and was sent to the Continent with the British...
- 22nd Battery, RFA
- 50th Battery, RFA
- 70th Battery, RFA
- XXXVI Brigade RFA36th Brigade Royal Field Artillery36th Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed with 15th, 48th and 71st Batteries, and attached to 2nd Infantry Division. In August 1914 it mobilised and was sent to the Continent with the British...
- 15th Battery, RFA
- 48th Battery, RFA
- 71st Battery, RFA
- XLI Brigade RFA41st Brigade Royal Field Artillery41st Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed with 9th, 16th and 17th Batteries, and attached to 2nd Infantry Division. In August 1914 it mobilised and was sent to the Continent with the British...
- 9th Battery, RFA
- 16th Battery, RFA
- 17th Battery, RFA
- XLIV (Howitzer) Brigade RFA44th (Howitzer) Brigade Royal Field Artillery44th Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed with 47th, 56th and 60th Batteries, each equipped with 4.5" howitzers, and attached to 2nd Infantry Division...
- 47th (Howitzer) Battery, RFA
- 56th (Howitzer) Battery, RFA
- 60th (Howitzer) Battery, RFA
- 35th Heavy Battery, RGA
- XXXIV Brigade RFA
- Engineers
- 5th Field Company, RE
- 11th Field Company, RE
- Mounted Troops
II Corps
II Corps was commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir James GriersonJames Grierson
Lieutenant General Sir James Moncrieff Grierson KCB, CMG, CVO, ADC was a British soldier.- Military career :Grierson was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1877....
. His senior staff officers were Brigadier-General G. T. Forestier-Walker (Chief of Staff), Brigadier-General A. H. Short (commanding Royal Artillery) and Brigadier-General A. E. Sandbach (commanding Royal Engineers).
Lieutenant-General Grierson died on a train between Rouen and Amiens on 17 August; General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien
Horace Smith-Dorrien
General Sir Horace Lockwood Smith-Dorrien GCB, GCMG, DSO, ADC was a British soldier and commander of the British II Corps and Second Army of the BEF during World War I.-Early life and career:...
took over command at Bavai, on 21 August at 4pm.
3rd Division
3rd Division was commanded by Major-General Hubert I. W. Hamilton, with Colonel F. R. F. Boileau as GSO 1. Brigadier-General F. D. V. Wing commanded the Royal Artillery, and Lieutenant-Colonel C. S. Wilson commanded the Royal Engineers.- 7th Infantry Brigade (Brigadier-General F. W. N. McCracken)
- 3rd The Worcestershire Regiment
- 2nd The Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment)
- 1st The Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regiment)
- 2nd The Royal Irish Rifles
- 8th Infantry Brigade (Brigadier-General B. J. C. Doran)
- 2nd The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)
- 2nd The Royal Irish RegimentRoyal Irish Regiment (1684-1922)The Royal Irish Regiment, until 1881 the 18th Regiment of Foot, was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, first raised in 1684. Also known as the 18th Regiment of Foot and the 18th Regiment of Foot, it was one of eight Irish regiments raised largely in Ireland, its home depot in...
- 4th The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)
- 1st The Gordon HighlandersThe Gordon HighlandersThe Gordon Highlanders was a British Army infantry regiment from 1794 until 1994. The regiment took its name from the Clan Gordon and recruited principally from Aberdeen and the North-East of Scotland.-History:...
- 9th Infantry Brigade9th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)-History:The Brigade together with 8th Infantry Brigade and 185th Infantry Brigade formed the 3rd Infantry Division and participated in the ill-fated British Expeditionary Force, which evacuated from Dunkirk early in World War II....
(Brigadier-General F. C. Shaw)- 1st The Northumberland Fusiliers
- 4th The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)The Royal Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army until 1968 when it was amalgamated with other regiments to form The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers...
- 1st The Lincolnshire Regiment
- 1st The Royal Scots Fusiliers
- Divisional Troops
- Mounted Troops
- C Squadron, 15th (The King's) Hussars
- 3rd Cyclist Company
- Artillery
- XXIII Brigade RFA23rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery23rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed with 107th, 108th and 109th Batteries, and attached to 3rd Division. In August 1914 it mobilised and was sent to the Continent with the British Expeditionary...
- 107th Battery, RFA
- 108th Battery, RFA
- 109th Battery, RFA
- XL Brigade RFA40th Brigade Royal Field Artillery40th Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed with 6th, 23rd and 49th Batteries, and attached to 3rd Infantry Division. In August 1914, it mobilised and was sent to the Continent with the British...
- 6th Battery, RFA
- 23rd Battery, RFA
- 49th Battery, RFA
- XLII Brigade RFA42nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery42nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed with 29th, 41st and 45th Batteries, and attached to 3rd Infantry Division. In August 1914, it mobilised and was sent to the Continent with the British...
- 29th Battery, RFA
- 41st Battery, RFA
- 45th Battery, RFA
- XXX (Howitzer) Brigade RFA30th (Howitzer) Brigade Royal Field Artillery30th Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed with 128th, 129th and 130th Batteries, each equipped with 4.5" howitzers, and attached to 3rd Infantry Division...
- 128th (Howitzer) Battery, RFA
- 129th (Howitzer) Battery, RFA
- 130th (Howitzer) Battery, RFA
- 48th Heavy Battery, RGA
- XXIII Brigade RFA
- Engineers
- 56th Field Company, RE
- 57th Field Company, RE
- Mounted Troops
5th Division
5th Division was commanded by Major-General Sir C. Fergusson, with Lieutenant-Colonel C. F. Romer as GSO 1. Brigadier-General J. E. W. Headlam commanded the Royal Artillery, and Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. S. Tulloch commanded the Royal Engineers.- 13th Infantry Brigade (Brigadier-General G. J. Cuthbert)
- 2nd The King's Own Scottish Borderers
- 2nd The Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
- 1st The Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
- 2nd The King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry)
- 14th Infantry Brigade (Brigadier-General S. P. RoltStuart Peter RoltBrigadier-General Stuart Peter Rolt CB was a British Army officer who became Commandant of the Royal Military College Sandhurst.-Military career:Stuart Rolt was the son of Peter Rolt, a Conservative MP...
)- 2nd The Suffolk Regiment
- 1st The East Surrey Regiment
- 1st The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
- 2nd The Manchester RegimentThe Manchester RegimentThe Manchester Regiment was a regiment of the British army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 63rd Regiment of Foot and the 96th Regiment of Foot...
- 15th Infantry Brigade (Brigadier-General A. E. W. Count Gleichen)
- 1st The Norfolk Regiment
- 1st The Bedfordshire Regiment
- 1st The Cheshire Regiment
- 1st The Dorsetshire Regiment
- Divisional Troops
- Mounted Troops
- A Squadron, 19th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars
- 5th Cyclist Company
- Artillery
- XV Brigade RFA
- 11th Battery, RFA
- 52nd Battery, RFA
- 80th Battery, RFA
- XXVII Brigade RFA27th Brigade Royal Field Artillery27th Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed with 119th, 120th and 121st Batteries, and attached to 5th Infantry Division. In August 1914, it mobilised and was sent to the Continent with the British...
- 119th Battery, RFA
- 120th Battery, RFA
- 121st Battery, RFA
- XXVIII Brigade RFA28th Brigade Royal Field Artillery28th Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed in 1900, with 122nd, 123rd and 124th Batteries, and attached to 5th Infantry Division...
- 122nd Battery, RFA
- 123rd Battery, RFA
- 124th Battery, RFA
- VIII (Howitzer) Brigade RFA
- 37th (Howitzer) Battery, RFA
- 61st (Howitzer) Battery, RFA
- 65th (Howitzer) Battery, RFA
- 108th Heavy Battery, RGA
- XV Brigade RFA
- Engineers
- 17th Field Company, RE
- 59th Field Company, RE
- Mounted Troops
III Corps
III Corps was formed in France on 31 August 1914, commanded by Major-General W. P. Pulteney. His senior staff officers were Brigadier-General J. P. Du Cane (Chief of Staff), Brigadier-General E. J. Phipps-Hornby (commanding Royal Artillery) and Brigadier-General F. M. Glubb (commanding Royal Engineers).4th Division
The 4th Division4th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)
The 4th Infantry Division is a regular British Army division with a long history having been present at the Peninsular War the Crimean War , the First World War , and during the Second World War.- Napoleonic Wars :...
landed in France on the night of 22 August and 23. It was commanded by Major-General T. D'O. Snow, with Colonel J. E. Edmonds as GSO 1. Brigadier-General G. F. Milne commanded the Royal Artillery, and Lieutenant-Colonel H. B. Jones commanded the Royal Engineers.
- 10th Infantry Brigade (Brigadier-General J. A. L. Haldane)
- 1st The Royal Warwickshire Regiment
- 2nd Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany's)
- 1st Princess Victoria's (Royal Irish Fusiliers)
- 2nd The Royal Dublin FusiliersThe Royal Dublin FusiliersThe Royal Dublin Fusiliers was an Irish infantry Regiment of the British Army created in 1881, one of eight Irish regiments raised and garrisoned in Ireland, with its home depot in Naas...
- 11th Infantry Brigade (Brigadier-General A. G. Hunter-Weston)
- 1st Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry)
- 1st The East Lancashire Regiment
- 1st The Hampshire Regiment
- 1st The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)The Rifle Brigade was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army, formed in 1800 to provide sharpshooters, scouts and skirmishers...
- 12th Infantry Brigade (Brigadier-General H. F. M. Wilson)
- 1st King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
- 2nd The Lancashire Fusiliers
- 2nd The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
- 2nd The Essex Regiment
- Divisional Troops
- Mounted Troops
- B Squadron, 19th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars
- 4th Cyclist Company
- Artillery
- XIV Brigade RFA
- 39th Battery, RFA
- 68th Battery, RFA
- 88th Battery, RFA
- XXIX Brigade RFA29th Brigade Royal Field Artillery29th Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed with 125th, 126th and 127th Batteries, and attached to 4th Infantry Division. In August 1914, it mobilised and was sent to the Continent with the British...
- 125th Battery, RFA
- 126th Battery, RFA
- 127th Battery, RFA
- XXXII Brigade RFA32nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery32nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed with 27th, 134th and 135th Batteries, and attached to 4th Infantry Division. In August 1914 it mobilised and was sent to the Continent with the British...
- 27th Battery, RFA
- 134st Battery, RFA
- 135th Battery, RFA
- XXXVII (Howitzer) Brigade RFA37th (Howitzer) Brigade Royal Field Artillery37th Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed with 31st, 35th and 55th Batteries, each equipped with 4.5" howitzers, and attached to 4th Infantry Division...
- 31st (Howitzer) Battery, RFA
- 35th (Howitzer) Battery, RFA
- 55th (Howitzer) Battery, RFA
- 31st Heavy Battery, RGA
- XIV Brigade RFA
- Engineers
- 7th Field Company, RE
- 9th Field Company, RE
- Mounted Troops
6th Division
The 6th Division embarked for France on 8 and 9 September. It was commanded by Major-General J. L. Keir, with Colonel W. T. Furse as GSO 1. Brigadier-General W. L. H. Paget commanded the Royal Artillery, and Lieutenant-Colonel G. C. Kemp commanded the Royal Engineers.- 16th Infantry Brigade (Brigadier-General E. C. Ingouville-Williams)
- 1st The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
- 1st The Leicestershire Regiment
- 1st The King's (Shropshire Light Infantry)
- 2nd The York and Lancaster Regiment
- 17th Infantry Brigade (Brigadier-General W. R. B. Doran)
- 1st The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)The Royal Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army until 1968 when it was amalgamated with other regiments to form The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers...
- 1st The Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire Regiment)
- 2nd The Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians)
- 3rd The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own)
- 1st The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
- 18th Infantry Brigade (Brigadier-General W. N. Congreve)
- 1st The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
- 1st The East Yorkshire Regiment
- 2nd The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)
- 2nd The Durham Light Infantry
- Divisional Troops
- Mounted Troops
- C Squadron, 19th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars
- 6th Cyclist Company
- Artillery
- II Brigade RFA2nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery2nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed with 21st, 42nd and 53rd Batteries, and attached to 6th Infantry Division. In August 1914 it mobilised and in September was sent to the Continent with the...
- 21st Battery, RFA
- 42nd Battery, RFA
- 53rd Battery, RFA
- XXIV Brigade RFA24th Brigade Royal Field Artillery24th Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed with 110th, 111th and 112th Batteries, and attached to 6th Infantry Division. In August 1914 it mobilised and in September was sent to the Continent with the...
- 110th Battery, RFA
- 111th Battery, RFA
- 112th Battery, RFA
- XXXVIII Brigade RFA
- 24th Battery, RFA
- 34th Battery, RFA
- 72nd Battery, RFA
- XII (Howitzer) Brigade RFA12th (Howitzer) Brigade Royal Field Artillery12th Brigade Royal Field Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which served in the First World War.It was originally formed with 43rd, 86th and 87th Batteries, each equipped with 4.5-inch howitzers, and attached to 6th Infantry Division...
- 43rd (Howitzer) Battery, RFA
- 86th (Howitzer) Battery, RFA
- 87th (Howitzer) Battery, RFA
- 24th Heavy Battery, RGA
- II Brigade RFA
- Engineers
- 12th Field Company, RE
- 38th Field Company, RE
- Mounted Troops
Army troops
- Mounted troops:
- Composite Regiment drawn from the North Irish HorseNorth Irish HorseThe North Irish Horse is a yeomanry unit of the British Territorial Army raised in the northern counties of Ireland in the aftermath of the Second Boer War...
(A and C Squadrons) and South Irish HorseSouth Irish HorseThe South Irish Horse was a Territorial Yeomanry regiment of the British Army. Formed on the 2nd January 1902 as the South of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry. It was renamed as the South Irish Horse from 7 July 1908 and transferred to the Special Reserve...
(B Squadron).
- Composite Regiment drawn from the North Irish Horse
- Siege Artillery:
(Royal Garrison Artillery
Royal Garrison Artillery
The Royal Garrison Artillery was an arm of the Royal Artillery that was originally tasked with manning the guns of the British Empire's forts and fortresses, including coastal artillery batteries, the heavy gun batteries attached to each infantry division, and the guns of the siege...
units)
-
- No. 1 Siege Battery
- No. 2 Siege Battery
- No. 3 Siege Battery
- No. 4 Siege Battery
- No. 5 Siege Battery
- No. 6 Siege Battery
- Infantry:
- 1st The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
units in France were commanded by Brigadier-General Sir David Henderson, with Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Sykes
Frederick Sykes
Air Vice-Marshal The Right Honourable Sir Frederick Hugh Sykes GCSI, GCIE, GBE, KCB, CMG was a military officer, British statesman and politician....
as his Chief of Staff.
- 2nd Aeroplane SquadronNo. 2 Squadron RAFNo. 2 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is currently one of two RAF squadrons operating in the reconnaissance role with the Tornado GR4A and GR4 and is based at RAF Marham, Norfolk.No. II Squadron holds claim to being "the oldest heavier-than-air flying machine squadron in the world", along with No...
, Major C J BurkeCharles Burke (British Army officer)Lieutenant-Colonel Charles James Burke DSO was an officer in the Royal Irish Regiment and the Royal Flying Corps and a military aviation pioneer.... - 3rd Aeroplane SquadronNo. 3 Squadron RAFNo 3 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Typhoon F2, FGR4 and T3 from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire.No 3 Squadron, which celebrated its 95th anniversary over the weekend of 11-13 May 2007, is unique in the RAF for having two official crests....
, Major J M SalmondJohn SalmondMarshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Maitland Salmond, GCB, CMG, CVO, DSO and Bar was a British military officer who rose to high rank in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I... - 4th Aeroplane Squadron
- 5th Aeroplane SquadronNo. 5 Squadron RAFNo. 5 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is the operator of the new Sentinel R1 Airborne STand-Off Radar aircraft and is based at RAF Waddington.-History:As No...
- 6th Aeroplane SquadronNo. 6 Squadron RAFNo. 6 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 at RAF Leuchars.It was previously equipped with the Jaguar GR.3 in the close air support and tactical reconnaissance roles, and was based at RAF Coltishall, Norfolk until April 2006, moving to RAF Coningsby until...
Major J H W BeckeJohn BeckeBrigadier-General John Harold Whitworth Becke CMG DSO AFC was an infantry officer in the Second Boer War and commander in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I. He transferred to the RAF on its creation on 1 April 1918 as a temporary Brigadier-General...
Lines of communication defence troops
- 1st The Devonshire RegimentThe Devonshire RegimentThe Devonshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army which served under various titles from 1685 to 1958. Its lineage is continued today by The Rifles.-Origin and titles:...
- 2nd The Royal Welch Fusiliers
- 1st The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)The Cameronians was an infantry regiment of the British Army, the only regiment of rifles amongst the Scottish regiments of infantry...
- 1st The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)
- 2nd Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders)
Unit strengths
A cavalry regiment contained three squadrons and was provided with two machine-guns. An infantry battalion contained four companies and two machine-guns.A Royal Horse Artillery battery contained six 13-pounder guns
Ordnance QF 13 pounder
The Ordnance QF 13-pounder quick-firing field gun was the standard equipment of the British Royal Horse Artillery at the outbreak of World War I.-History:...
, whilst a Royal Field Artillery battery contained six 18-pounder guns
Ordnance QF 18 pounder
The Ordnance QF 18 pounder, or simply 18-pounder Gun, was the standard British Army field gun of the World War I era. It formed the backbone of the Royal Field Artillery during the war, and was produced in large numbers. It was also used by British and Commonwealth Forces in all the main theatres,...
, or six 4.5-inch howitzers
QF 4.5 inch Howitzer
The Ordnance QF 4.5 inch Howitzer was the standard British Empire field howitzer of the First World War era. It replaced the BL 5 inch Howitzer and equipped some 25% of the field artillery. It entered service in 1910 and remained in service through the interwar period and was last used in...
. A heavy battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery contained four 60 pounder guns
60 pounder
The British Ordnance BL 60-pounder was a 5 inch heavy field gun designed in 1903-05 to provide a new capability that had been partially met by the interim QF 4.7 inch Gun. It was designed for both horse draft and mechanical traction and served throughout the First World War in the main...
. Each battery had two ammunition wagons per gun, and each artillery brigade contained its own ammunition column
Ammunition column
An ammunition column consists of military vehicles carrying artillery and small arms ammunition for the combatant unit to which the column belongs. Thus the ammunition columns of a division, forming part of the brigades of field artillery, carry reserve ammunition for the guns, the machine guns of...
.
Each division received an anti-aircraft detachment of 1-pounder pom-pom
QF 1 pounder pom-pom
The QF 1 pounder, universally known as the pom-pom, was an early 37 mm British autocannon. It was used by several countries initially as an infantry gun and later as a light anti-aircraft gun. The name comes from the sound it makes when firing....
guns in September, attached to the divisional artillery.
The Cavalry Division had a total of 12 cavalry regiments in four brigades, and each infantry division had 12 battalions in three brigades. The strength of the Cavalry Division (not counting 5th Cavalry Brigade) came to 9,269 all ranks, with 9,815 horses, 24 13-pounder guns and 24 machine-guns. The strength of each infantry division came to 18,073 all ranks, with 5,592 horses, 76 guns and 24 machine-guns.
Units not employed in the Expeditionary Force
In broad numeric terms, the British Expeditionary Force represented half the combat strength of the British Army; as an imperial power, a sizeable portion of the army had to be kept aside for overseas garrisons. Home defence was expected to be provided by the volunteers of the Territorial ForceTerritorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
and by the reserves.
The total strength of the Regular Army in July was 125,000 men in the British Isles, with 75,000 in India and Burma and a further 33,000 in other overseas postings. The Army Reserve came to 145,000 men, with 64,000 in the Militia (or Special Reserve) and 272,000 in the Territorial Force.
Home service
The peacetime regular establishment in the British Isles was eighty-one battalions of infantry - in theory, one battalion of each line regiment was deployed on home service and one on overseas service at any given point, rotating the battalions every few years - and nineteen regiments of cavalry.Aside from those earmarked for the Expeditionary Force, there were three battalions of Guards and eight of line infantry (including those in the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
) - roughly a division's worth. In the event, six battalions of these regulars were deployed to the Continent along with the Expeditionary Force, to act as army troops. The Border Regiment
Border Regiment
The Border Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 34th Regiment of Foot and the 55th Regiment of Foot....
and Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment) had the unusual distinction of being the only two regular infantry regiments not to contribute troops to the Expeditionary Force; both would first see action with 7th Division, which landed in October.
Three cavalry regiments - the 1st Life Guards, 2nd Life Guards, and Royal Horse Guards
Royal Horse Guards
The Royal Horse Guards was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry.Founded August 1650 in Newcastle Upon Tyne by Sir Arthur Haselrig on the orders of Oliver Cromwell as the Regiment of Cuirassiers, the regiment became the Earl of Oxford's Regiment during the reign of...
- were stationed in the London District and not earmarked for the Expeditionary Force; these each provided a squadron for a composite regiment, which served with the 4th Cavalry Brigade
4th Cavalry Brigade (United Kingdom)
The 4th Cavalry Brigade was formation of Regiments of the British Army during the First World War, which was formed again in 1939 from Yeomanry Regiments for service during the Second World War...
. In addition, there were three Royal Field Artillery brigades, and a number of Royal Horse Artillery batteries, not earmarked for overseas service.
After the Expeditionary Force had departed, this left a total regular establishment of three cavalry regiments (somewhat depleted) and five infantry battalions - less than a tenth of the normal combat strength of the home forces, and mostly deployed around London. This defensive force would be supplemented by the units of the Territorial Force
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
, which were called up on the outbreak of war - indeed, many were already embodied for their summer training when mobilisation was ordered - and by the Special Reserve.
The Territorial Force was planned with a mobilisation strength of fourteen divisions, each structured along the lines of a regular division with twelve infantry battalions, four artillery brigades, two engineer companies, &c. - and fourteen brigades of Yeomanry
Yeomanry
Yeomanry is a designation used by a number of units or sub-units of the British Territorial Army, descended from volunteer cavalry regiments. Today, Yeomanry units may serve in a variety of different military roles.-History:...
cavalry. It was envisaged that these units would be used solely for home defence, though in the event almost all volunteered for overseas service; the first battalions arrived on the Continent in November.
Overseas service
Forty-eight battalions of infantry were serving in IndiaBritish Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
- the equivalent of four regular divisions - with five in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, four in South Africa, four in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, and a dozen in various other Imperial outposts. A further nine regular cavalry regiments were serving in India, with two in South Africa and one in Egypt.
The forces in the rest of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
were not expected to contribute to the Expeditionary Force. A sizeable proportion of these were part of the ten-division Army of India
Army of India
The Army of India consisted of both the Indian Army and the British Army in India between 1903 and 1947.Lord Kitchener was appointed Commander-in-Chief, India between 1902 and 1909...
, a mixture of local forces and British regulars; planning had begun in August 1913 to arrange how the Indian forces could be used in a European war, and a tentative plan had been made for two infantry divisions and a cavalry brigade to be added to the Expeditionary Force; these were despatched, in the event, but did not arrive in France until October.
In the event, most of the overseas garrison units were withdrawn as soon as they could be replaced with Territorial battalions, and new regular divisions were formed piecemeal in the United Kingdom. None of these units arrived in time to see service with the Expeditionary Force.