army corps) were detailed to be formed on mobilization. In addition the lines-of-communication troops provided were cal- culated to a minimum, which in practice soon proved inadequate. As regards personnel, the peace establishments of the units composing the force were, in the interests of financial economy, based rather upon the numbers required annually to provide the drafts necessary to maintain the strengths of the garrisons in colonies and protectorates than upon the requirements of the Expeditionary Force when it should take the field.
As must be the case with any army raised and maintained upon a voluntary basis and paid as economically as possible, a constant and large percentage of the individuals included in the home establishments were " immature," either because their training had only lately begun or because they had been accepted when still youths with a view to their gradual develop- ment; so that in order to put this Expeditionary Force in the field it was always necessary that there should exist reserves not only sufficient to make up the difference between peace and war establishments, but also sufficient to replace the " immatures " included in the peace establishments and to provide replace- ments for early casualties up to 10% of the force. But, in spite of continued and varied campaigning, the British army had never been called upon to replace any great number of casualties; and therefore the necessity for providing numerous trained reserves in excess of those required for first mobilization, although foreseen, was not sufficiently realized by the country as a whole.
The actual organization maintained, then, during this period was as follows: (a) The regular army at home, organized to place in the field, at very short notice, one cavalry division (four to five brigades), six infantry divisions (with a minimum of lines-of-communication troops), and certain coast-defence troops (for home defence). To meet the deficiences in per- sonnel there existed: (6) the regular reserve, composed of men who had been fully trained by service in the regular forces; (c) the special reserve (known as " militia " until 1908), organ- ized in units and composed of men who had merely received a recruit's training and subsequent annual trainings of 27 days in their special reserve unit, and certain skilled tradesmen who did not require and did not receive a military training (these were not organized in units). The special reserve units proper formed the infantry of the coast-defence garrisons. It was further proposed that certain of these special reserve units (known as " extra-special reserve units ") should be used as units (not draft-finding) either on the lines of communication of the Expe- ditionary Force or to relieve regular units on foreign service in order that they might join the Expeditionary Force, should it be so desired, (d) The Territorial Force, organized in 14 mounted brigades, 14 infantry divisions and certain coast- defence troops. Being designed for home defence only, the peace establishment of the Territorial Force was intended to be that at which it would take up its defence duties in war. And not only was the strength of the Territorial Force seriously deficient, but much of the personnel were inadequately trained, and, moreover, included a large percentage of men who were too old or too young or physically unfit for active campaigning. The Territorial Force Reserve was so weak as to be negligible (661 officers and 1,421 other ranks on July i 1914).
Other forces which existed or came into being during the years 1910 to 1914 which may be termed the preparatory period for the World War were, in addition to the Territorial Force Reserve: (a) the Technical Reserve; (b) the Veteran Reserve. When these forces were first formed in 1910 they were intended to be part of the Territorial Force Reserve, but in 1911 they were reorganized, and the Territorial Force Reserve was relegated to its own force, the other two reserves becoming distinct formations, the Veteran Re- serve being renamed the " National Reserve." Neither of these forces had any definite liability for service unless undertaken by individual members in some other capacity. The functions of the Technical Reserve were to supply expert and skilled workers to assist the national forces in time of national emergency. For this purpose there were registered a number of owner-drivers of motor vehicles, a few of whom were eventually attached to the Expedition- ary Force, the larger number, however, being utilized at home. The " Voluntary Aid Detachment " scheme also was instituted as part of this reserve, and in accordance with the Geneva Convention.
Originally designed to supply the personnel for " casualty clearing stations " it was finally used for the purpose of supplying personnel (almost entirely female) for military hospitals at home and overseas, each individual taking service on a personal engagement. The organization also provided and maintained a considerable number of hospitals and convalescent establishments at home.
Training of Youths. Cadet units had been in existence for many years. as a part of the old volunteer system, and were broadly divided into two classes: those raised and maintained by universities and schools, and those raised and maintained locally at the expense of individuals. On the formation of the Terri- torial Force the former class were formed into Officers' Training Corps, and in 1908 were removed from the jurisdiction of the Territorial Force Associations and came directly under the War Office. The latter units, however, were taken over by the Terri- torial Force Associations. The Officers' Training Corps existed primarily to provide officers for the special reserve and the Territorial Force; they were divided into senior and junior divi- sions by ages, the former being practically confined to the uni- versities. Members of these corps could obtain a first certifi- cate in either division, but the second, and qualifying, certificate could only be obtained in the senior division. The number of O.T.C. contingents in 1910 was 171 and in 1913, 182; but the numbers composing the units had increased in 1913 to 25,208. That efficiency was also growing is shown by the fact that, in 1910, 2,665 certificates were obtained, and in 1913, 8,303 the attendances at Annual Camp in each year exceeding 10,000. In 1910 there were 340 officers commissioned direct from these Officers' Training Corps, and in 1913, 2,096.
During the war period the Officers' Training Corps were con- tinued, and considerable use was made of their personnel in supplying the deficiency of instructors for the formation of the new armies and also in meeting the grave shortage of junior officers throughout the regulars, territorials and new armies. The normal work of the corps more especially of the senior division in granting certificates and supplying officers for the Territorial Force and special reserve continued throughout 1915; but at the end of that year those members who attained 18 years of age were called upon to be attested as privates, and were then immediately passed to the reserve. They were, however, continued as members of their O.T.C. until the age of 19, when they were summoned to the Colours. This continua- tion of their training enabled them to be rapidly brought forward for commissions, if duly recom'mended by their O.T.C.
The cadet units provided for the training of boys with a view to their eventually joining the ranks of the Territorial Force, and for this purpose there was a recognized affiliation between the cadet unit and the appropriate Territorial Force unit. In 1910 there were 39 such cadet units, comprising 53 companies, rising gradually to 258 units, comprising 848 companies, in 1914. During the war a very large increase took place, there being in 1915 312 units, com- prising 1,007 companies, with a total strength of 41,108; which in 1919 had risen to 890 units of 2,464 companies, with a total strength of 102,500 cadets. Though by no means an Officers' Training Corps, the 28th Batt. of the London Regt. (Artists' Rifles) was in Dec. 1914 selected by the commander-in-chief to act as an officers' training battalion for the armies in France ; it was withdrawn to the neighbourhood of general headquarters, and to it were attached for training all candidates for commissions from the ranks of the Ter- ritorial Force units in the field.
During 1916 the deficiency in officers became even more acute, and early in that year a cadet school was established in France at which N.C.O.'s and men selected from units actually in the field were trained with a view to their obtaining temporary commissions. Simultaneously the Army Council decided that in future except in certain technical branches no temporary special reserve or Territorial Force commissions would be granted to any candidate who had not passed through the ranks of a cadet school (latterly designated " cadet battalion ") unless he had previous military ex- perience as an officer. This necessitated the formation at home of a number of cadet battalions specially designed to prepare candidates for commissions. They must not be confused with the Officers' Training Corps of the cadet units normally existing in peace; in fact, members of both senior and junior divisions of the Officers' Training Corps were compelled to pass through these new cadet battalions before being considered for commissions.
Organization. Certain reorganizations in the regular army itself took place immediately prior to 1914. The system of communication was greatly improved by the formation of signal
