CHAPTER VIII
THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
FIGHTING TROOPS
The British Troops organized for service in the field consist of the Expeditionary Force, formed by the Regular Army and its Reserves, and the Territorial Force, composed of troops which are virtually Militia, undergoing only a slight annual training, and engaged in their civil avocations during the rest of the year. To these may be added the regular troops in the Mediterranean (Gibraltar, Malta, and Egypt), and in South Africa, from which a Division may be formed to add to the Expeditionary Force. The forces of the self-governing Dominions need not be considered. They are hardly as yet organized as Field Armies, and are kept up for Local Defence. There is also the Indian Army, composed of regular troops, British and Indian.
The Expeditionary Force corresponds to what in foreign countries is termed the Army of First Line, and the Territorial Force to the Army of Second Line; the former being intended for action against our enemies abroad, and the latter for Home Defence.
The Expeditionary Force
The Expeditionary Force comprises essentially the following bodies of Troops:
One Cavalry Division, as Independent Cavalry.
Two Mounted Brigades, as Army Protective Cavalry.
Six Infantry Divisions, to which may eventually be added a seventh from the Mediterranean and South Africa.
The Force will be provided with a General Head-Quarters, and with an Army Head-Quarters if it is proposed to divide it into two Armies.
There will also be allotted to the Force certain Units under the immediate command of the Commander-in-Chief, termed “Army Troops.” Some of these Units will also be allotted to any separate Armies which may be formed.
Units of Troops will also be provided for duties on the Lines of Communication. These will consist of the “L. of C. Defence Troops,” and of the Head-Quarters and Administrative Services on the Lines of Communication.
The composition of the various Head-Quarters, and the number and nature of the Units of Army Troops, and of the Units on the L. of C., will depend on the conditions of the campaign, which will vary according to the enemy to be encountered, the climate and nature of the theatre of war, and the character of the Lines of Operations and Communications.
It was explained in the previous chapter that in order to allow of normal Establishments to be drawn up, the assumption is made that the war will take place in a civilized country and in a temperate climate. A normal Line of Communications is also assumed, consisting of a Seaport or a Base, a railway from it 100 miles long, and two lines of road 30 miles long from Railhead to the Advanced Bases.
The following pages show the composition of the whole Force and of the various Subordinate Commands forming it, as well as that of the various Head-Quarters, the “Army Troops,” and the Troops on the Lines of Communication. The Establishments of the various Fighting Units are also given, followed by a table of their strength in round numbers of officers, men, and horses actually belonging to the Unit.
Some notes on the general principles on which the Establishments have been drawn up will first be given.
A Medical Officer is attached to each unit, and a Veterinary Officer to each mounted unit.
Two to five men of the Medical Corps are attached to each unit, according to its strength.
A Bâtman—that is, an officer’s servant or groom—is provided for each Officer, and a second one if he has more than one horse. Bâtmen are armed and trained soldiers, taken from the unit, and available for duty in its ranks.
Draught Horses are allotted as follows: six to each gun or ammunition-wagon, four to each wagon, and two to each cart. Spare horses are provided at the rate of 10 per cent. of the total.
One Driver is provided for each pair, and 10 per cent. of spare drivers are added, but this number is 5 per cent. in the case of Divisional Ammunition Columns, and T. and S. Parks.
Two Trumpeters, Drummers, or Buglers, are allotted to each Squadron or Company of Fighting Troops.
The Regimental Sergeant-Major is a Warrant Officer. There is one in each Cavalry Regiment, Infantry Battalion, and Artillery Brigade.
Expeditionary Force
COMPOSITION OF SUBORDINATE COMMANDS
CAVALRY BRIGADE
Head-Quarters.
3 Cavalry Regiments.
CAVALRY DIVISION
Head-Quarters.
4 Cavalry Brigades.
Cavalry Divisional Troops:
Cavalry Divisional Artillery:
Head-Quarters.
2 Horse Artillery Brigades.
Cavalry Divisional Engineers:
Head-Quarters.
4 Field Troops.
1 Wireless Telegraph Company.
1 Transport and Supply Column.
4 Cavalry Field Ambulances.
INFANTRY BRIGADE
Head-Quarters.
4 Infantry Battalions.
DIVISION
Head-Quarters.
3 Infantry Brigades.
Divisional Troops:
Divisional Mounted Troops:
2 Mounted-Infantry Companies.
Divisional Artillery:
Head-Quarters.
3 Field Artillery Brigades.
1 Field Artillery (Howitzer) Brigade.
1 Heavy Battery and Ammunition Column.
1 Divisional Ammunition Column.
Divisional Engineers:
Head-Quarters.
2 Field Companies.
1 Divisional Telegraph Company.
Administrative Services:
1 Divisional Transport and Supply Column.
1 Divisional Transport and Supply Park.
3 Field Ambulances.
MOUNTED BRIGADE
Head-Quarters.
2 or 1 Cavalry Regiments.
1 or 2 Mounted-Infantry Battalions.
1 Horse Artillery Battery and Ammunition Column.
1 Transport and Supply Column.
1 Cavalry Field Ambulance.
ARMY TROOPS
2 Mounted Brigades, to act as Army Protective Cavalry.
2 Squadrons, } as Escort for Head-Quarters.
1 Infantry Battalion, }
2 Cable Telegraph Companies, }
2 Air-line Telegraph Companies, } Communication Units.
3 Balloon Companies, }
2 Bridging Trains.
1 Transport and Supply Column.
2 Field Ambulances for the Army Troops.
Strength of Field Force and of its Main Subdivisions
STRENGTH OF SUBORDINATE COMMANDS
The following are, in round numbers, the strengths of the Expeditionary Force and of its component portions:
| All Ranks. | Horses. | Machine Guns. | Guns. | Vehicles. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavalry Brigade | 1,700 | 1,800 | 6 | — | 55 |
| Cavalry Division | 9,800 | 10,000 | 24 | 24 | 600 |
| Mounted Brigade | 2,300 | 2,350 | 6 | 6 | 135 |
| Infantry Brigade | 4,150 | 300 | 8 | — | 65 |
| Infantry Division | 19,700 | 7,300 | 24 | 76 | 1,200 |
| Six Divisions | 118,000 | 43,700 | 144 | 456 | 7,200 |
| Army Troops | 8,400 | 7,000 | 14 | 12 | 600 |
| Field Units | 136,500 | 62,000 | 182 | 492 | 8,000 |
| On the L. of C. | 17,000 | 7,000 | 4 | — | 1,200 |
| Total Field Force | 153,500 | 69,000 | 186 | 492 | 9,200 |
| First Reinforcements at Base | 13,500 | 1,000 | — | — | — |
| GRAND TOTAL | 167,000 | 70,000 | 186 | 492 | 9,200 |
Total by Arms
TOTAL STRENGTH OF EACH ARM AND SERVICE, IN ROUND NUMBERS
| Infantry | 84,000 | all ranks. |
| Cavalry | 9,000 | ” |
| Mounted Infantry | 4,000 | ” |
| Artillery | 32,000 | ” |
| Engineers | 7,500 | ” |
| Army Medical Corps | 9,500 | ” |
| Army Service Corps | 16,000 | ” |
| Other Services and H.Q. | 5,000 | ” |
| Total | 167,000 |
This total includes some 6,000 Officers.
Establishments of Units
INCLUDING THOSE ATTACHED—VIZ. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY OFFICERS, MEN OF
MEDICAL CORPS AND ARMY SERVICE CORPS FOR 2ND LINE TRANSPORT
| Officers. | Warrant Officers, Staff Sergeants, Sergeants. | Artificers. | Trumpeters, Buglers, or Drummers. | Rank and File. | Total all ranks. | Horses or Pack Mules. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavalry: Squadron | 6 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 138 | 164 | 175 |
| Machine-Gun Section | 1 | 1 | — | — | 23 | 25 | 33 |
| Regiment | 25 | 38 | 28 | 6 | 456 | 553 | 590 |
| Artillery: Horse Artillery Battery | 5 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 183 | 208 | 234 |
| Field Battery | 5 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 178 | 203 | 180 |
| Howitzer Battery | 5 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 166 | 191 | 158 |
| Heavy Battery | 5 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 148 | 171 | 118 |
| Heavy Battery with Ammunition Column | 6 | 9 | 12 | 2 | 201 | 230 | 177 |
| Field Artillery Brigade | 25 | 38 | 42 | 9 | 850 | 964 | 959 |
| Field Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column | 5 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 285 | 316 | 389 |
| Divisional Ammunition Column | 20 | 15 | 44 | 2 | 748 | 829 | 1,048 |
| Divisional Ammunition Column, one Section | 4 | 3 | 11 | — | 181 | 199 | 253 |
| Engineers: Field Troop | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 74 | 84 | 81 |
| Field Company | 6 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 198 | 215 | 73 |
| Bridging Train | 7 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 211 | 234 | 331 |
| Communication Units—see Administrative Services, in next Chapter. | |||||||
| Infantry: Company | 3 | 5 | — | 2 | 110 | 120 | 2 |
| Machine-Gun Section | — | 1 | — | — | 15 | 16 | 5 |
| Battalion | 29 | 51 | — | 16 | 928 | 1,024 | 71 |
| Mounted Infantry: Company and Battalion identical with Cavalry Squadron and Regiment. | |||||||
| Administrative Services: See details under head of each in following Chapters, IX and X. |
Strength of Units of Fighting Troops
The following figures are in round numbers, and show officers, men, and horses belonging to the unit. They do not include those attached—namely: Medical and Veterinary Officers, Armourer Sergeants, men of the Medical Corps, and the 2nd Line Transport provided by the Army Service Corps.
| Officers. | Men. | Horses. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavalry: | Squadron | 6 | 155 | 170 |
| Regiment | 23 | 510 | 560 | |
| Artillery: | H.A. Battery | 5 | 195 | 220 |
| Field Battery | 5 | 195 | 170 | |
| Howitzer Battery | 5 | 180 | 150 | |
| Heavy Battery | 5 | 160 | 110 | |
| H.A. Brigade | 17 | 650 | 770A | |
| Field Brigade | 23 | 910 | 900A | |
| Field Brigade Ammunition Column | 5 | 300 | 270 | |
| Divisional Ammunition Column | 18 | 780 | 990 | |
| Engineers: | Field Troop | 3 | 80 | 80 |
| Field Company | 6 | 150 | 70 | |
| Bridging Train | 5 | 230 | 330 | |
| Infantry: | Company | 3 | 120 | 2 |
| Battalion | 28 | 980 | 50 | |
| Mounted Infantry: |
Company | 6 | 155 | 170 |
| Battalion | 23 | 510 | 560 |
A With Ammunition Column.
Composition of Head-Quarters
The following tables give the number of officers in the several Head-Quarters comprised in the Force.
GENERAL HEAD-QUARTERS
Commander-in-Chief and Personal Staff 6 General Staff 11 A.G. and Q.M.G.’s Staffs 8 Heads of Administrative Services 15 Other officers 15 Other ranks nearly 200 ARMY HEAD-QUARTERS
Similarly composed, but with fewer officers.
HEAD-QUARTERS OF THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION
General and A.D.C. 2 General Staff 2 Other Staff 7 Other officers (Administrative Services) 26 Other ranks about 100 HEAD-QUARTERS OF THE BASE
Commandant and Staff 5 Other officers (Administrative Services) 18 Other ranks about 40 HEAD-QUARTERS OF A DIVISION (INFANTRY OR CAVALRY)
Major-General and A.D.C.’s 3 General Staff 3 A.G. and Q.M.G.’s Staffs 2 Other officers 7 Other ranks about 70 HEAD-QUARTERS OF A BRIGADE OF CAVALRY OR INFANTRY, OF MOUNTED BRIGADES, AND OF DIVISIONAL ARTILLERY
Brigadier-General and A.D.C. 2 Brigade Major 1 Staff Captain (none in Infantry Brigades) 1 Brigade Signalling Officer 1 (none in Divisional Artillery) Other ranks 30 to 40 ” ” in Divisional Artillery 20
The above does not include officers of the “Army Motor Reserve,” who are attached to all these Head-Quarters, except those of Cavalry and Infantry Brigades and Divisional Artillery.