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.|Vehicles.
| | | Guns. | |
--------------------+----------+-------+-------+-----+---------
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

KEY: A: Officers.
B: Warrant Officers, Staff Sergeants, Sergeants.
C: Artificers.
D: Trumpeters, Buglers, or Drummers.
E: Rank and File.
F: Total all ranks.
G: Horses or Pack Mules.

-------------------------------------------+--+--+--+--+---+-----+-----
| A| B| C| D| E | F | G
-------------------------------------------+--+--+--+--+---+-----+-----
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 | 770[A] |
Field Brigade | 23 | 910 | 900[A] |
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.