| 1st Line Territorial Army |
Army |
Formed in 1908 as the Territorial Force from Volunteer Battalions. Territorial Army (TA) formations were affiliated with Regular Regiments. Indicates TA formations that existed before 1939. |
| 2nd Line Territorial Army |
Army |
These Battalions were formed in August 1914 as duplicates of existing Territorial Force Battalions and were indicated with the designation "2/", ie 2/7th, 2/8th etc. Many served overseas. In 1939, when the Territorial Army was doubled in size, the duplicate Battalions were designated 2nd Line Territorial Army Battalions; the numbering scheme varied from Regiment to Regiment however. |
| 3rd Line Territorial Army |
Army |
Raised in 1915 to supply reinforcements for the 1st and 2nd Line Territorial Battalions in most Regiments designated as "3/", i.e. 3/4th, 3/5th etc. In 1916, these Battalions dropped the prefix and were numbered as 4 Reserve Battalion, 5 Reserve Battalion etc. In September 1916, these Battalions were amalgamated into one or two Reserve Battalions in each Regiment. |
| 2nd Reserve |
Army |
Formed in April 1915 from the 75 Service Battalions of the "Fourth New Army" that were formed in October 1914. In September 1916, they became part of the Training Reserve. |
| 1st Line Yeomanry |
Army |
Part-time Cavalry formations - part of the Territorial Force after 1908. In origin, however, they generally predate the Volunteer Force units of 1859 and date back to the 18th century. |
| 2nd Line Yeomanry |
Army |
Yeomanry Formations that were created in 1914 and 1939 when some of the original Yeomanry Regiments were duplicated |
| 3rd Line Yeomanry |
Army |
Created in 1915 to supply reinforcements to 1st and 2nd Line Yeomanry Regiments. |
| Active Citizen Force |
Army |
Militia Force in South Africa |
| Australian Imperial Force |
Army |
Formed in 1939 as the 2nd AIF as a volunteer force for service overseas. All units of Battalion size are identified by the prefix "2/" to distinguish them from the 1st AIF of 1914-18. |
| Auxiliary Force (India) |
Army |
Territorial part-time volunteer units formed from British and European residents in India. |
| Burma Auxiliary Force |
Army |
Formed in 1937 from Indian Territorial and Auxiliary units when Burma was separated from India. Mainly consisted of British, Anglo-Indians and Anglo-Burmans |
| Burma Military Police |
Army |
Burma Military Police |
| Burma Territorial Force |
Army |
Formed in 1937 from Indian Territorial and Auxiliary units when Burma was separated from India. Mainly consisted of Burmese and Karens |
| Canadian Army Occupation Force |
Army |
Formed in 1945 to act as a garrison force in Germany |
| Canadian Active Service Force |
Army |
Formed in 1939 for Service overseas. In November 1940, it was redesignated The Canadian Army (Active). |
| Canadian Army (Active) |
Army |
Formed in 1940 from the Canadian Active Service Force. All mobilised units were designated as "Active" units of the Canadian Army. |
| Canadian Army (Reserve) |
Army |
Formed in 1940 from the Non-Permanent Active Militia. All non-mobilised units became "Reserve" units of the Canadian Army |
| Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Army |
Canadian units raised for overseas service in the First World War |
| Graduated |
Army |
Created in 1917 to provide specialised training to soldiers drafted from Young Soldier Battalions |
| Home Defence |
Army |
British formations raised for service in the United Kingdom only in the Second World War. A few did serve overseas. Do not confuse these Battalions with the Home Guard as the Home Guard units had their own numbering sequence within Regiments. |
| Home Service |
Army |
Regimental Battalions converted in 1917 from Provisional Territorial Force Battalions formed in 1915 |
| Fiji Defence Force |
Army |
Renamed Fijian Military Forces in November 1942 |
| Honourable East India Company Service |
Army |
In 1859, all units in the East India Company Service passed under crown control |
| Indian Military Police |
Army |
Para-military police units organised along military lines |
| Indian State Forces |
Army |
Forces raised by the independent Indian Princely States which were lent to the British during times of war |
| Indian Territorial Force |
Army |
The Indian Equivalent to the Territorial Army |
| Local Reserve |
Army |
Formed in 1915 from the depot companies of the Service Battalions. In 1916, all Battalions were renumbered as Training Reserve Battalions |
| Militia |
Army |
Part-time Units in the Commonwealth outside the United Kingdom which were equivalent to the Territorial Army |
| Militia (Inactive) |
Army |
The British Militia were the historic home defence forces in the United Kingdom. They were redesignated Special Reserve in 1908. |
| National Military Reserve |
Army |
Home Defence Force in New Zealand which was incorporated into the New Zealand Territorial Force in February 1942 |