On the outbreak of war the British Army consisted of six Regular divisions of infantry, of three brigades of four battalions each, and one cavalry division of three brigades of three regiments each, with an independent cavalry brigade. This excluded the Indian and Colonial troops. A second line of fourteen Territorial divisions and fourteen Territorial cavalry brigades existed. The Regular troops constituted the Expeditionary Force and were ready for immediate action in most respects. The second line were luckily either in camp or preparing for their training, but were far from ready for action and were only attested for home service. The Special Reserve, which had succeeded the historic Militia in 1908, existed only as draft-producing units on the ratio of one S.R. battalion to two Regular battalions.

The Expeditionary Force was highly trained and well organized. It was commanded by General Sir John French, who had commanded cavalry with some distinction in the South African War. The most obvious defects of this force were its lack of automatic weapons (each battalion having only two Maxim guns) and a deficiency in medium and heavy artillery, and in artillery ammunition.

Shortly before the war infantry battalions had been reorganized in four companies (instead of eight) with a headquarter company.

The Regiment In The War

At the outbreak of war the Regiment consisted of four Regular battalions and two battalions of Special Reserve. The 1st and 2nd Battalions, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel E. Northey and Lieutenant-Colonel E. Pearce-Serocold respectively, were in the Expeditionary Force at Aldershot. The 3rd and 4th Battalions, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel C. Gosling and Lieutenant-Colonel The Hon. C. J. Saekville-West respectively, were in India. The 5th and 6th Battalions were immediately raised to a strength of 2,500 each, but were soon unable to cope with the heavy casualties. The drafts sent overseas by these battalions during the war amounted to 1,575 officers and 35,626 other ranks.

In the New Army the Regiment had the 7th, 8th and 9th Battalions (raised in August, 1914); the 10th, 11th and 12th Battalions (raised in September, 1914); and the 13th and 16th Battalions (raised at the end of 1914) (see p. 50). The 17th, 18th, 20th (Pioneer), 21st and 25th (Pioneer) Battalions were raised and sent abroad later (see p. 53), and nine draft-producing battalions were kept at home.