Childers Reforms - Later Changes

Later Changes

Between 1897 and 1900 the regular army was increased in size in response to a number of conflicts, especially the Second Boer War. The Cameron Highlanders raised a second battalion, while third and fourth regular battalions were added to the Northumberland Fusiliers, Warwickshire Regiment, Royal Fusiliers, King's (Liverpool Regiment), Lancashire Fusiliers, Worcestershire Regiment, Middlesex Regiment and the Manchester Regiment. The recruiting areas of each of these regiments included parts of large conurbations.

The Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 reformed the reserve forces in 1908. A number of militia battalions were disbanded with the remainder being transferred to a new Special Reserve. At the same time the volunteer battalions became part of the new Territorial Force, and were redesignated as numbered battalions of the regiments.

The army was expanded for the duration of the First World War, with the territorial battalions being duplicated and numerous war-time service battalions being formed.

In 1921 - 1922 the system was somewhat recast: the special reserve battalions were placed in "suspended animation" and a number of Irish regiments were disbanded on the creation of the Irish Free State. All remaining regiments were reduced to two regular battalions.

During the Second World War regiments were again expanded, although not to the same extent as in the previous conflict.

Following the independence of India in 1947 regiments lost their second battalion, although some were temporarily reformed during the Korean War.

The system introduced in 1881 finally came to an end with the reforms introduced by the Defence White Paper of 1957. A number of pairs of regiments were amalgamated, while regimental depots were closed with recruiting and training being organised in multi-regiment brigades.