Can anyone help?

[Jockbhoy67]

Sorry if this is posted in the wrong section, but could any member explain for me what it means when i come across something referring to battalion numbers. For example when researching anything i come across battalion numbers like 1/4, 1/5, or 1/6 battalion, can anyone tell me what the numbers signify? sorry if that sounds like a stupid question, but i am fairly new to all this.

thanks.

[Guest]

Any battalion written 1/4th, 1/5th etc etc (said " first fourth, first fifth "was a battalion of the Territorial Force. For example the 1/6th Black Watch was a first line, Territorial battalion of the Black Watch Regiment, as opposed to the 2/6th which was a second line training battalion that never served overseas.

I'm sure someone will explain it far better than I can. Try the LLT It's all in there.

Cheers Mike

[Jockbhoy67]

Cheers, thanks for the quick reply, makes slightly more sense to me now, info much appreciated

Jock

[Ron Clifton]

Hello Jock, and welcome to the Forum!

There are some cases of these "fractional" numbers where two battalions have amalgamated, e.g. 8th/10th, but generally speaking, they are TF battalions as Skipman says. 1/ battalionbs were the original pre-war TF, who volunteered to fight overseas; 2/ those members who did not volunteer to serve overseas (though after conscription was brought in, many 2/s served abroad), and 3/ battalions, which served as training and reinforcement depots for their 1/s and 2/s, and were later redesignated Reserve battalions.

It confuses everyone to start with, so it's definitely not a stupid question.

Ron

[Guest]

" It confuses everyone to start with, so it's definitely not a stupid question. "

Including me. I have also just learnt (another thing from Ron) that 2/6th etc were the men who did not volunteer for overseas service.

Mike