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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Royal Defence Corps


chrisharley9

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What exactly was the Royal Defence Corps

All The Best

Chris

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Before the Great War there had been some agitation to form a reserve to the Territorials.

The National Reserve (sometimes known as the Veterans Reserve) was set up on a county basis as a partial answer to this. Basically a list of ex-servicemen.

When war broke out these men were organised into Supernumerary Companies of Territorial Battalions. Basically these older men guarded vulnerable points. Unlike the Volunteer Force (which was part time) they were full timers.

The RDC was organised to control these units which had been grouped into battalions. It continued to exist after the war. Around the time of the Munich crisis its units were renamed "National Defence Companies" organised in "Groups" and tasked mainly with the defence of airfields.

During WW2 these groups were returned to the line Regiments, usually becoming the 30th Battalion. After WW2 they were disbanded, but , in essence, resurrected in the eighties as the Home Service Force, again as additional companies for TA units.

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many thanks

all the best

Chris

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