number of soldiers.

[j.r.f]

PALS

I have seen this on the forum somewhere but cannot find.So perhaps someone could help me.I want to know the number of troops in each unit.That is squad,platoon,regiment ,brigade, etc.I need to be able to visualise how an army was made up.

THANKS IN ANTICIPATION.

JOHN

[Bob Coulson]

John,

Very roughly,

Army=4 corps 250000 men

Corps=3 or 4 divisions 65000 men

Division=3 or 4 brigades 16000 men

Brigade= usually 4 battalions 4000 men

Battalion= 4 companies 650 men plus 350 in support

Company= usually 4 platoons160 men

Platoon= usually 4 sections 40 men

Section= 8/10 men.

As I say these are rounded up figures.

Bob.

[j.r.f]

BOB

Thanks.I know it sounds stupid but I have been worying about this for some time.

CHEERS.

JOHN

[mcderms]

Pre war and full strength sizes for the smaller units would be:

Platoon - up to 60 but more like 50 with one officer and up to six NCOs

Squad/Unit - 10-14 with either a sgt or cpl in charge, assisted by a lance cpl.

battn - 1100 if at full strength

Don't forget to knock a few off for staff, vickers gun detachments and (later in the war) Lewis gun units. Also remeber that a battn post 1915 would leave approx 10% of its strength at the transport lines/in camp when going into action.

[Muerrisch]

The accurate figures are readily available from all sorts of sources, together with detail of specialist teams. However, a few points: 'squad' is a modernism, the British army thought in terms of:

soldier

file [2 men]

detail ...... any number, sent to do a job

section [not often defined, but in effect a sub-section of the

platoon which, as often as not, did not have an officer. Sixteen platoons to the battalion, organised into four companies.

Another point: I doubt if any battalion ever had a parade state of 1100 men, and in any case 100 were "first reinforcement" and did not usually travel with the battalion although on its nominal roll. A realistic trench strength, other than immediately before a big push [more], or after large casualties [fewer], would be 500, of whom less than half would be in the front line. Where were the rest?: in reserve, at rest, transport, battalion HQ staff, leave, sick, wounded, detatched to course, detached to brigade, providing working parties ........

All this is to help envisage a battalion in the line: about one fifth of the 1100 figure quoted.