Formal names of British infantry units

[NigelE73]

I find it hard to understand the structure and naming conventions of British units in the First World War.

For example: when referring to the 2/1st Bucks, is it correct to call it the:

 

2/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion?

2/1st Battalion of the Buckinghamshire Regiment?

2/1st Battalion, Buckinghamshire Regiment?

Something else?

It's frustrating when books and other sources have different, contradictory and often incomplete ways of referring to battalion level units.

Is there a site that tells me the correct way of referring to a unit?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[jonbem]

Hi and welcome

Take a look at the linked site Welcome - The Long, Long Trail (longlongtrail.co.uk)

tab at top of page

and then under Army

The British Army in the Great War (longlongtrail.co.uk)

[FROGSMILE]

5 hours ago, NigelE73 said:

I find it hard to understand the structure and naming conventions of British units in the First World War.

For example: when referring to the 2/1st Bucks, is it correct to call it the:

 

2/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion?

2/1st Battalion of the Buckinghamshire Regiment?

2/1st Battalion, Buckinghamshire Regiment?

Something else?

It's frustrating when books and other sources have different, contradictory and often incomplete ways of referring to battalion level units.

Is there a site that tells me the correct way of referring to a unit?

Many thanks in advance!

 

jonbem has given you a useful source.  In terms of book based reference material I would recommend the Army List that was published by the war office each year.  In my considered opinion the best, general online source for British Army material, including all kinds of protocols and regulations, is the FIBIWiki page British Army: https://wiki.fibis.org/w/British_Army

You should note that unit titles evolved and so-called Territorial titles introduced in July 1881 had in many cases changed by 1914 and changed again by 1939 and in 1947.

To save you time the FIBIWiki page on Military Periodicals (including some specimen Army Lists) can be found here: https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Military_periodicals_online#Aldershot_Military_Gazette

NB.  There are several week’s worth of meaningful reading via a treasure trove of historical material just via these two links.

Edited 22 December , 2021 by FROGSMILE

[PhilB]

In your specific example, Nigel, only the first would be applicable. The full title would be the Second First Buckinghamshire battalion (Territorial Force), the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Regiment. They were one battalion (of 17) of the O&B Regt, commonly referred to as the Second First Ox & Bucks or simply the Second Buckinghamshire battalion.