What is a "Special Reservist"?

[dunmore44]

Is there a difference between a Reservist and a Special Reservist?

I have been reading throught the 4th Btn, Royal Fusiliers war diary and there is an entry for the 21st Nov 1914 stating. We received a draft of 300 Special Reservists.

What is a Special Reservist?.

I know that a Reservist had previously served with the colours and after discharge had to complete a specific time as a Reserve where they could be recalled to the colours if required,

[joseph]

Dunmore,

Have a look at the mother site the Long Long Trail it has the answer.

http://www.1914-1918.net/reserve.htm

Regards Charles

[dunmore44]

Dunmore,

Have a look at the mother site the Long Long Trail it has the answer.

http://www.1914-1918.net/reserve.htm

Regards Charles

many thanks for the link

answers all my questions

cheers

[Muerrisch]

The Special Reserve was created in 1908, and was an attempt to improve the availability of trained soldiers in the event of war. It filled the place of the Militia but it would not be true to say that the Militia 'became' the Special Reserve.

Broadly speaking, each regiment raised a SR battalion, numbered 3 in the regiment, eg 3rd RWF. Large regiments raised an Extra battalion, the 4th.

Special Reservists were given 6 months [sometimes 5] full time training in their first year, and thereafter had to attend some training.

Without the SR, the BEF would have been woefully short of trained soldiers in 1914/15.

SR battalions were never intended to be fighting units: their men were to provide drafts for the line battalions.