Drafts/Reinforcements when regular units first went into action

[oak]

Pals,

Casualties sustained by British regular battalions that went into action in 1914 and early 1915 were replaced by drafts/reinforcements. I would be grateful if anyone could tell me if the drafts/reinforcements were regular troops or men who volunteered for regular battalions on the outbreak of war.

I am researching the 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers who first went into action at 'V' Beach, Sedd-el-Bahr, Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. They sustained huge casualties. With one exception, all the officers were killed or wounded. The battalion was amalgamated with 1st Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers, who also sustained high casualties during the landing and aftermath. The composite battalion was known as the "Dubsters." On 19 May 1915 the Dublins received a draft of reinforcements of 10 officers and 46 men and 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers was reactivated. I would like to establish if the draft was comprised of volunteers who joined up on the outbreak of war or if they might have come from the 2nd Battalion, which had been in action on the Western Front since late 1914, or from the the 3rd, 4th or 5th Reserve Battalions who were at home. If they came from the Reserve Battalions would they have been part-time soldiers or men who had previously served and been placed on the reserve? My interest was sparked by the fact that one of the reinforcing draft, who was killed in early June 1915, was 19 years old. (At this time the Dublins service battalions were still being raised/in training.)

I would be very grateful for any comments/advice.

Regards,

Philip

[Muerrisch]

A regular battalion brought to War Establishment had nearly 100 officers and men within the 1107 total as the 1st reinforcement, usually left at the Home base but soon moved to one of the Base Depots: Rouen etc.

The 3rd battalion and several TF battalions numbered 4 et seq] was responsible for mustering the Regular reservists [ie those who had, in most cases, done 7 years with the colours] and its own men, who had all completed 6 months continuous military training. These were the initial reinforcement pool, comprising about 1500 regular reservists and 500 specials [figures vary with regiments]. Of these, some were under age [19], some unfit, some not fully trained, and these were held back. The 3rd battalion also was the locus for the wounded and unfit sent back from the front line, who were recycled as and when.

3rd battalions and the TF grew rapidly, independently of the 'New Armies', but the 2000 regulars and their 2000 reservists of all sorts bore the brunt of the fighting until the New Armies began to arrive in significant numbers.

[jay dubaya]

A quick search on SDGW for the 1st DF shows 572 (at Galipoli) of these, 12 men were formerly with other units, one that stands out is RGA. Not sure if it helps, but there yer go,

cheers, Jon

[oak]

Many thanks Grumpy and Jon,

Your replies arrived quicker than the first draft of reinforcements!

Regards,

Philip

[jim_davies]

Looking at the reinforcements for the Lincs, shows that typically the pool of regular and reservists went out in 1914 to mainly reinforce the 1st Lincs, with the first big batches of volunteers going to form the service battalions, with the first volunteers with no previous military service heading across in Jan and Feb 1915.

This is from an analysis of the 1914 and 1914-15 Star Rolls, regimental number analysis etc and is "generalized"-with some regulars and reservists being incorporated into the newly forming battalions, other not going out until late 1915 or 1916 etc

I can offer a better picture for the 4th Lincs, a TF battalion which went overseas in late Feb 1915. obviously some issues as the men could elect not to serve overseas at this time. The battalion had a strength of 885 at the outbreak of the war, whichl rose to 1007 once the National Reserve Class II men joined a few days later. By Aug 11, the battalion was at 1100 men all ranks, rising to 1444 on Sep 1, before dropping to 1122 after the formation of the second line later in the month.

The battalion appears to have gone to France with approximately 1020 men between 26 Feb-1 Mar of which approximately 60% were pre-war men.

The battalion received 7 drafts of reinforcements during 1915.

Of the first two drafts arriving in Jun and Sep, 25% were pre-war men

Of the later drafts, only approximately 5% were pre-war men.

These figures are based off the 1914-15 Star Roll and include 80% of the men in the drafts involved, some this is some margin for error.

Jim

[oak]

That's very interesting Jim,

You've certainly done your homework!

Regards,

Philip