Westminster National Reserve

[2747andy]

All the National Reserve badges I've previously encountered have been the brooched enamel types for wear in civilian clothing!

Can anyone enlighten me on this one please?

I thought they were "Un-uniformed"?

But the badge and this extract seems to indicate they were formed and uniformed bodies?

National Reserve

The National Reserve was a register maintained by Territorial Force County Associations. Registration was voluntary but complex rules of eligibility applied. Its strength as at 1 October 1913 was 215,000 of all ranks. Detail of the National Reserve

In October 1914 the National Reserve was formed into Protection Companies, which were attached to existing TF battalions, for the guarding of railways and other vulnerable points in Britain. That November, all Class I and II men were ordered to present themselves for enlistment. In March 1915 the Protection Companies were redesignated as Supernumerary Companies TF. In July 1915 there was a widescale trawl of these companies to identify men capable of marching 10 miles with a rifle and 150 rounds of ammunition. Those who were classified as medical Category A went to Service battalions, while Category C's were posted to Provisional battalions. Cat B men were formed into the 18th-24th Battalions of the Rifle Brigade. These battalions were sent to Egypt and India at the end of 1915 to replace TF units committed to Gallipoli and Mesopotamia. The rump left in Britain eventually formed the 25th Battalion Rifle Brigade TF and served as a Garrison battalion at Falmouth. As for the Supernumerary Companies, they were eventually formed into the Royal Defence Corps.


Andy

[badger123]

I THINK I'm right in saying that these types of units were un uniformed at the start (hence the need for so called mufti badges to be worn on lapels of civilian jackets).

Early in the war the War Office didn't recognise them and wouldn't authorise uniforms or insignia so they supplied their own uniforms (blue rather than khaki at first).

Later in the war when the War Office realised their value and recognised them, uniforms and badges were authorised.

Happy to be corrected though!

Ivan

[grenadierguardsman]

Nice badge Andy.
Andy

[2747andy]

Thanks Andy,
It's pretty obvious which unit it is, but trying to find out when and where they formed and what they become is a mystery?

Andy 💂🏻

[badger123]

Andy, I think what I posted earlier wasn't quite right.

Are you a member of the Great War Forum? There's a few posts on there about National Reserves.

I've extracted this quote from Graham Stewart who is also on the GWF and who seems to be knowledgeable about the subject. (hope its OK to do that as a link doesn't work)

"The "National Reserve" was formed in 1910 from the old "Veteran Reserve" and administered by local Territorial Reserve Associations. Detachments would be formed throughtout the County and all members would be registered by the Detachment Commander. A second register was held at T.F.A. H.Q..

Members wore the lapel badge because they were a non-uniform organisation. Having said that at least two units, the Liverpool and Westminster National Reserve did I believe wear uniform.

By 1914 most National Reservists were guarding vunerable points, and eventually they became Supernumary Companies of local Territorial Force Battalions."

Also this (strangely enough again from Graham Stewart)

http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.c...ions-1913.html


Ivan

[TWGB]

Andy,

There were at least two other London battalions that had headdress badges as well as the typical mufti button-hole fixings: Images (not very good; apologies!) attached for Lewisham and Islington. There is a J.R.Gaunt London plate obscured by the verdigris on the Lewisham; nothing on the Islington.

I'm pretty sure I've seen some collars for the Westminster NR, too, but can't track down a picture or a reference.

The other oddity is Cornwall, which exists as a huge broach, if memory serves.

Best regards, Tim

[2747andy]

Thanks Tim,
Great Badges!

I'd get some vinegar on that verdigris "Badge Cancer", it will only spread!

Andy

[Peter Brydon]

Often when looking through old "Crown Imperial " magazines whilst searching for other specific information, you come across items that are relevant to other threads.

In an article in No.95, Summer 1999 in the article on The Veteran and National Reserve, there were illustrated the cap, collar and shoulder titles of the Westminster NR.

P.B.