THE TERRITORIAL BATTALIONS - A Pictorial History 1859-1985 by Westlake, Ray

Tunbridge Wells, 1988, Spellmount, UK first edition, hard back in dust jacket, 8 1/2 x 11, VG / VG condition, 256 pages, prof illustrated in B&W and color illus, and line drawings--------------------------------------------The Territorial Army, Britain's first line of reserve, has its origins in a force that was sanctioned by the War Office in 1859. Known as the 'Volunteer Force', it was organised on a county basis and devised for use as a national defence army in the event of invasion.A volunteer's commitment did not require him to serve outside of the UK. However, one unit that was organised by the General Post Office served with the regular army as a field post office in Egypt in 1882. Later, in 1900, the Volunteer Force was used to a larger extent on active service in South Africa.----------------------------------------------------------------------By 1914 the volunteers had been organised into a new force which included provisions for its members to be used, on a voluntary basis, overseas. This was the Territorial Force, later Territorial Army, and its services throughout both world wars are now on record as being of the utmost importance to the outcome of both conflicts.At the beginning of the volunteer system in 1859, provisions were made for units to be trained as cavalry, artillery, engineers and infantry. The latter section were styled `Rifle Volunteers', and were organised in units ranging in size from as little as a half-company, to as large as a battalion of over 900 men. By 1880 the smaller corps had been merged into battalions and the following year a system was introduced whereby all units were linked to the regular regiments of infantry and styled `Volunteer Battalions'.---------------------------------------------------------------------------In 1908 the non-regular element of infantry regiments became known as `Territorial Battalions'. They were formed from the old volunteers and were administered by a County Territorial Force Association.It is with the infantry element of the Volunteer and Territorial Forces that this book is concerned. Under the heading of its parent regiment, each battalion formed under the Territorial system is recorded, together with its lineage and details of war service.As a pictorial history of the Territorial infantryman, the book is superbly illustrated with, in the most part, hitherto unpublished material. The numerous uniforms worn in the early days are shown in great detail, also much of the equipment used throughout a period covering 126 years of service.