Training Reserve remodelled in 1917

The structure of the Training Reserve that had existed since September 1916 was changed by Army Council Instruction 986 of 1917.

New recruits coming into this structure were conscripted under the terms of the Military Service Act 1916.

It would now be comprised of four different types of unit. The recruit would be progressed through a variety of these units depending on his exact circumstances

1. Young Soldier Battalions
   1. For soldiers aged between 18 years and one month and 18 years and 5 months;
   2. Who were in medical categories A4, B1 and C1.
2. Graduated Battalions
   1. For soldiers aged between and 18 years and 5 months and 19 years;
   2. Who were in medical categories A4, B1 and C1.
3. Junior Training Reserve Battalions
   1. For soldiers aged under 18 years and 8 months;
   2. Who were in medical categories A4, B1 and C1 for Young Soldier Battalions and B2, B3, C2 and C3 for others.
4. Senior Training Reserve Battalions
   1. For soldiers aged over 18 years and 8 months;
   2. Who were in medical categories B1, B2, B3, C1, C2 and C3.

New Training Reserve Battalions

TR Battalions (numbers)	Command to which affilated	Command responsible for posting recruits	Command responsible for administration
1 to 15	Northern	Northern	Northern
16 to 20	Southern	London	Eastern
21 to 32	Eastern	Eastern	Eastern
33 to 37	Southern	Southern	Southern
39 to 42	Scottish	Scottish	Scottish
43 to 47	Eastern	London	Southern
48 to 51	Western	Western	Western
52 to 56	Scottish	Scottish	Scottish
57 to 66	Western	Western	Western
67 to 71	Western	Western	Northern
72 to 76	Western	Western	Western
77 to 79	Scottish	Scottish	Scottish
80 to 91	Northern	Northern	Northern
92 to 96	Southern	Southern	Southern
97	Eastern	London	Aldershot
98 to 107	Eastern	Eastern	Scottish
109 to 112	Southern	London	London

Recruit Distribution Battalions

An additional change was introduced by Army Council Instruction 1702 of 20 November 1917. Each geographic Army Command would form a Recruit Distribution Battalion. An example was the 79th RDB, which was raised by Scottish Command from the existing 79th Training Reserve Battalion at Montrose. The new units would receive recruits who were medically rated Bii or Biii, directly from the reception depots to which they were first ordered to report. Any that developed and were A or Bi after three months were then posted on as appropriate.

Links

Training Reserve as formed in 1916

The composition of the Young Soldier Battalion of the Training Reserve

The composition of the Graduated Battalion of the Training Reserve

The composition of the Junior or Senior Battalion of the Training Reserve

Syllabus of infantry training for Junior Training Reserve, Young Soldier and Graduated Battalions