111 rwf

**Baconwallah** · 28-10-2013, 13:44

A few words about the Army Reserve as it was in 1914.

A man could enlist for "7 and 5", seven years with the Colours and five years with the Reserve (the latter could be extended another four years, the so called "Section D' reserve). Men who were interested in a bit of army life - and more importantly the additional source of income which I believe was 6d daily - but did not want to become full time soldiers could join the 'Special Reserve', which meant four to six months initial training and then a week or so of training annually until the end of their contract. The function of the Special Reserve was to provide more trained men in an emergency in which the Regular Reserve might well prove insufficient. The Special Reserve was organised as an infantry battalion, numbered immediately following the Regular battalions. Hence the Regular battalions of the RWF were the 1st and 2nd Bns, the Special Reserve was the 3rd Bn.

In 1914 all Regular battalions needed reservists and special reservists to make up their numbers, sometimes only a few, sometimes more than 60% of the original strength.

A man posted to one of the Regular battalions from the 3rd (SR) Bn would thus be a 3rd Bn man but serving with the 1st or 2nd Bn. Administratively he would be taken over by the 1st (or 2nd) Bn, but he would still be 3rd (SR) Bn. The CWGC would not have made the distinction - Clarke was with the 1st Bn when he died, and that is what the CWGC records.

Hywyn, I seem to be unable to find Clarke's service record which you say is still extant. Could you PM me a link, please? I can then summarise his career as I did for Regan. Also a useful addition to my book.

John

**Taff Wrexham** · 28-10-2013, 14:28

OK. I'm happy with that. It all makes sense; fog of war and all that. I'll wait to see if Baconwallah can post a summary of William Clarke's service career and then close off the thread. In the meantime I'll open a new one.