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quintinshill rail disaster
15
C . R . TRA I N REG I STER
THE AFTERMATH , GALL I POL I
AND THROUGH TO 1918
The Territorial Force
(TF)
was formed from the former
Yeomanry and Volunteer Forces in 1908. Their role was to provide
Home Defence, replacing the Regulars deploying with a British
Expeditionary Force
(BEF)
overseas. Individuals,
provided they
met the standards for regular enlistment,
and units, if sufficient
individuals came forward, could, however, volunteer for overseas
service on mobilisation – again conceived as replacing Regular
Garrisons overseas rather than joining any BEF. Most TF
Battalions were at 50 –60% of their War establishment at the
outbreak of the War. All seven TF Battalions of The Royal Scots
(RS)
mobilised on
4 August 1914
. All immediately volunteered for
overseas service and six of them began raising second Battalions,
based on those either ineligible or not volunteering (
very few
) for
overseas service, but reinforced by the many untrained volunteers
who swarmed to their local TF Drill Halls. Later, third Battalions
were raised. The role of these additional TF Battalions was to
replace their, now, 1st Battalions in their home defence role and to
provide reinforcements to the latter if, and when, they deployed
overseas.