In the United Kingdom the Territorial Army is a part of the British Army composed of reserve units, or part-time soldiers. Akin to the Army National Guard or Army Reserves in the United States.
World War I and earlier
The Territorial Army was originally formed in 1908 (as the 'Territorial Force') and contained 14 infantry divisions. The use of the word territorial signified that the volunteers who served with the force were under no obligation to serve overseas, although at the outbreak of World War I most chose to do so.
The original divisions of the Territorial Army were:
- East Anglian Division
- East Lancashire Division
- Highland Division
- Home Counties Division (disbanded)
- Lowland Division
- 1st London Division
- 2nd London Division
- North Midland Division
- Northumbrian Division
- South Midland Division
- West Lancashire Division
- West Riding Division
- Welsh Division
- Wessex Division
The divisions were assigned numbers in April 1915 so that, for example, the 'East Anglian Division' became the 54th Division.
A second line of division was raised in August 1914. These division names were prefixed with '2' to distinguish from the original divisions. For instance, the second line 'Northumbrian Division' was original called the '2nd Northumbrian Division' (later the 63rd Division).