British Infantry Battalion, 1914–1918
The British infantry battalion consisted of a battalion headquarters, four infantry companies, a machine gun section, and a base depot detachment, which remained in garrison when the battalion deployed for active duty. The infantry companies were designated A through D in Regular Battalions, or 1 through 4 in Guards Battalions. The nominal battalion strength was over 1000 men, but actual field strength might drop as low as 200 men.
1914 Infantry Battalion
- Battalion Headquarters
- Lieutenant-Colonel (Battalion Commander)
- Major (Second-in-Command)
- Captain or Lieutenant (Adjutant)
- Captain or Lieutenant (Quartermaster)
- Royal Army Medical Corps
- Officer
- Corporal
- 4 RAMC Privates
- Regimental Sergeant-Major (RSM)
- Quartermaster Sergeant
- Drummer (Sergeant)
- Cook (Sergeant)
- Pioneers
- Sergeant
- 10 Privates
- Shoemaker (Sergeant)
- Transport (horse-drawn)
- Sergeant
- 11 Privates
- 13 riding horse
- 43 draught and pack horses.
- 6 ammunition carts
- 2 water carts
- 3 General Service Wagons (tools and machine guns)
- Medical Officer’s Maltese Cart
- Signallers
- Sergeant
- Corporal
- 15 Privates
- 9 bicycles
- Armourer (Sergeant)
- Orderly Room Clerk (Sergeant)
- 6 Officer’s Batmen
- 2 Medical Orderlies
- 16 Stretcher-bearers
- A Company
- Company Headquarters
- Major or Captain (Company Commander)
- Captain (Second-in-Command)
- Company Sergeant-Major (CSM)
- Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS)
- 2 Officer’s Batmen
- 3 Drivers
- 1st Platoon
- Lieutenant or Second Lieutenant
- Batman
- Drummer
- 1st Section, NCO and 12 men
- 2nd Section, NCO and 12 men
- 3rd Section, NCO and 12 men
- 4th Section, NCO and 12 men
- 2nd Platoon, same as above
- 3rd Platoon, same as above
- 4th Platoon, same as above
- Company Headquarters
- B Company, same as above
- C Company, same as above
- D Company, same as above
- Machine Gun Section
- Lieutenant
- Sergeant
- Corporal
- Batman
- 2 Drivers
- 12 Privates
- 2 Vickers Machine Guns
- Base Depot Detachment
- Subaltern
- 2 Sergeants
- 91 Privates
- 4 Storemen
- Band Sergeant
- Sergeant Master Tailor
- Bandmaster
- Sergeant-Instructor of Musketry
In 1914, the infantry battalion had only two six-man machine gun teams operating two Vickers Heavy Machine Guns to support the riflemen. This number was doubled in Februar 1915.