Force Reference

Forces are used to categorise the origin of Units in the Order of Battle database, especially for British and Commonwealth units.

ForceDescription
1st Line Territorial ArmyFormed in 1908 as the Territorial Force from Volunteer Battalions. Territorial Army (TA) formations were affiliated with Regular Regiments. Indicates TA formations that existed before 1939.
2nd Line Territorial ArmyTerritorial Army (TA) formations that were created in 1939 when the Territorial Army was doubled in size. Also existed in the First World War.
3rd Line Territorial ArmyRaised in the First World War only.
1st Line YeomanryPart-time Cavalry formations - equivalent to the Territorial Army
2nd Line YeomanryYeomanry Formations that were created in 1939 when some of the original Yeomanry Regiments were duplicated
3rd Line YeomanryCreated in the First World War
Active Citizen ForceMilitia Force in South Africa
Australian Imperial ForceFormed in 1939 as the 2nd AIF as a volunteer force for service overseas. All units of Battalion size are identified by the prefix "2/" to distinguish them from the 1st AIF of 1914-18.
Auxiliary Force (India)Territorial part-time volunteer units formed from British and European residents in India.
Burma Auxiliary ForceFormed in 1937 from Indian Territorial and Auxiliary units when Burma was separated from India. Mainly consisted of British, Anglo-Indians and Anglo-Burmans
Burma Military PoliceBurma Military Police
Burma Territorial ForceFormed in 1937 from Indian Territorial and Auxiliary units when Burma was separated from India. Mainly consisted of Burmese and Karens
Canadian Active Service ForceFormed in 1939 for Service overseas. In November 1940, it was redesignated The Canadian Army (Active).
Canadian Army (Active)Formed in 1940 from the Canadian Active Service Force. All mobilised units were designated as "Active" units of the Canadian Army.
Canadian Army (Reserve)Formed in 1940 from the Non-Permanent Active Militia. All non-mobilised units became "Reserve" units of the Canadian Army
Home DefenceBritish formations raised for service in the United Kingdom only. A few did serve overseas.
Indian Military PolicePara-military police units organised along military lines
Indian State ForcesForces raised by the independent Indian Princely States which were lent to the British during times of war
Indian Territorial ForceThe Indian Equivalent to the Territorial Army
MilitiaPart-time Units in the Commonwealth outside the United Kingdom which were equivalent to the Territorial Army
Militia (Inactive)The British Militia were the historic home defence forces in the United Kingdom. Thet did not become part of the Territorial Force in 1908 and were basically moribund in 1939 and were not raised at all in the Second World War. Included for completeness.
National Military ReserveHome Defence Force in New Zealand which was incorporated into the New Zealand Territorial Force in February 1942
New ArmyRaised in the First World War only.
New Zealand Expeditionary ForceFormed in 1939 as the 2nd NZEF, a volunteer force for service outside New Zealand. The original NZEF served in the First World War.
New Zealand Territorial ForceFormed in 1911 for Home Defence in New Zealand
Non-Permanent Active MilitiaThe Canadian equivalent of the Territorial Army. All units were part of the Active Militia and those units that were not permanently embodied were part of the Non-Permanent Active Militia. In 1940, became part of the Canadian Army.
Permanent Active MilitiaThe Regular units of the Active Militia in Canada. The term ceased to be used after the creation of the Canadian Army in 1940
RegularBritish and Commonwealth formations which were part of the Regular Army or Permanent Force in 1939 or were created from mainly Regular formations later in the War.
Straits Settlements Volunteer ForceForces raised in Singapore and Malaya by the British Army
Supplementary ReserveFormed in 1924 to provide a reserve of men with specialist skills. Northern Irish formations were part of the Supplementary Reserve as the Territorial Army did not exist in Northern Ireland.
Volunteer ForcePre-1908 Volunteer Units in the United Kingdom which were formed in 1859. In 1908, they became part of the Territorial Force (later the Territorial Army).
War FormedBritish and Commonwealth formations formed during the War.
Young SoldierYoung Soldier Battalions were created in 1940