reforms reforms series far ranging reforms british_army named secretary state war major reforms reforms early 1880s light lessons newly learned second boer war major element reforms creation expeditionary force specifically prepared trained intervening major war existed prepared overseas service newly organised force permanent peacetime organisation complement supporting troops time reserve forces expanded ensure overseas forces efficiently reinforced supplied new recruits ensure home defence suffer sending regular forces overseas militia formed reorganised new reforms grouped act encourage development military skills established public schools universities military strategy new ensure common doctrine common strategic aims military forces british_empire including finally reformed development new operational training doctrine laid new outbreak world war august saw bulk changes test quickly sent continent whilst reserves planned provide second line background middle 19th century british_army seen major operations close succession war indian mutiny apparent existing organisation forces sufficient large scale modern warfare wave reforms period saw creation helped turn officers upper reaches army professional soldiers transformation old army better control forces india creation help home defence whilst overseas second wave comprising collection administrative changes popularly known secretary state war purchase commissions officers abolished recruits taken short specified regiment corps unpopular system year general service measures stroke increased quality manpower army provided trained efficient reserve veterans recalled colours emergency reforms reorganisation regimental system linking territorial line regiments paired regimental depots territory based recruiting area simplified recruitment training set reforms reforms named secretary state carried early 1880s carried regimental logical end completing amalgamation linked regiments single battalion regiments local units militia volunteers result reforms provide sizable trained force british isles sent overseas time crisis system home service volunteers support outbreak october system immediately began strain end year fighting reserves entirely exhausted novel measures including extensive use auxiliary forces experimented remainder war militia provided garrison units free regulars volunteers sent service companies attached regular battalions created supply needed mounted infantry number half hearted attempts reform war immediate aftermath little effect important established reported report called wide ranging reforms administration army whilst studied auxiliary forces declared unfit service recommended practical reforms alongside sensational suggestion universal military service reforms instituted conservative secretary state war broad thrust reform plans strongly opposed attempts home forces begun actually organised lacked support units staff reforms december government collapsed sir prime minister leading minority liberal government appointed secretary state war accidental selection aiming lord chancellor whilst offered post attorney general offered men offered despite beginning words greatest secretary state took post hidden ideas role army having realised reform weary generals want secretary state war intent changing things success got generals having gained trust respect officers support reforms support lord colonel finally designed implemented set reforms way preparing british_army opening world war brief hiatus general election liberals won landslide obtaining majority seats turned attention crisis brought france germany war december sir foreign secretary privately agreed commit army aid france attacked began consider best accomplish quickly concluded need regular expeditionary force specifically prepared trained use continental intervention force question provide force short period settled strength infantry divisions supporting units need organised peacetime prepared united_kingdom committed action soon reached continent army geared specific purpose reorganised fit role elements fit discarded help pay changes include disbandment infantry battalions number surplus artillery batteries withdrawal overseas garrisons army home reorganised divisions dated january heavy brigade mounted brigades reconnaissance army troops february announced coming year spending estimates despite creation new force disbanded units minor managed reduce overall spending million pounds organised continental necessary provide forces home defence proposal anticipated existing division army militia changed structure home defence based changes embodied act passed little opposition save dispute future status militia regiments essentially abolished existing volunteers create new fourteen infantry divisions fourteen cavalry brigades large number support units raised organised financed local organisations liable service command militia provided contain men served regular army agreed liable service regular forces wartime training doctrine november appointed director staff duties took task providing new training doctrine army suggested new scheme sets training fully implemented new provisional produced revised following year finally field service regulations operations serve training manual branches service synthesis generally agreed tactical strategic principles emerged administration contentious strongly favour entirely new system manual cover organisation field army including base lines communication troops field units strongly opposed adjutant general general staff felt unnecessary resented territory saw outsider support able push ensure adoption issue potential problem supply skilled officers army wartime committee established sir study matter issued reports focusing university school corps main recommendation existing school university formed hoc basis broader volunteer movement uniform force administered supported army order contingents established universities contingents public schools army order later year provided standard set regulations stating scheme intended provide standardized degree elementary military training view providing candidates commissions scheme popular end contingents year later start risen respectively total cadets enrolled january officers cadets gone commissions auxiliary forces later nineteenth century emphasis imperial defence policy shifted single army navy approach self governing began provide forces defence begin responsibility strategic interests bases geographic areas culmination south african war contingents dominion played significant role whilst forces developing locally goals comprehensive imperial defence policy remained constant proposal conference dominion leaders recommended imperial forces organised standard model similar recent divisional reorganisation british_army army india combined british_army units india units conference approved concept carried idea recommended creation general staff drawn forces entire empire serve common link national forces oversee development single uniform defence scheme able help ensure greater consistency forces carefully laid offer guidance local government binding authority national forces new system approved imperial conference july confirmed support new structure principle limit autonomy self governing world war outbreak world war august saw bulk changes test divisions quickly sent continent whilst divisions reserves planned provide second line carried divisions armed
Haldane Reforms