Prince Albert.27s .28Somerset Light Infantry.29 Somerset Light Infantry

1 prince albert s (somerset light infantry)

1.1 childers reforms
1.2 actions in india , burma
1.3 second boer war
1.4 haldane reforms
1.5 first world war
1.6 inter-war period

prince albert s (somerset light infantry)
childers reforms

the regiment not fundamentally affected cardwell reforms of 1870s, gave depot @ jellalabad barracks in taunton 1873, or childers reforms of 1881 – possessed 2 battalions, there no need amalgamate regiment. under reforms regiment became prince albert s light infantry (somersetshire regiment) on 1 july 1881. county regiment of somersetshire, gained county s militia , rifle volunteer battalions, integrated regiment numbered battalions. within months regiment had been retitled prince albert s (somersetshire light infantry).

on formation, regiment had following battalions:

1st battalion (formerly 1st battalion, 13th foot)
2nd battalion (formerly 2nd battalion, 13th foot)
3rd battalion (formerly 1st somersetshire light infantry militia)
4th battalion (formerly 2nd somersetshire light infantry militia)
1st volunteer battalion (formerly 1st somersetshire rifle volunteer corps)
2nd volunteer battalion (formerly 2nd somersetshire rifle volunteer corps)
3rd volunteer battalion (formerly 3rd somersetshire rifle volunteer corps)

the 2 regular battalions continued system of alternating between home , foreign stations:

actions in india , burma

the 2nd battalion took part in third anglo-burmese war of 1885 1887. following initial invasion, battalion spent 2 years broken small groups pacifying inhabitants of country. while unit lost 17 men in combat, 150 die disease. during period in india, 1st battalion stationed in north west frontier province, , took part in first mohmand campaign of 1897.

second boer war

in october 1899, war broke out between british empire , boer republics of south africa. 2nd battalion landed in cape in december 1899, , part of british forces defeated @ battle of spion kop in january 1900. in february of same year, battalion helped relieve siege of ladysmith. spent remainder of conflict taking part in number of minor actions.

the 4th (militia) battalion embodied in december 1899, , embarked in march 1900 service in south africa. large contingent of officers , men returned home in may 1902 on ss sicilia.

haldane reforms

the boer war had severely stretched resources of british army , had exposed weakness of militia , volunteers effective reserve force. in 1907–1908, richard haldane, secretary of state war reorganised these second-line units of army part of larger series of reforms. existing militia reduced in size , redesignated special reserve , while volunteer force merged yeomanry new territorial force, organised 14 infantry divisions, liable service in wartime.

in 1908, volunteers , militia reorganised nationally, former becoming territorial force , latter special reserve; regiment had 1 reserve , 2 territorial battalions.

first world war

the regiment s name again changed prince albert s (somerset light infantry) in 1912.

the regiment saw active service in first world war, battalions involved on western front, mesopotamia (now iraq) , palestine. altogether, 18 battalions existed during war. 1 of new battalions formed conversion of west somerset yeomanry, territorial force cavalry regiment; rest formed duplication of existing territorial force units or formation of new service battalions.

inter-war period

following armistice ending first world war, war-raised battalions rapidly disbanded. regular battalions returned pre-war system of alternating home , foreign stations. 1st battalion stationed in northern ireland , england, before being stationed in egypt (1926–1928), hong kong (1928–1930) , india 1930.

the 2nd battalion, had spent entire war in india, fought in brief third anglo-afghan war in 1919, seeing active service in afghanistan , on north-west frontier. returning india in 1920, battalion moved sudan in 1926 , england in 1927.

the territorial force reorganised become territorial army in 1920, , 4th , 5th battalions reconstituted. @ same time, 3rd (special reserve) battalion placed in suspended animation , , never again embodied.

on 1 january 1921, regimental title changed final time, becoming somerset light infantry (prince albert s).