The Haldane Reforms were a series of far-ranging reforms of the British Army made from 1906 to 1912, and named after the Secretary of State for War, Richard Burdon Haldane. They were the first major reforms since the "Childers Reforms" of the early 1880s, and were made in the light of lessons newly learned in the Second Boer War.
The major element of the reforms was the creation of an expeditionary force, specifically prepared and trained for intervening in a major war. This had existed before, but it had not been well-prepared for overseas service; the newly organised force was to have a permanent peacetime organisation and a full complement of supporting troops. At the same time, the reserve forces were restructured and expanded so as to ensure that overseas forces could be expanded, supplied with new recruits and to provide for home defence. The Volunteer Force and the Yeomanry were reorganised into a new Territorial Force and the Militia was formed into the Special Reserve; these latter two reforms were grouped together in the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907. To encourage the development of military skills, an Officer Training Corps was established in public schools and universities. Taken together these measures were designed to bring the Army and wider public closer together, to deliver Haldane's vision of a 'nation in arms'.[1] Military strategy was revitalised by a new Imperial General Staff, which would ensure a common doctrine and common strategic aims among the various military forces of the British Empire, including the Dominions as well as British India. Finally, the Regular Army itself would be reformed by the development of a new operational and training doctrine, laid down in Douglas Haig's new Field Service Pocket Book.
The outbreak of the First World War in August 1914 saw the bulk of the changes put to the test; the Expeditionary Force was quickly sent to the Continent, whilst the Territorial Force and Reserves were mobilised and several divisions deployed, as Haldane had envisaged, to provide a second line.
The HaldaneReforms were a series of far-ranging reforms of the British Army made from 1906 to 1912, and named after the Secretary of State for War, Richard...
1908, the Volunteers and Militia were reorganised nationally (the HaldaneReforms), with the former becoming the Territorial Force (TF) and the latter...
battle honour South Africa 1900–1902 for their battalions. Under the HaldaneReforms of 1908, the Militia were redesignated Special Reserve, with the dual...
left in the country, caused a surge in volunteer numbers. As part the reforms to the volunteers, and in return for increased financial support on an...
Boer War in 1900, and a second section the following year. As part of the reforms to the volunteers (the same Territorial and Reserve Forces Act of 1907...
Oxfordshire Light Infantry on 1 July 1881. In 1908, as part of the HaldaneReforms, the regiment's title was altered to become the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire...
He was cousin to Richard Haldane, 1st Viscount Haldane, Secretary of State for War 1905–1912, instigator of the HaldaneReforms. In September 1882, after...
from 1881 until 1958. The regiment was created during the 1881 Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 63rd (West Suffolk) Regiment of Foot and the...
in the Liberal Government of 1905, Richard Haldane, was given the task of preparing legislation for reform. His Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907...
Andrew George Haldane CBE FAcSS FRS FRSA (/ˈhɔːldeɪn/; born 18 August 1967) is a British economist who worked at the Bank of England between 1989 and...
The Childers Reforms of 1881 reorganised the infantry regiments of the British Army. The reforms were done by Secretary of State for War Hugh Childers...
1907–1908, Richard Haldane, Secretary of State for War reorganised these second-line units of the army as part of a larger series of reforms. The existing...
Boer War. Following conversion to the Special Reserve (SR) under the HaldaneReforms it supplied reinforcements to the fighting battalions during World...
The Cardwell Reforms were a series of reforms of the British Army undertaken by Secretary of State for War Edward Cardwell between 1868 and 1874 with the...
Second Boer War. He was Chief of the General Staff at the time of the HaldaneReforms and then became Commander-in-Chief, Ireland. Born the son of 4th Baron...
Charlotte Haldane (née Franken; 27 April 1894 – 16 March 1969) was a British feminist writer. Her second husband was the biologist J.B.S. Haldane. Charlotte...
of the Forces and the creation of a Chief of the General Staff. The HaldaneReforms in 1907, created an expeditionary force of seven divisions, it also...
Second Boer War. After conversion to the Special Reserve (SR) under the HaldaneReforms it supplied reinforcements to the fighting battalions during World...
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