Introduction

Abstract

The place of the British Army in the years between the South African War and First World War has not received the attention it deserves. Brian Bond and John Gooch have provided important studies of the Staff College. With regard to the Auxiliary Forces, Edward Spiers has provided a fine study of the Haldane reforms, and Ian Beckett, Hugh Cunningham, and Keith Mitchinson have provided useful accounts of the Rifle Volunteers and Territorial Force. However, reforms attempted by Arnold Forster and St John Broderick have received little attention and too many of the existing accounts provide a top‐down study of the army, neglecting the regimental experience. The militia, Special Reserve, Yeomanry, and Officer Training Corps have been largely ignored by professional historians. This work seeks to redress this balance.