| Highland Cyclist Battalion | |
|---|---|
 Highland Cyclist Battalion Cap Badge | |
| Active | 29 February 1860 – February 1920 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Allegiance | British Crown |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Infantry Bicycle infantry |
| Size | Up to threebattalions |
| Part of | Scottish Command (peacetime) |
| Garrison/HQ | Taymouth Perth Road,Birnam Hunter Street,Kirkcaldy |
| Service | First World War |
TheHighland Cyclist Battalion was abicycle infantrybattalion of theTerritorial Force, part of theBritish Army. Formed as part of theVolunteer Force in 1860, it became a Volunteer Battalion of theBlack Watch (Royal Highlanders) in 1881. In 1909 it became an independent unit and served in the United Kingdom throughout theFirst World War. In 1920 it was converted as part of theHighland Divisional Signals.
From being the closest of allies in theCrimean War (October 1853 – February 1856), Anglo-French relations had deteriorated to such an extent that by 1859 an invasion of Britain seemed a real possibility. An attempt to assassinate the French Emperor,Napoleon III, by Italian nationalists – theOrsini affair – had been linked to Britain as thebombs used in the attempt had been made and tested in England, coupled with the British Government's refusal to restrict theright of asylum. With theregularBritish Army stretched in the aftermath of theIndian Mutiny (May 1857 – June 1858), a popular movement saw the creation of theVolunteer Force.[1]
Rifle Volunteer Corps were set up throughoutGreat Britain from May 1859 under the terms of the Volunteer Act 1804 (44 Geo. 3. c. 54). Corps were to be organised inbattalions (of eight companies and at least 500 men),companies (60 to 100 men) or sub-divisions (about 30 men).[2] By 1860, the large number of independent Corps led to their merger as consolidated battalions (were a number of Corps existed in a large town or city) or administrative battalions (in more rural areas).[3] Corps in border areas could be included in battalions outside its own county. Administrative battalions could consolidate as and when they chose.[4]
The2nd Administrative Battalion, Perthshire Rifle Volunteers was formed on 12 November 1861 withHeadquarters atTaymouth by grouping the3rd Perthshire (Breadalbane) Rifle Volunteer Corps of four companies (raised 29 February 1860), the10th Perthshire Rifle Volunteer Corps (raised 1860) and the9th Argyllshire Rifle Volunteer Corps (raised 12 April 1860). In 1865, the 9th Argyllshire Rifle Volunteer Corps was transferred to the1st Administrative Battalion, Argyllshire Rifle Volunteers.[5][a]
In 1869, the headquarters moved toBirnam and the battalion was reorganized. The3rd Perthshire (Breadalbane) Rifle Volunteer Corps was reduced to the former No. 2 Company, the4th Perthshire (Breadalbane) Rifle Volunteer Corps was formed from No. 3 Company, 3rd Corps (Nos. 1 and 4 companies were disbanded),10th Perthshire Rifle Volunteer Corps remained with the battalion until disbanded in 1873, and the5th, 7th, 9th, 13th and 14th Perthshire Rifle Volunteer Corps joined from the 1st Administrative Battalion.[b]20th Perthshire Rifle Volunteer Corps joined when it was raised on 27 May 1869. In 1874, the battalion gained a subtitle as the2nd (The Perthshire Highland) Administrative Battalion, Perthshire Rifle Volunteers.[5]
A government committee of 1878 recommended that the remaining administrative battalions be consolidated and in 1880 these recommendations were carried out. Each corps within the battalion lost its independent status and became a lettered company. Initially, each battalion took on the number of its senior constituent corps but this left gaps in the numbering system for counties with more than one battalion, so in June a general renumbering occurred.[8] On 13 April 1880, the battalion was consolidated as the3rd Perthshire (The Perthshire Highland) Rifle Volunteer Corps, renumbered on 15 June 1880 as the2nd Perthshire (The Perthshire Highland) Rifle Volunteer Corps.[5] HQ remained at Birnam with[9]
TheChilders Reforms of 1881 restructured the infantry of the British Army into multi-battalion regiments. Each regiment was to have tworegular battalions, a number ofmilitia battalions and the various Rifle Volunteer Corps were to be designated as volunteer battalions of the new regiments.[10] The changes came into effect on 1 July and the battalion became a volunteer battalion of theBlack Watch (Royal Highlanders).[9] The volunteer battalions were to be numbered in a separate sequence from the regulars and militia with the renumbering taking place over a period of time.[10] On 1 December 1887, the battalion became the5th (Perthshire Highland) Volunteer Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).[9][c]
In October 1894 the battalion moved to thePerth Road drill hall in Birnam.[14]
The battalion contributed a number of its members to the several volunteer companies of the Black Watch that went out to South Africa to take part in theSecond Boer War.[15] For its service, it was awarded theSouth Africa 1900–02battle honour.[9]
TheTerritorial Force (TF) was formed on 1 April 1908 following the enactment of theTerritorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 (7 Edw. 7. c. 9) which combined and re-organised the old Volunteer Force, theHonourable Artillery Company and theYeomanry. Upon transfer to the Territorial Force, the 5th Volunteer Battalion became abicycle infantry battalion. Initially designated as the8th (Cyclist) Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders),[c] in January 1909 it was separated from theregiment and redesignated as the independentHighland Cyclist Battalion.[15][d] In 1911, four companies were transferred to the 6th (Perthshire) Battalion, Black Watch, to be replaced by three newly raised companies in Fife.[17]
In August 1914, the battalion was headquartered at theHunter Street drill hall inKirkcaldy[18] and had the following companies:[16]
At the outbreak of theFirst World War, the battalion was inScottish Command, unattached to any higher formation.[16] It was to be used as mobile infantry, and for work on signals, scouting and similar activities.[19]
In accordance with theTerritorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 (7 Edw. 7. c. 9) which brought theTerritorial Force into being, the TF was intended to be a home defence force for service during wartime and members could not be compelled to serve outside the country. However, on the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, many members volunteered forImperial Service. Therefore, TF units were split in August and September 1914 into 1st Line (liable for overseas service) and 2nd Line (home service for those unable or unwilling to serve overseas) units. Later, 3rd Line units were formed to act as reserves, providing trained replacements for the 1st and 2nd Lines.[20]
The battalion was mobilized on 4 August 1914 at the outbreak of theFirst World War and moved to its war station atEast Linton,East Lothian.[18] In 1915 it was transferred to theArmy Cyclist Corps.[9] and by July of that year it had moved toSt Andrews. In May 1918, it moved to Ireland and was based atEnniskillen andRandalstown where it remained until the end of the war.[18] The battalion was disembodied on 3 December 1919.[9]
The 2nd Line battalion was formed atKirkcaldy[19] in November 1914.[e] In 1915 it was atMontrose and in 1916 atArbroath. In May 1918, it also moved to Ireland and was based atAthlone. In August 1918 it moved toCurragh Camp where it remained.[18] The battalion was disbanded on 3 July 1919.[5]
In July 1915, the battalion provided personnel for the1st Provisional Cyclist Company.[18] The company was disbanded on 13 April 1916.[5]
The 3rd Line battalion was formed at Kirkcaldy in 1915 to provide trained replacements for the 1st and 2nd Line battalions.[19] It was disbanded in March 1916 and the men were posted to 1/1st and 2/1st Battalions and to theMachine Gun Corps.[18][5]
The Territorial Force was disbanded after the First World War, although this was a formality and it was reformed in 1920. From 1 October 1921 it was renamed as theTerritorial Army.[21]
One major change with the new Territorial Army had an effect on the number of infantry battalions. The original 14 divisions were reformed with the pre-war standard of three brigades of four battalions each, for a total of 168 battalions. Infantry were no longer to be included as Army Troops or part of the Coastal Defence Forces so the pre-war total of 208 battalions had to be reduced by 40. This was achieved by either converting certain battalions to other roles, usually artillery or engineers, or by amalgamating pairs of battalions within a regiment.[21] In particular, based on war time experience, the Army decided to dispense with cyclists units and the existing battalions were either disbanded or converted to artillery or signals units.[22]
The Highland Cyclist Battalion was absorbed into theHighland Divisional Signals in 1920.[5][15]
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