Reserves. In the organisation of the military resources of most European countries the reserve forces are, first, those soldiers who, having served some time in the regular army, are still liable to be called upon to rejoin it when raised from a peace to a war establishment on mobilisation; and secondly, those who are liable to be called upon to follow in second and third lines if the occasion requires. Thus, in Germany and Austria the regular army and its reserves have behind them the Landwehr and Landsturm. In France the Territorial Army and its reserves form the second line, and in Russia the militia takes a similar position. Liability to serve in one or other of these reserves lasts generally from about the age of twenty to forty-two.
In Great Britain there are two reserves—viz. the Army Reserve and the Militia Reserve. The first consists of two classes, but the second class, a few pensioners of Chelsea and Greenwich hospitals, is gradually disappearing, and is practically non-existent. The first-class Army Reserve (some 79,000) consists of men who have served from three to eight years in the regular army, and are liable during the remainder of their twelve years' term of enlistment to be called back into the ranks in case of national danger or great emergency. They can be called out for twelve days' training in each year and in aid of the civil power, are paid £9 a year quarterly in arrear, and may re-engage for a further term of four years' reserve service at 4d. a day. They are called to the ranks by proclamation of Her Majesty in council, the occasion being first communicated to parliament if sitting. The Militia Reserve (about 30,000) consists of militiamen who, for an extra £1 annual bounty, take the liability to be called upon to serve in the regular army abroad or at home whenever the army reserve is called out on permanent service. The rest of the Militia (q.v.), the yeomanry, and the volunteers form a second line of defence for the United Kingdom in case of invasion. In 1899–1900, during the South African war, the whole of the Army Reserves were called out for active service; the whole Militia and part of the Militia Reserves were also called out for service in Africa, the Mediterranean, and at home; a large force of yeomanry and volunteers also volunteered for active service in Africa, and a special force of men who had passed through the army and reserves were also temporarily raised for home garrison duty during the war. The native army of India has two reserves, active and garrison. The first is formed of men who have served not less than five or more than twelve years with the colours; the second, of those who have completed twenty-one years colour service.
A reserve on the battlefield is a body of troops held back by the commanding officer so as to be ready to meet a counter-attack, to support a success, or cover a retirement. The Naval Reserve (q.v.) is the subject of a separate article.