Royal Defence Corps

The Royal Defence Corps was a corps of the British Army formed in March 1916 and disbanded in 1936.[1]

It was initially formed by converting the (Home Service) Garrison battalions of line infantry regiments. Garrison battalions were composed of soldiers either too old or medically unfit for active front-line service; the Home Service status indicated they were unable to be transferred overseas. Eighteen battalions were converted in this way.[2]

The role of the corps was to provide troops for security and guard duties inside the United Kingdom; guarding important locations such as ports or bridges. It also provided independent companies for guarding prisoner-of-war camps. The corps was never intended to be employed on overseas service.

References
  1. "The Times". 20 March 1916.
  2. Royal Defence Corps Archived 2013-11-04 at the Wayback Machine

See also
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