1914

August - Army Service Corps Labour Companies

On 4 August it was announced that ASC Labour Companies 536 strong were to be formed to work in the supply depots at the French ports.  The first company was formed on 24 August and arrived in France two days later.

A total of 33 ASC Labour Companies were formed, serving in France, Salonika and the U.K.   They were transferred to the Labour Corps in June 1917.

December - Pioneer Battalions

It was decided that each Division would have a Pioneer Battalion. Men in the Pioneer Battalions had a dual role as both front line Infantry and with technical skills such as road making, bridging and entrenching.

The first Pioneer Battalions were formed for Kitcheners New Armies that were being formed in the U.K. and arrived in France in May 1915.

1915

March - Liverpool Dock Battalion

Formed by Lord Derby from registered dockworkers specifically for work in the Liverpool Docks on military stores. The men were attested and place under military law. A second battalion was formed in December 1916.

 
July - Entrenching Battalions created

Formed in France and Salonika they used reinforcements who were waiting to join their units on repair work and trench digging in the forward area. They continued in existence in France until 1917. 

In February 1918 Entrenching Battalions were re-introduced in France. They were disbanded in April as the men in these Battalions were needed to replace men lost during the German March offensive.

August - R.E. Labour Battalions

On 3 August the War Office decided to create R.E. Labour Battalions. The Army enlisted civilians with labouring experience with experienced foremen becoming the Warrant Officers and NCOs.

1,000 strong a total of 12 Battalions were formed, 11 served in France and 1in Salonika. They were transferred to the Labour Corps in June 1917.

December - Infantry Works Companies

Formed in Infantry Regiments in the U.K. from men of low medical categories to work on roads and hut repairs at military bases.  Most of the men were skilled tradesmen such as carpenters, masons, cooks and tailors

1916

February - Infantry Labour Battalions

Formed in U.K. from men considered fit enough to serve as military labour in France and Salonika.  Over 20 of these Battalions were formed serving in France, Salonika and the U.K

They became part of the Labour Corps in April 1917, each battalion forming two Labour Corps companies.

February - Transport Workers Battalions.

Formed as Infantry Regiment Battalions for service in the U.K. at docks and on the canals. The idea was to give the government a mobile force that could be moved quickly to whichever port needed more men to unload ships.  Men in TWBs were not issued with arms and could not be transferred to overseas service.

March - Infantry Labour Companies

Created from men called up who were classified as fit for service in a labour unit overseas. The original intention was that these companies would be brought together to form Infantry Labour Battalions.  It was found that the 1,000 strong Labour Battalions were too large to be used economically in France. So from February 1917 the ILCs, 500 strong, were sent to France.

Over 100 ILCs arrived by the end of March 1917; they were transferred to the Labour Corps in April.

March - Non Combatant Corps

With the introduction of conscription early in 1916 the Government was faced with the problem of men who for religious or political reasons would not fight.  The solution was to create the Non Combatant Corps, an army unit, subject to military law but whose members would not bear arms or fight.

The NCC was made up of men who were happy to serve in a non-combatant role and those forcibly placed in the Corps.  Each company was 100 strong. Its officers and NCOs were from infantry units, the privates being Conscientious Objectors.

Non Combatant Corps Shoulder Title

Thirty-four NCC Companies were formed, eight of which served in France.

June - Infantry Works Battalions

With the introduction of conscription a large number of men were being classed as fit for service in Infantry Works Companies so the Army decided to form the companies into Battalions. This enabled Battalions to form Companies containing men with similar skills.

June - Middlesex Alien Battalions

The 30^th and 31^st Battalions Middlesex Regiment were formed from men who had been born in the U.K. and whose parents were enemy aliens. The Battalions remained in the U.K. as receiving and training units. Eight Middlesex Alien Companies served in France from March 1917 onwards.

The Army placed restrictions on both where they could be employed and the work they could undertake.

1917

February - Regimental Agricultural Companies

Formed from men serving in the U.K. to provide soldiers to work on the land to replace agricultural labourers who had been called up for service and grow vegetables at regimental depots.

February - Royal Marine Labour Corps

Initially formed by transferring two ASC (Naval Labour Companies) to the Royal Marines.  Further men were recruited in the U.K. from men with dock experience who were over 41 years of age. The RMLC worked at each of the ports in France.

Royal Marine Labour Corps Shoulder Title

In December 1917 a Home Service Company was formed to handle the mines the Navy laid in the North Sea.