On 
1st April the Territorial Army celebrated its 100th anniversary. Originally founded as a home defence force in 1908, the TA was soon slogging it out in Flanders and its personnel have fought alongside their regular Army comrades in virtually every theatre of war since then. Today its 35,000 volunteers constitute a quarter of the British Army and many of them have seen active service in Afganistan and Iraq.
In 1998 the TA fell victim to the Labour Government's now infamous 'Strategic Defence Review'; its 33 battalions were reduced to 15 and thousands of experienced and loyal personnel had their service terminated. Despite this the TA was able to play a major role in Operation Telic with 6900 being mobilised and deployed to Iraq and it continues to provide around 1,200 troops each year to support the regular Army in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans. The TA is being relied upon more heavily than at anytime since World War II.
The Territorial Army fulfills four main functions:
1st April the Territorial Army celebrated its 100th anniversary. Originally founded as a home defence force in 1908, the TA was soon slogging it out in Flanders and its personnel have fought alongside their regular Army comrades in virtually every theatre of war since then. Today its 35,000 volunteers constitute a quarter of the British Army and many of them have seen active service in Afganistan and Iraq.In 1998 the TA fell victim to the Labour Government's now infamous 'Strategic Defence Review'; its 33 battalions were reduced to 15 and thousands of experienced and loyal personnel had their service terminated. Despite this the TA was able to play a major role in Operation Telic with 6900 being mobilised and deployed to Iraq and it continues to provide around 1,200 troops each year to support the regular Army in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans. The TA is being relied upon more heavily than at anytime since World War II.
The Territorial Army fulfills four main functions:
- to provide a pool of trained personnel which can be used to expand the ranks of the regular army at a time of national crisis;
- to support the Army in its conflicts around the world (it is estimated that 20000 have been in operations over the last 10 years);
- to provide the Army with professional skills and expertise acquired during civilian careers ( the TA runs the only British field hospital in Afghanistan); and
- to provide a major link been the military and the civilian population serving to reduce the military's remoteness and to increase the general public's understanding of what the Armed Forces do.
Since 2003 eight TA soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan. Last month, Pte Luke Cole, a TA soldier from Wolverhampton, was awarded the Military Cross for aiding wounded colleagues while under fire in Afghanistan.
The MoD has launched TA100 – a major campaign to acknowledge the contribution of Territorial Army soldiers since 1908. Events and and commemorations will take place throughout 2008 across the UK to both celebrate and promote the work of the TA. One of the first events will be a parade in Guildford town centre at 2pm on Saturday 5 April.
Link> TA100 (great website!)Link> MoD: TA Centenary starts with a bang
Link> MoD: The Territorial Army
Link> Guildford Borough Council: Parade starts celebration of 100 years of the Territorial Army
Link> The Telegraph: Queen thanks Territorial Army on centenary
A book has also just been published to coincide with the anniversary: Territorials, A Century of Service
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