The First World War was the natural conclusion to Germany's prolonged effort to expand by force of arms. Under the able direction of Prince Bismarck, Germany had conquered Denmark in 1864, retaining Schleswig-Holstein; in 1866 at Sadowa she had brought the Austro-Hungarian Empire to its knees, and afterwards played the leading role over the relics of the old Holy Roman Empire; in 1870 she had conquered France and retained the important provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. On 1st January, 1871, the King of Prussia was proclaimed Emperor of Germany at Versailles. Bismarck's policy had always been to keep friends with Russia and to confine aggression to Middle Europe. In 1888 Kaiser Wilhelm II, a man of great ambitions and full of grandiose schemes of conquest, ascended the throne. Quickly getting rid of the old Chancellor Bismarck, he embarked on a policy of world domination which could have only one end. In 1906 Germany's ally Austria annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina, and by 1914 Germany had diplomatic control of Bulgaria and Turkey. The Berlin to Baghdad railway was nearing completion. But Servia was tied to Russian influences by race and tradition. Germany determined to wrest the supremacy of the sea from Great Britain and finally to humble France.
The murder of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian Empire, on 28th June, 1914, provided the immediate cause of war. Servia was accused of complicity; an impossible ultimatum dictated by Kaiser Wilhelm was sent by the aged Emperor Francis Joseph, and Servia appealed for help to Russia. War on Servia was declared by Austro-Hungary on 25th July. The French alliance with Russia in 1895 was still in force and the Franco-British entente of 1904 had enabled a detailed plan of co-operation to be prepared. On 2nd August Germany demanded free passage through Belgium and declared war on France the next day. She hoped that Great Britain was too disturbed by the Irish troubles and their repercussions on the Army to enter the war. But Great Britain was bound by treaty to protect the neutrality of Belgium and honoured that treaty by an ultimatum expiring at 11 p.m. on 4th August.
At the start, therefore, a state of war existed on two fronts : the German and Austro-Hungarian Empires against Russia and Servia in the east, and against France and Great Britain in the west. Germany mobilized 107 divisions.
The British Government decided to rely on voluntary enlistment and Lord Kitchener was recalled from Egypt to become Secretary of State for War. He called for 500,000 volunteers to form the New Army.
In the course of the war the United States, Italy, Greece, Rumania, Portugal and Japan joined the Allies; Turkey and Bulgaria, the Central Powers. Battle fronts also developed in the Gallipoli Peninsula, in Italy, Macedonia and Palestine.
The Regiment took no part in the Gallipoli or Palestine operations.

On the outbreak of war the British Army consisted of six Regular divisions of infantry, of three brigades of four battalions each, and one cavalry division of three brigades of three regiments each, with an independent cavalry brigade. This excluded the Indian and Colonial troops. A second line of fourteen Territorial divisions and fourteen Territorial cavalry brigades existed. The Regular troops constituted the Expeditionary Force and were ready for immediate action in most respects. The second line were luckily either in camp or preparing for their training, but were far from ready for action and were only attested for home service. The Special Reserve, which had succeeded the historic Militia in 1908, existed only as draft-producing units on the ratio of one S.R. battalion to two Regular battalions.
The Expeditionary Force was highly trained and well organized. It was commanded by General Sir John French, who had commanded cavalry with some distinction in the South African War. The most obvious defects of this force were its lack of automatic weapons (each battalion having only two Maxim guns) and a deficiency in medium and heavy artillery, and in artillery ammunition.
Shortly before the war infantry battalions had been reorganized in four companies (instead of eight) with a headquarter company.

The Regiment In The War

At the outbreak of war the Regiment consisted of four Regular battalions and two battalions of Special Reserve. The 1st and 2nd Battalions, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel E. Northey and Lieutenant-Colonel E. Pearce-Serocold respectively, were in the Expeditionary Force at Aldershot. The 3rd and 4th Battalions, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel C. Gosling and Lieutenant-Colonel The Hon. C. J. Saekville-West respectively, were in India. The 5th and 6th Battalions were immediately raised to a strength of 2,500 each, but were soon unable to cope with the heavy casualties. The drafts sent overseas by these battalions during the war amounted to 1,575 officers and 35,626 other ranks.
In the New Army the Regiment had the 7th, 8th and 9th Battalions (raised in August, 1914); the 10th, 11th and 12th Battalions (raised in September, 1914); and the 13th and 16th Battalions (raised at the end of 1914) (see p. 50). The 17th, 18th, 20th (Pioneer), 21st and 25th (Pioneer) Battalions were raised and sent abroad later (see p. 53), and nine draft-producing battalions were kept at home.
The Regiment therefore supplied four Regular battalions and (eventually) thirteen active battalions of the New Army. The earlier New Army units were officered largely by ex-Rifle officers, and two Regular officers were posted to each battalion. Their adjutants were also Regular officers. Very many ex-Regular warrant and non-commissioned officers joined up, and two Regular warrant or non-commissioned officers were posted to each unit. The later units had less help, as the source of supply was exhausted.
Another interesting feature was first created in this war by the formation of two brigades of Riflemen. The 7th and 8th Battalions 60th and the 7th and 8th Battalions Rifle Brigade formed the the 41st Brigade. The 10th and 11th Battalions 60th and 10th and 11th Battalions Rifle Brigade formed the 59th Brigade (see p. 50). Both brigades had distinguished records in France.
The 3rd and 4th Battalions, with the 4th Rifle Brigade, were a part of the 80th Brigade, 27th (Lahore) Division. They arrived from India on 18th September, 1914, and were quartered at Winchester in a hutted camp. They reached France in December.
The Rifle Depot at Winchester had the task of clothing, equipping, arming, feeding and posting of over five thousand Regular and Special reservists in five days. Immediately this was accomplished they were faced with the influx of the New Armies. Some 30,000 of both regiments were dealt with by September, 1914. They arrived without notice and in varying numbers; over 6,000 arrived in one period of twenty-four hours. All, however, were comfortably fed and billeted, the necessary staff being created as the situation demanded. Every assistance was given by the local authorities and the inhabitants.

Higher Command And Staff

During the First World War the following officers who had served in the Regiment held Command and Staff appointments:

General Sir Henry Rawlinson, Bt., G.C.B., G.C.V.O., K.C.M.G. (afterwards Lord Rawlinson of Trent).
Lieutenant-General Sir W. Pitcairn Campbell, K.C.B.
Lieutenant-General Sir T. L. N. Morland, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., D.S.O.
Major-General Hon. E. J. Montagu-Stuart-Wortley, C.B., C.M.G., M.V.O., D.S.O.
Major-General Hon. Sir A. R. Montagu-Stuart-Wortley, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., D.S.O.
Major-General Sir G. C. Kitson, K.C.V.O., C.B., C.M.G.
Major-General C. R. R. McGrigor, C.B., C.M.G.
Major-General Sir O. S. W. Nugent, K.C.B., D.S.O.
Major-General Sir S. W. Hare, K.C.M.G., C.B.
Major-General Sir Edward Northey, G.C.M.G., C.B.
Major-General Hon. C. J. Sackville-West, K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G.
Major-General S. F. Mott, C.B.
Major-General Sir J. H. Davidson, K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O.
Major-General L. A. E. Price-Davies, V.C., C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.
Major-General C. A. Blacklock, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.
Brigadier-General W. H. L. Allgood, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.
Brigadier-General Sir G. A. Armytage, Bt., C.M.G., D.S.O.
Brigadier-General Sir R. C. A. Bewicke-Copley, K.B.E., C.B.
Brigadier-General B. J. Curling, D.S.O.
Brigadier-General F. A. Fortescue, C.B., C.M.G.
Brigadier-General C. Gosling, C.M.G.
Brigadier-General H. C. R. Green, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.
Brigadier-General J. F. R. Hope, C.B.E., D.S.O.
Brigadier-General G. V. Hordern, C.B., C.M.G.
Brigadier-General A. J. Hunter, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., M.C.
Brigadier-General R. G. Jelf, C.M.G., D.S.O.
Brigadier-General Sir W. A. I. Kay, Bt., D.S.O.
Brigadier-General W. S. Kays.
Brigadier-General G. C. Kelly, C.B., D.S.O.
Brigadier-General H. B. Kennedy, C.M.G., D.S.O.
Brigadier-General B. J. Majendie, C.M.G., D.S.O.
Brigadier-General C. J. Markham, C.B.E.
Brigadier-General R. S. Oxley, C.B., C.M.G.
Brigadier-General E. Pearce-Serocold, C.M.G.
Brigadier-General L. F. Philips, C.B., C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O.
Brigadier-General G. A. P. Rennie, C.M.G., D.S.O.
Brigadier-General E. G. St. Aubyn, D.S.O.
Brigadier-General Sir H. Wake, Bt., C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.
Brigadier-General H. W. M. Watson, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.
Brigadier-General B. F. Widdrington, C.M.G., D.S.O.
Brigadier-General F. G. Willan, C.M.G., D.S.O.
Brigadier-General H. A. Vernon, D.S.O.