Editing British Army

{{Short description|Land warfare force of the United Kingdom}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = British Army
| image                         = [[File:British Army crest.svg|frameless|150px]]<br />[[Heraldic badge|Badge]] of the British Army<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 December 2007 |title=The official Army badge |url=https://www.defenceimagery.mod.uk/Home/Search?Query=45147540.jpg&Type=Filename |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923004635/https://www.defenceimagery.mod.uk/Home/Search?Query=45147540.jpg&Type=Filename |archive-date=23 September 2024 |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=defenceimagery.mod.uk |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defense]] |language=en}}</ref>
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[[File:British Army logo.svg|frameless|100px]]<br />Logo since 2018<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 February 2018 |title=Army Briefing Note 19/18: The Army Brand |url=https://armysportcontrolboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/20180209-The_Army_Brand_ABN_19_18.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923182021/https://armysportcontrolboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/20180209-The_Army_Brand_ABN_19_18.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2024 |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=armysportcontrolboard.com |publisher=British Army}}</ref>
| dates                         = 
| country                       = {{unbulletedlist|[[Kingdom of Great Britain]] (1707–1800)|[[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]] (1801–1922)|[[United Kingdom|United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]] (1922–present)}}
| type                          = [[Army]]
| role                          = [[Land warfare]]
| size                          = {{plainlist|
* 73,847 regular forces personnel (January 2025)<ref name="stats">{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2025/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-1-january-2025#uk-service-personnel|title=Quarterly service personnel statistics 1 January 2025|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=3 March 2025}}</ref>
* 4,127 [[Brigade of Gurkhas|Gurkhas]] (January 2025)<ref name="stats"/>
* 25,742 [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|volunteer reserve]] personnel (January 2025)<ref name="stats"/>
}}
| command_structure             = [[British Armed Forces]]
| garrison                      = 
| garrison_label                = 
| nickname                      = 
| patron                        = 
| motto                         = 
| colours                       = 
| colours_label                 = 
| march                         = [[List of marches of the British Armed Forces#British Army|List of marches of the British Army]]
| mascot                        = 
| equipment                     = [[List of equipment of the British Army]]
| equipment_label               = 
| battles                       = 
| anniversaries                 = 
| decorations                   = 
| battle_honours                = <!-- Commanders -->
| website                       = {{Official URL}}
| commander1                    = [[Charles III|King Charles III]]
| commander1_label              = [[Head of the Armed Forces]]
| commander2                    = [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Roland Walker|Sir Roland Walker]]
| commander2_label              = [[Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the General Staff]]
| commander3                    = [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant General]] [[David Eastman (British Army officer)|David Eastman]]
| commander3_label              = [[Deputy Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Deputy Chief of the General Staff]]
| commander4                    = [[Major general (United Kingdom)|Major General]] [[Paul Griffiths (British Army officer)|Paul Griffiths]]
| commander4_label              = [[Assistant Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)#Assistant Chiefs|Assistant Chief of the General Staff]]
| commander5                    = [[Warrant officer (United Kingdom)#British Army|Warrant Officer Class 1]] John Miller<ref name="John Miller">{{cite web|url=https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=1a92be17-44b0-4dd4-b740-89057cd9a275|title=Soldier Magazine April 2025|publisher=British Army|access-date=4 April 2025}}</ref>
| commander5_label              = [[Army Sergeant Major]]
| notable_commanders            = <!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol         = [[File:Flag of the United Kingdom (3-5).svg|center|border|100px]]
| identification_symbol_label   = {{nowrap|[[War flag]]}}
| identification_symbol_2       = [[File:Flag of the British Army.svg|center|border|100px]]
| identification_symbol_2_label = Non-ceremonial flag
| start_date                    = {{start date and age|1707|4|1|df=yes}}{{efn|English/Scottish parliamentary control of separate entities prior to 1707; British parliamentary control since 1 April 1707.<ref name="Chandler2003" />}}<ref>{{cite book|author=Clifford Walton|title=History of the British Standing Army. A.D. 1660 to 1700|publisher=Harrison and Sons|url=https://archive.org/details/historybritishs00waltgoog|year=1894|pages=[https://archive.org/details/historybritishs00waltgoog/page/n42 1]–2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Noel T. St. John Williams|title=Redcoats and courtesans: the birth of the British Army (1660–1690)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zDxnAAAAMAAJ&q=%22british+army%22+1660|year=1994|publisher=Brassey's|page=16|isbn=9781857530971}}</ref>
}}
{{British Army}}

The '''British Army''' is the principal [[Army|land warfare force]] of the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]]. {{as of|2025|1|1|post=,}} the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 [[Brigade of Gurkhas|Gurkhas]], 25,742 [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|volunteer reserve]] personnel and 4,697 "other personnel", for a total of 108,413.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 March 2025 |title=Quarterly service personnel statistics 1 January 2025 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2025 |website=gov.uk}}</ref>

The British Army traces back to 1707 and the [[Acts of Union 1707|formation]] of the united [[Kingdom of Great Britain]] which joined the Kingdoms of [[Kingdom of England|England]] and [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scotland]] into a [[Political union|single state]] and, with that, united the [[English Army]] and the [[Scots Army]] as the British Army.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zDxnAAAAMAAJ&q=%22british+army%22+1660|title=Redcoats and courtesans: the birth of the British Army (1660–1690)|last=Williams|first=Noel T. St John|date=1 January 1994|publisher=Brassey's (UK)|pages=1–2|isbn=9781857530971}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/historybritishs00waltgoog|title=History of the British Standing Army. A.D. 1660 to 1700|last=Walton|first=Clifford|date=1 January 1894|publisher=Harrison and Sons|page=[https://archive.org/details/historybritishs00waltgoog/page/n42 16]}}</ref> The [[Parliament of England|English]] [[Bill of Rights 1689]] and [[Convention of the Estates|Scottish]] [[Claim of Right Act 1689]] require parliamentary consent for [[the Crown]] to maintain a peacetime [[standing army]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/parliamentaryauthority/revolution/collections1/collections-glorious-revolution/billofrights/|title=Bill of Rights 1689|website=UK Parliament|access-date=9 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312063114/https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/parliamentaryauthority/revolution/collections1/collections-glorious-revolution/billofrights/|archive-date=12 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Members of the British Army swear allegiance to the [[Charles III|monarch]] as their [[commander-in-chief]].<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/43291/Ch18.pdf|title=Commanding Officers Guide. Manual of Service Law (JSP 830, Volume 1, Chapter 18)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151008171404/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/43291/Ch18.pdf|archive-date=8 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The army is administered by the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] and commanded by the [[Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the General Staff]].<ref name=":3">{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/32323.aspx|title=The British Army – Higher Command|website=army.mod.uk|access-date=9 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128133148/http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/32323.aspx|archive-date=28 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

At its inception, being composed primarily of cavalry and infantry, the British Army was one of two ''Regular'' Forces (there were also separate ''Reserve Forces'') within the British military (those parts of the British Armed Forces tasked with land warfare, as opposed to the naval forces),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1917/feb/12/naval-and-military-pensions-and-grants|date=12 February 1917|title=Naval and Military Pensions and Grants  |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]}}</ref> with the other having been the ''Ordnance Military Corps'' (made up of the [[Royal Artillery]], [[Royal Engineers]], and the [[Royal Sappers and Miners]]) of the [[Board of Ordnance]], which along with the originally civilian [[Commissariat#19th century|Commissariat Department]], stores and supply departments, as well as barracks and other departments, were absorbed into the British Army when the Board of Ordnance was abolished in 1855. Various other civilian departments of the board were absorbed into the [[War Office]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/units/3224/department-of-the-master-general-of-the-ordnance|title=Department of the Master-General of the Ordnance – Regiment History, War & Military Records & Archives|website=forces-war-records.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.navalhistoryarchive.org/index.php/Board_of_Ordnance|title=Board of Ordnance – Naval History Archive|website=navalhistoryarchive.org}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/44220102|title=The Honourable the Board of Ordnance. 1299—1855|author=Leslie, J. H.|year=1925|journal=Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research|volume=4|issue=17|pages=100–104|jstor=44220102}}</ref>

The British Army has seen action in major wars between the world's [[great power]]s, including the [[Seven Years' War]], the [[American Revolutionary War]], the [[Napoleonic Wars]], the [[Crimean War]] and the [[World War I|First]] and [[World War II|Second World War]]s. Britain's victories in most of these decisive wars allowed it to influence world events and establish itself as one of the world's leading [[military]] and [[Economy|economic]] powers.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oo3F2X8IDeEC|title=The Oxford History of the British Empire: The nineteenth century|last1=Louis|first1=William Roger|last2=Low|first2=Alaine M.|last3=Porter|first3=Andrew|year=2001|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-924678-6|page=332}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dVuwCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA508|title=The Historical Foundations of World Order: The Tower and the Arena|last1=Johnston|first1=Douglas|last2=Reisman|first2=W. Michael|year= 2007|publisher=Brill|isbn=978-90-474-2393-5|page=508}}</ref> Since the end of the [[Cold War]], the British Army has been deployed to a number of conflict zones, often as part of an [[Expeditionary warfare|expeditionary force]], a [[coalition]] force or part of a [[United Nations peacekeeping]] operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/operations-deployments/operations-deployments.aspx|title=The British Army – Operations and Deployments|website=army.mod.uk|access-date=9 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128122234/http://www.army.mod.uk/operations-deployments/operations-deployments.aspx|archive-date=28 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|History of the British Army}}

=== Formation ===
[[File:Oliver Cromwell by Samuel Cooper.jpg|thumb|[[Lord Protector]] [[Oliver Cromwell]]]]
[[File:General Thomas Fairfax (1612-1671) by Robert Walker and studio.jpg|thumb|Lord General Thomas Fairfax, the first commander of the New Model Army]]

Until the [[Wars of the Three Kingdoms|Wars of the Three Kingdoms (1639–1653)]], neither England nor Scotland had had a [[standing army]] with professional officers and career corporals and sergeants. England relied on [[Militia (English)|militia]] organised by local officials or private forces mobilised by the nobility, or on hired mercenaries from Europe.<ref>David G. Chandler, ed., ''The Oxford history of the British army'' (1996) pp. 24–45.</ref> From the [[later Middle Ages]] until the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, when a foreign expeditionary force was needed, such as the one that [[Henry V of England]] took to France and that fought at the [[Battle of Agincourt]] (1415), the army, a professional one, was raised for the duration of the expedition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/blog/victorious-army-making-raising-king-henry-vs-army-1415/|title=A victorious army in the making: Raising King Henry V's army of 1415|date=11 August 2015|first=Benjamin|last=Trowbridge|publisher=National Archives|access-date=17 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018013732/http://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/blog/victorious-army-making-raising-king-henry-vs-army-1415/|archive-date=18 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, the members of the English [[Long Parliament]] realised that the use of county militia organised into regional associations (such as the [[Eastern Association]]), often commanded by local members of Parliament (both from the House of Commons and the House of Lords), while more than able to hold their own in the regions which [[Parliamentarians (English Civil War)|Parliamentarians ('Roundheads")]] controlled, were unlikely to win the war. So Parliament initiated two actions. The [[Self-denying Ordinance]] forbade members of Parliament (with the notable exception of [[Oliver Cromwell]], then a member of parliament and future Lord Protector) from serving as officers in the Parliamentary armies. This created a distinction between the civilians in Parliament, who tended to be [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] and conciliatory to the Royalists ("Cavaliers") in nature, and a corps of professional officers, who tended to be Independent ([[Congregational]]) in theology. The second action was legislation for the creation of a Parliamentary-funded army, commanded by Lord General [[Thomas Fairfax]], which became known as the [[New Model Army]] (originally phrased "new-modelled Army").{{sfn|Rogers|1968|pp=207–211}}

While this proved to be a war-winning formula, the New Model Army, being organised and politically active, went on to dominate the politics of the [[Interregnum (England)|Interregnum]] and by 1660 was widely disliked. The New Model Army was paid off and disbanded at the later [[Restoration (1660)|Restoration]] of the monarchy in 1660 with the accession of King [[Charles II of England|Charles II]]. For many decades the alleged excesses of the New Model Army under [[the Protectorate]]  / Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell were used as propaganda (and still feature in Irish folklore){{sfn|Ó Siochrú|2008|p=1–2}} and the [[Whig Party (England)|Whig Party]] element recoiled from allowing a standing army to continue with the agreed-upon rights and privileges under the return of a king.<ref>Lord Macaulay ''The History of England from the accession of James the Second'' (C.H. Firth ed. 1913) 1:136–38</ref> The militia acts of 1661 and 1662 prevented local authorities from calling up militia and oppressing their own local opponents. Calling up the militia was possible only if the king and local elites agreed to do so.<ref>{{cite web|title= 'Charles II, 1661: An Act declaring the sole Right of the Militia to be in King and for the present ordering & disposing the same.', Statutes of the Realm: volume 5: 1628–80 (1819)|pages=308–309|url= http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=47290|access-date= 5 March 2007|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070927215615/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=47290|archive-date= 27 September 2007|url-status= live}}</ref>

[[Charles II of England|King Charles II]] and his "[[Cavalier]]" / Royalist supporters favoured a new army under royal control, and immediately after the Restoration of 1660 to 1661 began working on its establishment.<ref>David Chandler, ''The Oxford History of the British Army'' (2003) p. 46. [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOgs8WpJI9AC&dq=british+army+founded+1660&pg=PA46]</ref> The first [[English Army#Restoration|English Army]] regiments, including elements of the disbanded [[New Model Army]], were formed between November 1660 and January 1661<ref>David Chandler, ''The Oxford History of the British Army'' (2003) p. 47. [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOgs8WpJI9AC&dq=british+army+founded+1660&pg=PA47]</ref> and became a standing military force for England (financed by [[Parliament of England|Parliament]]).<ref>Mallinson, p. 2</ref><ref name=Clayton2014>{{cite book|last1=Clayton|first1=Anthony|title=The British Officer: Leading the Army from 1660 to the Present|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-86444-8|page=12|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HlDJAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA12|quote=The first standing Army for Britain, a force of some 5,000 men on the English establishment, was formed at the Restoration in 1660–61. Separate forces were maintained on the Scottish and Irish establishments.}}</ref> The [[Royal Scots Army|Royal Scots]] and [[Irish Army (Kingdom of Ireland)|Irish Armies]] were financed by the parliaments of [[Parliament of Scotland|Scotland]] and [[Parliament of Ireland|Ireland]].<ref name=Glozier2007>{{cite book|last1=Glozier|first1=Matthew|last2=Onnekink|first2=David|title=War, religion and service: Huguenot soldiering, 1685–1713|date=2007|publisher=Ashgate|isbn=978-0-7546-5444-5|page=31|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uC7TWCDcOBwC&pg=PA31|quote=After the Restoration there were separate English and Scottish (until 1707 unification) and Irish (until later 1800 union) military establishments, reflecting the national revenue from which a military unit was maintained. In operational and administrative matters all three combined into a single formation of a unified British Army by the start of the 19th century. From 1688, the description 'British' army is both textually convenient and historically accurate.}}</ref> Parliamentary control was established by the [[Bill of Rights 1689]] and [[Claim of Right Act 1689]], although the monarch continued to influence aspects of army administration until at least the end of the 19th century.<ref>David Chandler, ''The Oxford History of the British Army'' (2003) pp. xvi–xvii</ref>

After the Restoration, King Charles II pulled together four regiments of infantry and cavalry, calling them his guards, at a cost of £122,000 from his general budget. This became the foundation of the permanent English Army. By 1685, it had grown to number 7,500 soldiers in marching regiments, and 1,400 men permanently stationed in garrisons. A [[Monmouth Rebellion]] in 1685 allowed successor King  [[James II of England|James II]] to raise the forces to 20,000 men. There were 37,000 in 1678, when England played a role in the closing stage of the cross-channel [[Franco-Dutch War]]. After [[Protestantism|Protestant]] dual Monarchs [[William III of England|William III]], formerly William of the Dutch [[House of Orange]], and his wife [[Mary II of England|Mary II's]] joint accession to the throne after a short constitutional crisis with Parliament sending  Mary's father, predecessor King James II, (who remained a Catholic) during his brief controversial reign, off the throne and into exile.  England then involved itself in the [[War of the Grand Alliance]] on the Continent, primarily to prevent a possible French  Catholic monarch organizing an invasion restoring the exiled James II (Queen Mary's father and still a [[Roman Catholic]]).<ref>{{harvnb|Miller|2000|p=144}}</ref> Later in 1689, William III to solidify his and Mary's hold on the monarchy, expanded the new English army to 74,000, and then a few years later to 94,000 in 1694. Parliament was very nervous and reduced the cadre to 70,000 in 1697. Scotland and Ireland had theoretically separate military establishments, but they were unofficially merged with the English Crown  force.<ref>Chandler, ed., ''The Oxford history of the British army'' (1996) pp. 46–57.</ref><ref>Correlli Barnett, ''Britain and her army, 1509–1970: a military, political and social survey'' (1970) pp. 90–98, 110–125.</ref>

[[File:John Churchill Marlborough porträtterad av Adriaen van der Werff (1659-1722).jpg|thumb|alt=Oil-on-canvas portrait|[[John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough]], was one of the first generals in the new British Army and fought in the War of the Spanish Succession. He was a noted ancestor of Sir [[Winston S. Churchill]], later famous [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] during [[World War II]].]]

By the time of the 1707 [[Acts of Union 1707|Acts of Union]], many regiments of the English and Scottish armies were combined under one operational command and stationed in the [[Netherlands]] for the [[War of the Spanish Succession]]. Although all the regiments were now part of the new British military establishment,<ref name=Chandler2003>{{cite book|last1=Chandler|first1=David|title=The Oxford history of the British Army|date=2003|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-280311-5|page=xv|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOgs8WpJI9AC&q=British+army+from+the+Act+of+Union&pg=PA45|quote=It is generally accepted that the regular standing army in Britain was officially created – in the sense of being fully accommodated within parliamentary control in 1689, although it is, strictly speaking, only correct to refer to the British army from the Act of Union with Scotland in 1707.}}</ref> they remained under the old operational-command structure and retained much of the institutional ethos, customs and traditions of the standing armies created shortly after the [[restoration (England)|Restoration of the Monarchy]] 47 years earlier. The order of seniority of the most-senior British Army line regiments is based on that of the earlier English army. Although technically the Scots [[Royal Regiment of Foot]] was raised in 1633 and is the oldest Regiment of the Line,<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/23301.aspx|publisher=British Army|access-date=12 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118061954/http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/23301.aspx|archive-date=18 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Scottish and Irish regiments were only allowed to take a rank in the English army on the date of their arrival in England (or the date when they were first placed on the English establishment). In 1694, a board of general officers was convened to decide the rank of English, Irish and Scots regiments serving in the Netherlands; the regiment which became known as the [[Scots Greys]] were designated the [[4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards|4th Dragoons]] because there were three English regiments raised prior to 1688 when the Scots Greys were first placed in the English establishment. In 1713, when a new board of general officers was convened to decide the rank of several regiments, the seniority of the Scots Greys was reassessed and based on their June 1685 entry into England. At that time there was only one English regiment of dragoons, and the Scots Greys eventually received the British Army rank of 2nd Dragoons.{{sfn|Royal Scots Greys|1840|pp=56–57}}

=== British Empire (1707–1914) ===
{{main|British Army during the American Revolutionary War|British Army during the Napoleonic Wars|British Army during the Victorian Era}}

After 1707, British continental policy was to contain expansion by competing powers such as France and Spain. Although Spain was the dominant global power during the previous two centuries and the chief threat to England's early trans-Atlantic colonial ambitions, its influence was now waning. The territorial ambitions of the French, however, led to the War of the Spanish Succession<ref>{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=50}}</ref> and the later  [[Napoleonic Wars]].<ref name=ma165/>

Although the [[Royal Navy]] is widely regarded as vital to the rise of the [[British Empire]], the British Army played an important role in the formation of colonies, [[protectorate]]s and [[dominion]]s in the [[Americas]], [[Africa]], [[Asia]], [[India]] and [[Australasia]].<ref>{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=104}}.</ref> British soldiers captured strategically important sites and territories, with the army involved in wars to secure the empire's borders, internal safety and support friendly governments and princes. Among these actions were the French and Indian War / Seven Years' War,<ref name="ma106">{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=106}}.</ref> the [[American Revolutionary War]],<ref>{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=129}}</ref> the [[Napoleonic Wars]],<ref name="ma165">{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=165}}.</ref> the [[First Opium War|First]] and [[Second Opium War]]s,<ref name="ma102">{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=102}}</ref> the [[Boxer Rebellion]],<ref name="boxer">{{harvnb|Bates|2010|p=25}}.</ref> the [[New Zealand Wars]],<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/new-zealand-wars/page-1|title=1. – New Zealand wars – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand|last=Taonga|first=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu|website=www.teara.govt.nz|access-date=17 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403190049/http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/new-zealand-wars/page-1|archive-date=3 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Australian frontier wars]],<ref>{{Citation | author1=Connor, John | title=The Australian frontier wars, 1788–1838 | date=2005 | publisher=UNSW Press | isbn=978-0-86840-756-2 }}</ref> the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|Sepoy Rebellion of 1857]],<ref name="ma210">{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=210}}</ref> the [[First Boer War|first]] and [[second Boer War]]s,<ref name="ma257">{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=257}}</ref> the [[Fenian raids]],<ref name="fenian">{{cite web |url=http://www.doyle.com.au/fenian_raids.htm |title=The Fenian Raids |publisher=Doyle.com.au |date=15 September 2001 |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404161321/http://www.doyle.com.au/fenian_raids.htm |archive-date=4 April 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref> the [[Irish War of Independence]],<ref name="ma282">{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=282}}</ref> interventions in [[Afghanistan]] (intended to maintain a [[buffer state]] between [[British India]] and the [[Russian Empire]])<ref>{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=203}}.</ref> and the [[Crimean War]] (to keep the Russian Empire to the north on the [[Black Sea]] at a safe distance by aiding the [[Ottoman Empire]]).<ref name="ma195">{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=195}}.</ref> Like the [[English Army]], the British Army fought the kingdoms of Spain, France (including the [[First French Empire]]) and the Netherlands ([[Dutch Republic]]) for supremacy in [[North America]] and the [[West Indies]]. With native and provincial and colonial assistance, the Army conquered [[New France]] in the [[French and Indian War]] (North American theatre) of the parallel [[Seven Years' War]]<ref name="ma106" /> and suppressed a [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native / Indian North Americans]] uprising in [[Pontiac's War]] around the [[Great Lakes]].<ref>[http://www.umbc.edu/che/tahlessons/pdf/Pontiacs_War(PrinterFriendly).pdf Pontiac's War] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428140752/http://www.umbc.edu/che/tahlessons/pdf/Pontiacs_War(PrinterFriendly).pdf |date=28 April 2011 }} Baltimore County Public Schools</ref> The British Army was defeated in the [[American Revolutionary War]], losing the [[Thirteen Colonies]] but retaining [[The Canadas]] and [[The Maritimes]] as in [[British North America]], including [[Bermuda]] (originally part of  the [[Colony of Virginia]], and which had been originally strongly sympathetic to the American colonial rebels early in the war).<ref>{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=110}}.</ref>

[[Halifax, Nova Scotia]] and [[Bermuda]] were to become [[Imperial fortress]]es (although Bermuda, being safer from attack over water and impervious to attack overland, quickly became the most important in British North America), along with [[Malta]] and [[Gibraltar]], providing bases in the eastern [[Atlantic Ocean]] and [[Mediterranean Sea]] for [[Royal Navy]] squadrons to control the oceans and trade routes, and heavily garrisoned by the British Army both for defence of the bases and to provide mobile military forces to work with the Navy in amphibious operations throughout their regions.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gordon |first=Donald Craigie |author-link= |date=1965 |title=The Dominion Partnership in Imperial Defense, 1870–1914 |url= |location=Baltimore, Maryland, US |publisher=Johns Hopkins Press |page=14 |isbn= |quote=There were more than 44,000 troops stationed overseas in colonial garrisons, and slightly more than half of these were in imperial fortresses: in the Mediterranean, Bermuda, Halifax, St. Helena, and Mauritius. The rest of the forces were in colonies proper, with a heavy concentration in New Zealand and South Africa. The imperial government paid approximately £1,715,000 per annum toward the maintenance of these forces, and the various colonial governments contributed £370,000,  the largest amounts coming from [[Ceylon]] and [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] in [[Australia]].}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kennedy, R.N. |first=Captain W. R. |date=1 July 1885 |title=An Unknown Colony: Sport, Travel and Adventure in Newfoundland and the West Indies |url= |magazine=Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine |location= |publisher=William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh, Scotland, and 37 Paternoster Row, London, England |access-date= |page=111 |quote=As a fortress, Bermuda is of the first importance. It is situated almost exactly half-way between the northern and the southern naval stations; while nature has made it practically impregnable. The only approach lies through that labyrinth of reefs and narrow channels which Captain Kennedy has described. The local pilots are sworn to secrecy; and, what is more reassuring, by lifting buoys and laying down torpedoes, hostile vessels trying to thread the passage must come to inevitable grief, So far Bermuda may be considered safe, whatever may be the condition of the fortifications and the cannon in the batteries. Yet the universal neglect of our colonial defences is apparent in the fact that no telegraphic communication has hitherto been established with the West Indies on the one side, or with the Dominion of Canada on the other.}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=VERAX |first=(anonymous) |date=1 May 1889 |title=The Defense of Canada. (From Colburn's United Service Magazine) |url= |magazine=The United Service: A Quarterly Review of Military and Naval Affairs |location= |publisher=LR Hamersly & Co., 1510 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US; subsequently LR Hamersly, 49 Wall Street, New York City, New York, US; BF Stevens & Brown, 4 Trafalgar Square, London, England |access-date= |page=552 |quote=The objectives for America are clearly marked — Halifax, Quebec, Montreal, Prescott, Kingston, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver. Halifax and Vancouver are certain to be most energetically attacked, for they will be the naval bases, besides Bermuda, from which England would carry on her naval attack on the American coasts and commerce.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Dawson |first1=George M. |last2=Sutherland |first2=Alexander |author-link= |date=1898 |title=MacMillan's Geographical Series: Elementary Geography of the British Colonies |url= |location=London |publisher=MacMillan and Co., Limited, London, England, UK; The MacMillan Company, New York City, New York, US |page=184 |isbn= |quote=There is a strongly fortified dockyard, and the defensive works, together with the intricate character of the approaches to the harbour, render the islands an almost impregnable fortress. Bermuda is governed as a Crown colony by a Governor who is also Commander-in-Chief, assisted by an appointed Executive Council and a representative House of Assembly.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=MacFarlane |first=Thomas |author-link= |date=1891 |title=Within the Empire; An Essay on Imperial Federation |url= |location=Ottawa |publisher=James Hope & Co., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |page=29 |isbn= |quote=Besides the Imperial fortress of Malta, Gibraltar, Halifax and Bermuda it has to maintain and arm coaling stations and forts at Siena Leone, St. Helena, Simons Bay (at the Cape of Good Hope), Trincomalee, Jamaica and Port Castries (in the island of Santa Lucia).}}</ref>

[[File:Battle of Waterloo 1815.PNG|thumb|250px|upright=1.05|alt=Panoramic painting of the Battle of Waterloo|The [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]] and [[Field Marshal von Blücher]]'s triumph over [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon Bonaparte]] at the [[The Battle of Waterloo (painting, Sadler II)|Battle of Waterloo]]]]

The British Army was heavily involved in the [[Napoleonic Wars]], participating in a number of campaigns in Europe (including continuous deployment in the [[Peninsular War]]), the [[Caribbean]], North Africa and [[War of 1812|North America]]. The war between the British and the [[First French Empire]] of [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] stretched around the world; at its peak in 1813, the regular army contained over 250,000 men. A coalition of Anglo-Dutch and Prussian armies under the [[Duke of Wellington]] and [[Field Marshal von Blücher]] finally defeated Napoleon at [[Battle of Waterloo|Waterloo]] in 1815.<ref>{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=177}}.</ref>

The English were involved politically and militarily in Ireland. The campaign of English republican Protector [[Oliver Cromwell]] involved uncompromising treatment of the Irish towns (most notably [[Drogheda]] and [[Wexford]]) which supported the Royalists during the [[English Civil War]]. The English Army (and the subsequent British Army) remained in Ireland primarily to suppress Irish revolts or disorder. In addition to its conflict with Irish nationalists, it was faced with the prospect of battling Anglo-Irish and [[Ulster Scots people|Ulster Scots]] in Ireland who were angered by unfavourable taxation of Irish produce imported into Britain. With other Irish groups, they raised a volunteer army and threatened to emulate the American colonists if their conditions were not met. Learning from their experience in America, the British government sought a political solution. The British Army fought Irish rebels—Protestant and Catholic—primarily in [[Ulster]] and [[Leinster]] ([[Theobald Wolfe Tone|Wolfe Tone's]] [[United Irishmen]]) in the [[Irish Rebellion of 1798|1798 rebellion]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/irish_reb_01.shtml The 1798 Irish Rebellion] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207080021/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/irish_reb_01.shtml |date=7 February 2011 }} BBC</ref>

[[File:Alphonse de Neuville - The defence of Rorke's Drift 1879 - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|alt=Painting of the Battle of Rorke's Drift, with a building burning|In the 1879 [[Battle of Rorke's Drift]], a small British force repelled an attack by overwhelming [[Zulu Empire|Zulu]] forces; eleven [[Victoria Cross]]es were awarded for its defence.]]
In addition to battling the armies of other European empires (and its former colonies, the United States, in the [[War of 1812]]),<ref>{{cite web |date=30 July 2010 |title=Guide to the War of 1812 |url=https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/1812/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805043534/http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/1812/ |archive-date=5 August 2011 |access-date=28 March 2011 |publisher=Library of Congress}}</ref> the British Army fought the Chinese in the First and Second [[Opium Wars]]<ref name=ma102/> and the [[Boxer Rebellion]],<ref name=boxer/> [[Māori people|Māori]] tribes in the first of the New Zealand Wars,<ref name=":0" /> [[Siraj ud-Daulah|Nawab Shiraj-ud-Daula's]] forces and [[British East India Company]] mutineers in the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|Sepoy Rebellion of 1857]],<ref name=ma257/> the Boers in the first and second Boer Wars,<ref name=ma257/> Irish [[Fenian]]s in Canada during the [[Fenian raids]]<ref name=fenian/> and [[Irish Republican Army|Irish separatists]] in the [[Anglo-Irish War]].<ref name=ma102/> The increasing demands of imperial expansion and the inadequacy and inefficiency of the underfunded British Army, [[Militia (United Kingdom)|Militia]], Ordnance Military Corps, [[Yeomanry]] and [[Volunteer Force (Great Britain)|Volunteer Force]] after the Napoleonic Wars led to series of reforms following the failures of the [[Crimean War]].<ref>Peter Burroughs, "An Unreformed Army? 1815–1868", in David Chandler, ed., ''The Oxford History of the British Army'' (1996), pp. 183–184</ref>

[[File:Establishment and Strength of the British Army (excluding Indian native troops stationed in India) prior to August, 1914.jpg|thumb|Establishment and strength of the British Army, excluding Indian native troops stationed in India, prior to August 1914]]
Inspired by the successes of the [[Prussian Army]] (which relied on short-term conscription of all eligible young men to maintain a large reserve of recently discharged soldiers, ready to be recalled on the outbreak of war to immediately bring the small peacetime regular army up to strength), the [[Regular Reserve (United Kingdom)#Army Reserve (Regular)|''Regular Reserve'']] of the British Army was originally created in 1859 by [[Secretary of State for War]] [[Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea|Sidney Herbert]], and re-organised under the [[Reserve Force Act 1867]]. Prior to this, a soldier was generally enlisted into the British Army for a 21-year engagement, following which (should he survive so long) he was discharged as a Pensioner. Pensioners were sometimes still employed on garrison duties, as were younger soldiers no longer deemed fit for expeditionary service who were generally organised in invalid units or returned to the regimental depot for home service. The cost of paying pensioners, and the obligation the government was under to continue to employ invalids as well as soldiers deemed by their commanding officers as detriments to their units were motivations to change this system. The long period of engagement also discouraged many potential recruits. The long service enlistments were consequently replaced with short service enlistments, with undesirable soldiers not permitted to re-engage on the completion of their first engagement. The size of the army also fluctuated greatly, increasing in war time, and drastically shrinking with peace. Battalions posted on garrison duty overseas were allowed an increase on their normal peacetime establishment, which resulted in their having surplus men on their return to a ''Home'' station. Consequently, soldiers engaging on short term enlistments were enabled to serve several years with the colours and the remainder in the Regular Reserve, remaining liable for recall to the colours if required. Among the other benefits, this thereby enabled the British Army to have a ready pool of recently trained men to draw upon in an emergency. The name of the Regular Reserve (which for a time was divided into a ''First Class'' and a ''Second Class'') has resulted in confusion with the ''Reserve Forces'', which were the pre-existing part-time, local-service home-defence [[Units of the British Army#British Army units in other areas of the British Armed Forces|forces]] that were auxiliary to the British Army (or ''Regular Force''), but not originally part of it: the [[Yeomanry]], [[Militia (United Kingdom)|Militia]] (or ''Constitutional Force'') and [[Volunteer Force]]. These were consequently also referred to as ''Auxiliary Forces'' or ''Local Forces''.<ref>''The Army Book For The British Empire'', by Lieutenant-General WH Goodenough, Royal Artillery, CB, and Lieutenant-Colonel JC Dalton (HP), Royal Artillery. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. 1893.</ref>

The late-19th-century [[Cardwell Reforms|Cardwell]] and [[Childers Reforms]]  gave the army its modern shape and redefined its [[regimental system]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=24992|page=3300|date=1 July 1881}}</ref> The 1907 [[Haldane Reforms]] created the [[Territorial Force]] as the army's volunteer reserve component, merging and reorganising the Volunteer Force, Militia and Yeomanry.<ref>{{harvnb|Cassidy|2006|p=79}}.</ref>

=== World Wars (1914–1945) ===
{{main|British Army during the First World War|British Army during the Second World War}}
[[File:British Mark I male tank Somme 25 September 1916.jpg|alt=Early First World War tank, with soldiers in a trench next to it|thumb|250px|British First World War [[Mark I tank]]; the guidance wheels behind the main body were later scrapped as unnecessary. Armoured vehicles of the era required considerable infantry and artillery support. ''(Photo by [[Ernest Brooks (photographer)|Ernest Brooks]])'']]

[[File:Scotishadvanceepsom.jpg|thumb|250px|alt=Bagpiper leading a line of soldiers though thigh-high growth|Led by their piper, men of the 7th Battalion, [[Seaforth Highlanders]] (part of the [[46th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|46th (Highland) Brigade]]), advance through Normandy during [[Operation Epsom]] on 26 June 1944]]

Great Britain was challenged by other powers, primarily the [[German Empire]] and [[Nazi Germany]], during the 20th century. A century earlier it vied with Napoleonic France for global pre-eminence, and [[House of Hanover|Hanoverian]] Britain's natural allies were the kingdoms and principalities of [[northern Germany]]. By the middle of the 19th century, Britain and France were allies in preventing Russia's appropriation of the [[Ottoman Empire]], although the fear of French invasion led shortly afterwards to the creation of the Volunteer Force. By the first decade of the 20th century, the United Kingdom was allied with France (by the [[Entente Cordiale]]) and Russia (which had a secret agreement with France for mutual support in a war against the [[Prussia]]n-led German Empire and the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/The_Anglo-Russian_Entente|title=Agreement concerning Persia|access-date=23 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708181007/https://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/The_Anglo-Russian_Entente|archive-date=8 July 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

When the First World War broke out in August 1914 the British Army sent the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War I)|British Expeditionary Force]] (BEF), consisting mainly of [[Standing army|regular army]] troops, to [[Western Front (World War I)|France and Belgium]].<ref>{{harvnb|Ensor|1980|pp=525–526}}.</ref> The fighting bogged down into static [[trench warfare]] for the remainder of the war. In 1915 the army created the [[Mediterranean Expeditionary Force]] to invade the [[Ottoman Empire]] via [[Gallipoli Campaign|Gallipoli]], an unsuccessful attempt to capture [[Constantinople]] and secure a sea route to [[Russian Empire|Russia]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=3}}

The First World War was the most devastating in [[Military history of the United Kingdom|British military history]], with nearly 800,000 men killed and over two&nbsp;million wounded. Early in the war, the BEF was virtually destroyed and was replaced first by [[Kitchener's Army|volunteers]] and then by a [[Conscription in the United Kingdom|conscript]] force. Major battles included those at [[Battle of the Somme|the Somme]] and [[Battle of Passchendaele|Passchendaele]].<ref>{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=310}}.</ref> Advances in technology saw the advent of the [[tank]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/nonflash_tank.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014050900/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/nonflash_tank.shtml |archive-date=14 October 2007 |title=Mark I tank |access-date=28 March 2011}}</ref> (and the creation of the [[Royal Tank Regiment]]) and advances in aircraft design (and the creation of the [[Royal Flying Corps]]) which would be decisive in future battles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/ww1.cfm|title=RAF – World War 1|last=here|first=RAF Details|website=www.raf.mod.uk|access-date=17 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129020520/http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/ww1.cfm|archive-date=29 January 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Trench warfare dominated Western Front strategy for most of the war, and the use of [[Chemical weapons in World War I|chemical weapons]] (disabling and poison gases) added to the devastation.<ref>{{cite web |author=Michael Duffy |url=http://www.firstworldwar.com/weaponry/gas.htm |title=Weapons of War: Poison Gas |publisher=Firstworldwar.com |date=22 August 2009 |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821004525/http://www.firstworldwar.com/weaponry/gas.htm |archive-date=21 August 2007 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

The [[World War II|Second World War]] broke out in September 1939 with the Soviet and [[German Army (Wehrmacht)|German Army]]'s [[invasion of Poland]].<ref name=ma335>{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=335}}.</ref> British assurances to the Poles led the British Empire to declare war on [[Nazi Germany|Germany]]. As in the First World War, a relatively small [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|BEF]] was sent to France<ref name=ma335/> but then hastily evacuated from [[Dunkirk evacuation|Dunkirk]] as the German forces [[Battle of France|swept through the Low Countries and across France]] in May 1940.<ref name=ma342>{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=342}}.</ref>

After the British Army recovered from its earlier defeats, it defeated the Germans and Italians at the [[Second Battle of El Alamein]] in [[North African Campaign|North Africa]] in 1942–1943 and helped drive them from Africa. It then fought through [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italy]]{{sfn|Taylor|1976|p=157}} and, with the help of American, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, Indian and Free French forces,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theddaystory.com/discover/what-is-d-day/|title=The D-Day Story|publisher=theddaystory.com|access-date=16 September 2022}}</ref> was the principal organiser and participant in the [[Normandy landings|D-Day invasion of Normandy]] on 6 June 1944; nearly half the Allied soldiers were British.{{sfn|Gilbert|2005|p=301}} In the [[South-East Asian theatre of World War II|Far East]], the British Army rallied against the Japanese in the [[Burma Campaign]] and regained the British Far Eastern colonial possessions.{{sfn|Taylor|1976|p=210}}

=== Postcolonial era (1945–2000) ===
[[File:1945 Order of Precedence of the British Army.jpg|thumb|left|upright|1945 Order of Precedence of the British Army]]

After the Second World War the British Army was significantly reduced in size, although [[National Service]] continued until 1960.<ref name="M 384">{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=384}}</ref> This period saw [[decolonisation]] begin with the [[partition of India|partition]] and [[Indian independence movement|independence]] of India and Pakistan, followed by the independence of British colonies in Africa and Asia.

The [[Corps Warrant]], which is the official list of which bodies of the British Military (not to be confused with ''naval'') Forces were to be considered Corps of the British Army for the purposes of the [[Army Act]], the Reserve Forces Act, 1882, and the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act, 1907, had not been updated since 1926 (Army Order 49 of 1926), although amendments had been made up to and including Army Order 67 of 1950. A new Corps Warrant was declared in 1951.

Although the British Army was a major participant in [[1st Commonwealth Division|Korea]] in the early 1950s<ref name="M 384" /> and [[Suez Crisis|Suez]] in 1956,<ref>{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=407}}</ref> during this period Britain's role in world events was reduced and the army was downsized.<ref>{{cite news|title=Merged regiments and new brigading – many famous units to lose separate identity|newspaper=The Times |date=25 July 1957}}</ref> The [[British Army of the Rhine]], consisting of [[I Corps (United Kingdom)|I (BR) Corps]], remained in Germany as a bulwark against Soviet invasion.<ref>{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=440}}</ref> The [[Cold War]] continued, with significant technological advances in warfare, and the army saw the introduction of new weapons systems.<ref>{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=442}}</ref> Despite the decline of the British Empire, the army was engaged in [[Aden Emergency|Aden]],<ref name="ma401">{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=401}}</ref> [[Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation|Indonesia]], [[EOKA|Cyprus]],<ref name="ma401" /> [[Mau Mau Uprising|Kenya]]<ref name="ma401" /> and [[Malayan Emergency|Malaya]].<ref>{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=402}}</ref> In 1982, the British Army and the [[Royal Marines]] helped liberate the [[Falkland Islands]] during the [[Falklands War|conflict with Argentina]] after that country's invasion of the British territory.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Museum/Falklands/falkSurrenderDocument.html |title=Falklands Surrender Document |publisher=Britains-smallwars.com |date=14 June 1982 |access-date=28 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501162727/http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Museum/Falklands/falkSurrenderDocument.html |archive-date=1 May 2011 }}</ref>

In the three decades following 1969, the army was heavily deployed in [[Northern Ireland]]'s [[Operation Banner]] to support the [[Royal Ulster Constabulary]] (later the [[Police Service of Northern Ireland]]) in their conflict with republican paramilitary groups.<ref>{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=411}}.</ref> The locally recruited [[Ulster Defence Regiment]] was formed, becoming home-service battalions of the [[The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling) 83rd and 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)|Royal Irish Regiment]] in 1992 before it was disbanded in 2006. Over 700 soldiers were killed during [[the Troubles]]. Following the 1994–1996 [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|IRA]] ceasefires and since 1997, demilitarisation has been part of the peace process and the military presence has been reduced.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6923342.stm Army ending its operation in NI] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123025906/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6923342.stm |date=23 November 2008 }} BBC News, 31 July 2007</ref> On 25 June 2007 the 2nd Battalion of the [[Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment]] left the army complex in [[The Troubles in Bessbrook|Bessbrook]], [[County Armagh]], ending the longest operation in British Army history.<ref>{{cite news |title=Last troops pull out of Bessbrook |work=[[BBC News Online]] |date=25 June 2007 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6235514.stm |access-date=8 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820103544/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6235514.stm |archive-date=20 August 2007 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

==== Persian Gulf War ====
{{Main|Gulf War|Operation Granby}}

[[File:An APC of the 7th Brigade Royal Scots.JPEG|thumb|250px|alt=An armoured personnel carrier flying the Union Jack|British APC passing by wrecked and abandoned vehicles along the "[[Highway of Death]]" in 1991.]]

The British Army contributed 50,000 troops to the coalition which fought [[Iraq]] in the [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jun/11/iraq.military|title=50,000 troops in Gulf illness scare|date=11 June 2004|work=The Guardian|access-date=17 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029043911/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jun/11/iraq.military|archive-date=29 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> and British forces controlled [[Kuwait]] after its liberation. Forty-seven British military personnel died during the war.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/SUPREME+SACRIFICE%3B+British+soldier+killed+in+Iraq+was+unemployed+TA...-a0107281788|title=Supreme sacrifice: British soldier killed in Iraq was unemployed TA man|date=28 August 2003|publisher=Thefreelibrary.com|access-date=28 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430043927/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/SUPREME+SACRIFICE%3B+British+soldier+killed+in+Iraq+was+unemployed+TA...-a0107281788|archive-date=30 April 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== {{anchor|Balkans conflicts}}Balkan conflicts ====
[[File:British Army vehicles in Croatia, 1996.jpg|thumb|British Army vehicles in a staging area before being deployed to Bosnia]]
{{Main|Yugoslav Wars}}

The army was deployed to former [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] in 1992. Initially part of the [[United Nations Protection Force]],<ref>{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=446}}</ref> in 1995 its command was transferred to the [[Implementation Force]] (IFOR) and then to the [[Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina]] (SFOR);<ref>{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=447}}</ref> the commitment rose to over 10,000 troops. In 1999, British forces under SFOR command were sent to [[Kosovo]] and the contingent increased to 19,000 troops.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politics.co.uk/reference/former-yugoslavia-and-the-role-of-british-forces|title=Former Yugoslavia and the Role of British Forces|website=politics.co.uk|access-date=17 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318172737/http://www.politics.co.uk/reference/former-yugoslavia-and-the-role-of-british-forces|archive-date=18 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Between early 1993 and June 2010, 72 British military personnel died during operations in the former Yugoslavian countries of Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia.<ref name=":6">{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/416474/20150326_UK_Armed_Forces_Operational_deaths_post_World_War_II_O.pdf|title=UK Post-WW2 Operational Deaths|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507071536/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/416474/20150326_UK_Armed_Forces_Operational_deaths_post_World_War_II_O.pdf|archive-date=7 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== The Troubles ====
Although there have been permanent garrisons in Northern Ireland throughout its history, the British Army was deployed as a peacekeeping force from 1969 to 2007 in [[Operation Banner]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6276416.stm|title=Army paper says IRA not defeated|work=BBC News|date=6 July 2007|access-date=21 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111180357/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6276416.stm|archive-date=11 January 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> Initially, this was (in the wake of [[Unionism in Ireland|unionist]] attacks on nationalist communities in [[Derry]]<ref>[[Kenneth Bloomfield|Bloomfield, K]] Stormont in Crisis (Belfast 1994) p. 114.</ref> and [[Belfast]])<ref>[[Public Record Office of Northern Ireland|PRONI]]: Cabinet conclusions file CAB/4/1460</ref> to prevent further loyalist attacks on Catholic communities; it developed into support of the [[Royal Ulster Constabulary]] (RUC) and its successor, the [[Police Service of Northern Ireland]] (PSNI) against the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]] (PIRA).{{sfn|McKernan|2005|p=17}} Under the 1998 [[Good Friday Agreement]], there was a gradual reduction in the number of soldiers deployed.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/859388.stm Army dismantles NI post] BBC News, 31 July 2000</ref> In 2005, after the PIRA declared a ceasefire, the British Army dismantled posts, withdrew many troops and restored troop levels to those of a peacetime garrison.<ref>[http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php Army To Dismantle Tower Block Post] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912070458/http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php |date=12 September 2008 }} Skyscrapernews, 2 August 2005</ref>

Operation Banner ended at midnight on 31 July 2007 after about 38 years of continuous deployment, the longest in British Army history.<ref name="analysis">{{cite web|url=http://www.patfinucanecentre.org/misc/opbanner.pdf|title=Operation Banner: An analysis of military operations in Northern Ireland|year=2006|publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]|access-date=21 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227094451/http://www.patfinucanecentre.org/misc/opbanner.pdf|archive-date=27 February 2008}}</ref> According to an internal document released in 2007, the British Army had failed to defeat the IRA but made it impossible for them to win by violence. Operation Helvetic replaced Operation Banner in 2007, maintaining fewer service personnel in a more-benign environment.<ref name="analysis" /><ref name="BBC">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6276416.stm|title=Army paper says IRA not defeated|date=6 July 2007|work=BBC News|access-date=21 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111180357/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6276416.stm|archive-date=11 January 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> Of the 300,000 troops who served in Northern Ireland since 1969, there were 763 British military personnel killed<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11743727 Remembrance Day: Where they fell] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928140734/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11743727 |date=28 September 2018 }} BBC News, 13 November 2010</ref> and 306 killed by the British military, mostly civilians.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/tables/index.html|title=Tabulations (Tables) of Basic Variables|publisher=Cain.ulst.ac.uk|access-date=28 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513081528/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/tables/index.html|archive-date=13 May 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> An estimated 100 soldiers committed suicide during Operation Banner or soon afterwards and a similar number died in accidents. A total of 6,116 were wounded.<ref>{{cite news |last=Harding |first=Thomas |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1482975/Troop-deaths-in-Ulster-higher-than-thought.html |title=Troop deaths in Ulster 'higher than thought' |newspaper=Telegraph |date=7 February 2005 |access-date=10 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921112055/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1482975/Troop-deaths-in-Ulster-higher-than-thought.html |archive-date=21 September 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

'''Sierra Leone'''
{{Main|British military intervention in the Sierra Leone Civil War}}
The British Army deployed to Sierra Leone for [[Operation Palliser]] in 1999, under United Nations resolutions, to aid the government in quelling violent uprisings by militiamen. British troops also provided support during the 2014 [[West African Ebola virus epidemic]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=4 January 2017|title=Sierra Leone profile – Timeline|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14094419|url-status=live|access-date=17 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509114751/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14094419|archive-date=9 May 2017}}</ref>

=== Recent history (2000–present) ===
==== War in Afghanistan ====
{{Main|War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)}}

[[File:3royalanglianafghan.JPG|thumb|250px|alt=Armed soldiers in and around a military vehicle|[[Royal Anglian Regiment]] in Helmand Province]]

In November 2001, as part of [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] with the United States, the United Kingdom deployed forces in [[Afghanistan]] to topple the [[Taliban]] in [[Operation Herrick]].<ref>{{harvnb|Mallinson|2009|p=452}}.</ref> The [[3rd Division (United Kingdom)|3rd Division]] were sent to [[Kabul]] to assist in the liberation of the capital and defeat Taliban forces in the mountains. In 2006 the British Army began concentrating on fighting Taliban forces and bringing security to [[Helmand Province]], with about 9,500 British troops (including marines, airmen and sailors) deployed at its peak<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/operations-deployments/22713.aspx|title=Why we are in Afghanistan|publisher=Ministry of Defence (MoD)|access-date=7 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022195153/http://www.army.mod.uk/operations-deployments/22713.aspx|archive-date=22 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>—the second-largest force after that of the US.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8305922.stm UK sends 500 more to Afghanistan] BBC News, 15 October 2009</ref> In December 2012 Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] announced that the combat mission would end in 2014, and troop numbers gradually fell as the [[Afghan National Army]] took over the brunt of the fighting. Between 2001 and 26 April 2014 a total of 453 British military personnel died in Afghan operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/fields-of-operation/afghanistan|title=British fatalities in Afghanistan|publisher=MoD|access-date=7 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725021450/https://www.gov.uk/government/fields-of-operation/afghanistan|archive-date=25 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Operation Herrick ended with the handover of [[Camp Bastion]] on 26 October 2014,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29776544|title=UK ends Afghan combat operations|date=26 October 2014|work=BBC News|access-date=26 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026082004/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29776544|archive-date=26 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> but the British Army maintained a deployment in Afghanistan as part of [[Operation Toral]].<ref name=toral>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/09/uk-afghanistan-troops-increase-david-cameron|title=UK to increase troops in Afghanistan from 450 to 500|date=9 July 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=4 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207151415/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/09/uk-afghanistan-troops-increase-david-cameron|archive-date=7 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following an announcement by the US Government of the end of their operations in the Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence announced in April 2021 that British forces would withdraw from the country by 11 September 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56744265|title=UK troops to begin 'drawdown' in Afghanistan|work=BBC News|date=14 April 2021}}</ref> It was later reported that all UK troops would be out by early July.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/02/uk-to-bring-home-last-remaining-troops-in-afghanistan-this-weekend|title=UK to bring home last remaining troops in Afghanistan this weekend|date=2 July 2021|website=The Guardian}}</ref> Following the collapse of the Afghan Army, and the completion of the withdrawal of civilians, all British troops had left by the end of August 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-58372437|title=Afghanistan: British ambassador home as last UK troops leave|work=BBC News|date=29 August 2021}}</ref>

==== Iraq War ====
{{Main|Iraq War|Operation Telic}}

[[File:1 RRF engage Iraqi Army positions with their 81mm Mortars. Iraq. 26-03-2003 MOD 45142764.jpg|thumb|250px|alt=Two soldiers with a mortar gun—one loading and the other aiming|British soldiers from the [[Royal Regiment of Fusiliers|1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers]] [[Battlegroup (army)|battlegroup]] engage Iraqi positions with an [[81mm mortar]] [[Battle of Basra (2003)|south of Basra]]]]

In 2003, the United Kingdom was a major contributor to the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]], sending a force of over 46,000 military personnel. The British Army controlled southern Iraq, and maintained a peace-keeping presence in [[Basra]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6977914.stm|title=Timeline: UK troops in Basra|work=BBC News|access-date=9 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403070032/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6977914.stm|archive-date=3 April 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> All British troops were withdrawn from Iraq by 30 April 2009, after the Iraqi government refused to extend their mandate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/British_Troops_Leave_Iraq_As_Mandate_Ends/1789785.html |title=British Troops Leave Iraq As Mandate Ends |date=31 July 2009 |publisher=Rferl.org |access-date=22 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108093957/http://www.rferl.org/content/British_Troops_Leave_Iraq_As_Mandate_Ends/1789785.html |archive-date=8 November 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref> One hundred and seventy-nine British military personnel died in Iraqi operations.<ref name=":6" /> The [[British Armed Forces]] returned to Iraq in 2014 as part of [[Operation Shader]] to counter the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State]] (ISIL).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf|title=UK Operations in Syria and Iraq|year=2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318085447/https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/106/106.pdf|archive-date=18 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Recent military aid ====
{{Main|Operation Rescript|Operation Temperer|Military Aid to the Civil Authorities}}
The British Army maintains a standing liability to support the civil authorities in certain circumstances, usually in either niche capabilities (e.g. explosive ordnance removal) or in general support of the civil authorities when their capacity is exceeded.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/61965/defenceconrtibution1.pdf|title=Operations in the UK: Defence Contribution to Resilience|date=2007|website=Ministry of Defence|access-date=1 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305164425/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/61965/defenceconrtibution1.pdf|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/30013.aspx|title=UK Operations|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421033859/http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/30013.aspx|archive-date=21 April 2017}}</ref> In recent years this has been seen as army personnel supporting the civil authorities in the face of the [[2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak]], the 2002 firefighters strike, widespread flooding in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013 and 2014, [[Operation Temperer]] following the [[Manchester Arena bombing]] in 2017 and, most recently, [[Operation Rescript]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/may/23/raise-terror-level-critical-5000-troops-streets-operation-temperer|title=Critical threat level: who made the decision and what does it mean?|last1=Travis|first1=Alan|date=24 May 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=28 May 2017|last2=MacAskill|first2=Ewen|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170526163704/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/may/23/raise-terror-level-critical-5000-troops-streets-operation-temperer|archive-date=26 May 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="OpRESCRIPT">{{cite news|last1=Haynes|first1=Deborah|author-link=Deborah Haynes|date=19 March 2020|title=Coronavirus: Up to 20,000 troops on standby to help deal with COVID-19 outbreak|work=[[Sky News]]|url=https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-up-to-20-000-troops-on-standby-to-help-deal-with-covid-19-outbreak-11959977|access-date=20 October 2020}}</ref>

==== Baltic States ====
Since 2016, the British Army has maintained a presence in the [[Baltic States]] in support of the [[NATO Enhanced Forward Presence]] strategy which responded to the [[2014 Russian annexation of Crimea]]. The British Army leads a multinational armoured battlegroup in [[Estonia]] under Operation Cabrit and contributes troops to another military battle group in [[Poland]].<ref name="efp">{{cite web |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/deployments/baltics/ |title=ENHANCED FORWARD PRESENCE (EFP) |work=British Army |accessdate=23 March 2022 }}</ref> As part of the NATO plans, Britain has committed a full mechanized infantry [[brigade]] to be on a high state of readiness to defend Estonia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Brigade assigned to Estonia likely to be one of British Army's strongest|url=https://news.err.ee/1609141828/brigade-assigned-to-estonia-likely-to-be-one-of-british-army-s-strongest|date=23 October 2023|access-date=11 July 2024|website=ERR News}}</ref>

==== Ukraine ====
Between 2015 and 2022, the British Army deployed Short Term Training Teams (STTTs) to [[Ukraine]] under [[Operation Orbital]] to help train the [[Armed Forces of Ukraine]] against further Russian aggression.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forces.net/news/uk-troops-training-forces-ukraine-leave-weekend-armed-forces-minister-says|title=UK troops training forces in Ukraine to leave this weekend|date=12 February 2022|publisher=Forces.net}}</ref> This operation was succeeded by [[Operation Interflex]] in July 2022.<ref name="politico1">{{cite news |last1=Gallardo |first1=Cristina |last2=Caulcutt |first2=Clea |title=Ukraine's military recruits need training. Only one of Europe's giants is pulling its weight |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-and-france-at-odds-over-military-training-for-ukrainians/ |access-date=17 September 2022 |work=[[Politico]] |date=16 September 2022}}</ref>

== {{anchor|Modern British Army}}Modern army ==
=== Personnel ===
[[File:Trooping the Colour MOD 45155754.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Blues and Royals]] [[Trooping the Colour]] in 2013]]

The British Army has been a volunteer force since national service ended during the 1960s.<ref name="M 384" /> Since the creation of the part-time, reserve [[Territorial Force]] in 1908 (renamed the Army Reserve in 2014), the full-time British Army has been known as the Regular Army. In July 2020 there were just over 78,800 Regulars, with a target strength of 82,000, and just over 30,000 [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Army Reservists]], with a target strength of 30,000.<ref name="statistics2021">{{Cite web |title=Quarterly service personnel statistics 1 October 2021 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2021/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-1-october-2021 |access-date=13 February 2022 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> All former Regular Army personnel may also be recalled to duty in exceptional circumstances during the 6-year period following completion of their Regular service, which creates an additional force known as the [[Regular Reserve (United Kingdom)#Army Reserve (Regular)|Regular Reserve]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=British Army – Reserve Forces – The Regular Reserve – Armed Forces – a11a4|url=http://www.armedforces.co.uk/army/listings/l0071.html|access-date=21 November 2020|website=www.armedforces.co.uk}}</ref>

The table below illustrates British Army personnel figures from 1710 to 2025.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
! colspan="10" |British Army strength{{refn| 1710–1900,<ref name="Rasler">{{cite book | title=The Great Powers and Global Struggle, 1490–1990 | date=1994 | publisher=University Press of Kentucky | isbn=0-8131-3353-X | location=United States | page=149 | last1=Rasler | first1=Karen}} (Figure 8.1 Change in the Size of the British Army 1650–1910)</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Recruiting Victorian armies |url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/private-lives/yourcountry/overview/victorianarmies/ |website=UK Parliament}}</ref> 1918 & 1945,<ref name="Summers">{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-14218909 | title=The time when the British army was really stretched | date=23 July 2011 | publisher=BBC | agency=BBC News | last1=Summers | first1=Chris | access-date=5 July 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822232109/http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-14218909 | archive-date=22 August 2016 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="a">End of the First World War</ref><ref name="b">End of the Second World War</ref> 1920,<ref name="Hansard1920">{{cite web | url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1920/jun/23/mesopotamia-1#S5CV0130P0_19200623_HOC_328 | title=23 June 1920 | website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] | publisher=Hansard – House of Commons | access-date=5 July 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820130447/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1920/jun/23/mesopotamia-1#S5CV0130P0_19200623_HOC_328 | archive-date=20 August 2016 | date=23 June 1920 | url-status=live}}</ref> 1930,<ref name="Hansard1930">{{cite web | url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1930/nov/02/strength#S5CV0134P0_19301102_HOC_62 | title=Strength (Territorial Army) – 2 November 1930 | website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] | publisher=Hansard – House of Commons | access-date=5 July 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819235603/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1930/nov/02/strength#S5CV0134P0_19301102_HOC_62 | archive-date=19 August 2016 | date=2 November 1930 | url-status=live}}</ref> 1950,<ref name="Rutherford">{{cite book | title=International Affairs and Defence: Army 2020 | last2=Rutherford | first2=Tom | date=26 July 2012 | publisher=House of Commons Library | location=United Kingdom | page=13 | last1=Brooke-Holland | first1=Louisa }}</ref><ref name="Hansard1950">{{cite web | url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1950/mar/20/territorial-army-recruitment | title=Territorial Army (Recruitment) – 20 March 1950 | website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] | publisher=Hansard – House of Commons | access-date=5 July 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090127/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1950/mar/20/territorial-army-recruitment | archive-date=4 March 2016 | date=20 March 1950 | url-status=live}}</ref> 1960,<ref name="Rutherford" /><ref name="Hansard1960">{{cite web | url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1960/jul/20/the-territorial-army | title=The Territorial Army – 20 July 1960 | website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] | publisher=Hansard – House of Commons | access-date=5 July 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516193716/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1960/jul/20/the-territorial-army | archive-date=16 May 2013 | date=20 July 1960 | url-status=live}}</ref> 1970,<ref name="Hansard1970">{{cite web | url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1970/mar/12/army-estimates-1970-71-vote-a | title=Army Estimates – 12 March 1970 | website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] | publisher=Hansard – House of Commons | access-date=5 July 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043312/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1970/mar/12/army-estimates-1970-71-vote-a | archive-date=4 March 2016 | date=12 March 1970 | url-status=live}}</ref> 1980–2000,<ref name="Berman">{{cite web | url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/rp00-99/ | title=House of Commons: Defence Statistics 2000 | date=21 December 2000 | publisher=House of Commons Library | location=United Kingdom | pages=16–17 | last1=Berman | first1=Gavin | access-date=5 July 2016}}</ref> 2010,<ref name="MoD2010">{{cite book | url=http://www.dasa.mod.uk/publications/personnel/military/archive/quarterly-personnel-report/2010-01-01/1_january_2010.pdf | title=UK Armed Forces Quarterly Manning Report | date=4 March 2010 | publisher=Ministry of Defence | location=United Kingdom | page=13 | archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140116142443/http://www.dasa.mod.uk/publications/personnel/military/archive/quarterly-personnel-report/2010-01-01/1_january_2010.pdf | archive-date=16 January 2014 | url-status=dead | access-date=5 July 2016}} (Table 2a – Strength of UK Armed Forces1
 – full-time trained and untrained personnel)</ref><ref>{{cite book |url = http://www.dasa.mod.uk/publications/personnel/military/reserves-and-cadets-strengths/2010-04-01/2010-revised.pdf | title=UK RESERVE FORCES STRENGTHS | date=22 September 2010 | publisher=Ministry of Defence | location=United Kingdom | page=3 | archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140116142443/http://www.dasa.mod.uk/publications/personnel/military/reserves-and-cadets-strengths/2010-04-01/2010-revised.pdf | archive-date=16 January 2014 | url-status=dead | access-date=5 July 2016}} (Table 1 – Strengths of All Services Reserves)</ref> 2015,<ref name=":1" /> 2020<ref name="statistics2021"/>}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bootcampmilitaryfitnessinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/FOI-Size-of-the-UK-Armed-Forces-Since-1700.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://bootcampmilitaryfitnessinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/FOI-Size-of-the-UK-Armed-Forces-Since-1700.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=An Annual Times Series For The Size Of The Armed Forces (Army, Navy & RAF) Since 1700|website=bootcampmilitaryfitnessinstitute.com|publisher=Ministry of Defense|date=28 April 2017|access-date=15 June 2022}}</ref>

|-
! colspan="2" |[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|25px]]<br />{{Small|[[United Kingdom|(1707–1810)]]}}
| rowspan="99" |
! colspan="2" |[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|25px]]<br />{{Small|[[United Kingdom|(1810–1921)]]}}
| rowspan="99" |
! colspan="4" |[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|25px]]<br />{{Small|[[United Kingdom|(1930– Present)]]}}

|-
! Year
! Regular Army
! Year
! Regular Army
! Year
! Regular Army
![[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Army Reserve]]
!'''Total'''

|-
| 1710
| 68,000
| 1820
| 93,000
| 1930
|188,000
|
| —

|-
| 1720
| 20,000
| 1830
| 89,000
| 1945
|2,930,000
|{{Small|Included in Regular}}
| '''3,120,000'''

|-
| 1730
| 17,000
| 1838
| 89,000
| 1950
| 364,000
| 83,000
| '''447,000'''

|-
| 1740
| 46,000
| 1840
| 94,000
| 1960
| 258,000
| 120,000
| '''387,000'''

|-
| 1750
| 79,000
| 1850
| 99,000
| 1970
| 174,000
| 80,000
| '''256,000'''

|-
| 1760
| 65,000
| 1860
| 236,000
| 1980
| 159,000
| 63,000
| '''222,000'''

|-
| 1770
| 24,000
| 1870
| 185,000
| 1990
| 153,000
| 73,000
| '''226,000'''

|-
| 1780
| 35,000
| 1880
| 165,000
| 2000
| 110,000
| 45,000
| '''155,000'''

|-
| 1790
| 53,000<ref name="Linch">{{cite book |last1=Linch |first1=Kevin |title=The British Army, 1783–1815 |date=2024 |publisher=Pen & Sword Books |location=Barnsley |isbn=9781526737991 |pages=83–84}}</ref>
| 1890
| 210,000
| 2010
| 109,000
| 29,000
| '''142,000'''

|-
| 1800
| 200,000<ref name="Linch"/>
| 1900
| 302,000
| 2020
| 79,000
| 30,000
| '''116,000'''
|-
|1810
|281,000<ref name="Linch"/>
|1918
|3,838,000
|2025
|74,000
|26,000
| '''108,000'''
|}

== {{anchor|Modern Equipment}}Equipment ==
{{main|List of equipment of the British Army}}

=== Infantry ===
The British Army's basic weapon is the 5.56&nbsp;mm [[SA80|L85A2 or L85A3]] assault rifle, with some specialist personnel using the L22A2 carbine variant (pilots and some tank crew). The weapon was traditionally equipped with either [[iron sights]] or an optical [[SUSAT]], although other optical sights have been subsequently purchased to supplement these.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23222.aspx|title=The British Army – SA80 individual weapon|website=www.army.mod.uk|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616184526/http://army.mod.uk/equipment/23222.aspx|archive-date=16 June 2017|access-date=9 February 2017}}</ref> The weapon can be enhanced further utilising the [[Picatinny rail]] with attachments such as the [[L17A2 UGL|L17A2]] under-barrel grenade launcher.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/small-arms-and-support-weapons/|title=Small arms and support weapons|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=12 February 2020}}</ref> In 2023, the [[Army Special Operations Brigade]], which includes the [[Ranger Regiment (United Kingdom)|Ranger Regiment]], began using the [[L403A1]], an [[M16 rifle|AR-pattern]] rifle also used by the [[Royal Marines]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2023/09/newadvancedrifle/| access-date=2023-10-20| date=2023-09-07| title=New advanced rifle for Ranger Regiment| website=www.army.mod.uk}}</ref>

Some soldiers are equipped with the 7.62mm [[L129A1|L129A1 sharpshooter rifle]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/small-arms-and-support-weapons/|title=L129A1 sharpshooter Rifle|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140733/https://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/small-arms-and-support-weapons/|archive-date=12 June 2018}}</ref> which in 2018 formally replaced the [[L86 LSW|L86A2]] Light Support Weapon. Support fire is provided by the [[L7 (machine gun)|L7 general-purpose machine gun]] (GPMG),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23226.aspx|title=The British Army – General purpose machine gun|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=9 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126172854/http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23226.aspx|archive-date=26 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and indirect fire is provided by [[L16 81mm mortar]]s. Sniper rifles include the [[Accuracy International Arctic Warfare|L118A1]]&nbsp;7.62&nbsp;mm, [[L115A3]] and the [[AW50F]], all manufactured by [[Accuracy International]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23223.aspx|title=The British Army – L115A3 Long range 'sniper' rifle|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=9 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410084543/http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23223.aspx|archive-date=10 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The British Army utilises the [[Glock|Glock 17]] as its side arm.<ref name=":8" />

Anti tank guided weapons include the [[FGM-148 Javelin|Javelin]], the medium range anti-tank guided weapon replacement for [[MILAN|Milan]], with overfly and direct attack modes of operation, and the [[NLAW]]. The Next-generation Light Anti-tank Weapon ([[NLAW]]) is the first, non-expert, short-range, anti-tank missile that rapidly knocks out any main battle tank in just one shot by striking it from above.<ref>{{Cite web |title= NLAW |url= https://www.saab.com/products/nlaw |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220227124742/https://www.saab.com/products/nlaw |archive-date= 27 February 2022 |access-date=28 February 2022 |publisher=[[Saab AB]] |publication-place=Stockholm, [[Sweden|SE]]}}</ref>

=== Armour ===
The army's [[main battle tank]] is the [[Challenger 2]], which is being upgraded to [[Challenger 3]].<ref>[http://www.baesystems.com/ProductsServices/l_and_a_ls_challenger.html Challenger 2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621210618/http://www.baesystems.com/ProductsServices/l_and_a_ls_challenger.html |date=21 June 2007 }} BA Systems</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dasa.mod.uk/publications/equipment/CFE-vehicles-and-aircraft/2013/2013.pdf|title=UKDS 2013|access-date=29 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927100113/http://www.dasa.mod.uk/publications/equipment/CFE-vehicles-and-aircraft/2013/2013.pdf|archive-date=27 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> It is supported by the [[Warrior tracked armoured vehicle]] as the primary [[infantry fighting vehicle]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23237.aspx|title=The British Army – Warrior infantry fighting vehicle|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=9 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410035242/http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23237.aspx|archive-date=10 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> (which will soon be replaced by the [[Boxer (armoured fighting vehicle)|Boxer 8x8 armoured fighting vehicle]]) and the [[FV430 series|Bulldog armoured personnel carrier]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defense-update.com/products/m/MLV.htm|title=Multi-role Light Vehicle|date=26 July 2006|publisher=Defense-update.com|access-date=28 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429185833/http://www.defense-update.com/products/m/MLV.htm|archive-date=29 April 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Light armoured units often utilise the [[MWMIK|Supacat "Jackal" MWMIK]] and [[Jackal (vehicle)#Coyote|Coyote]] tactical support vehicle for reconnaissance and fire support.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23234.aspx|title=The British Army – Reconnaissance vehicles|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=9 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316023100/http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23234.aspx|archive-date=16 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Artillery ===
The army has three main artillery systems: the [[M270 multiple launch rocket system]] (MLRS), the [[Archer artillery system|Archer]] and the [[L118 light gun]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23208.aspx|title=The British Army – Artillery and air defence|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=9 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410084443/http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23208.aspx|archive-date=10 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The MLRS, first used in [[Operation Granby]], has an {{convert|85|km|adj=on}} standard range, or with the [[Precision Strike Missile|PrSM]], up to 500&nbsp;km.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/uk-complex-weapons/guided-multiple-launch-rocket-system-gmlrs/|title=Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) – Think Defence|work=Think Defence|access-date=17 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318084429/http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/uk-complex-weapons/guided-multiple-launch-rocket-system-gmlrs/|archive-date=18 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The Archer is a 155&nbsp;mm self-propelled armoured gun with a {{convert|50|km|adj=on}} range. The L118 light gun is a 105&nbsp;mm towed gun, which is typically towed by a [[Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer|Pinzgauer]] all-terrain vehicle.<ref>[http://www.baesystems.com/ProductsServices/l_and_a_ls_105mm_light_gun.html 105 mm Light Gun] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220040742/http://www.baesystems.com/ProductsServices/l_and_a_ls_105mm_light_gun.html |date=20 February 2011 }} BAe Systems</ref> To identify artillery targets, the army operates the TAIPAN artillery detection radar<ref>{{Cite web |title=British Army completes first live firing of next-generation howitzer in Finland |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/british-army-completes-first-live-firing-of-next-generation-howitzer-in-finland |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> and utilises [[artillery sound ranging]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/artillery/regiments/24678.aspx|title=The British Army – 5 Regiment|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=9 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420013606/http://www.army.mod.uk/artillery/regiments/24678.aspx|archive-date=20 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> For air defence it uses the new [[Sky Sabre]] system, which in 2021 replaced the [[Rapier (missile)|Rapier]].<ref name="whatdotheyknow.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/696137/response/1824979/attach/html/3/20210701%20Goldberg%20FOI%20Sky%20Sabre.pdf.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/696137/response/1824979/attach/html/3/20210701%20Goldberg%20FOI%20Sky%20Sabre.pdf.html |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title = Sky Sabre weapons system – a Freedom of Information request to Ministry of Defence|date = 4 October 2020}}</ref> It also deploys the Very Short-Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) [[Starstreak (missile)|Starstreak HVM]] (high-velocity missile) launched by a single soldier or from a [[Alvis Stormer|Stormer HVM]] vehicle-mounted launcher.<ref>[http://www.janes.com/events/exhibitions/dsei2007/sections/daily/day1/starstreak-ii-sighted.shtml Starstreak II sighted] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412045238/http://www.janes.com/events/exhibitions/dsei2007/sections/daily/day1/starstreak-ii-sighted.shtml |date=12 April 2009 }} Janes</ref>

=== Protected mobility ===
Where armour is not required or mobility and speed are favoured the British Army utilises protected patrol vehicles, such as the Panther variant of the [[Iveco LMV]], the [[Ocelot (vehicle)|Foxhound]], and variants of the [[Cougar (MRAP)|Cougar]] family (such as the Ridgeback, Husky and Mastiff).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23235.aspx|title=The British Army – Protected patrol vehicles|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=9 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410084656/http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23235.aspx|archive-date=10 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> For day-to-day utility work the army commonly uses the [[Land Rover Wolf]], which is based on the [[Land Rover Defender]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.landrover.com/gb/en/lr/defender/|title=Land Rover Defender|publisher=Landrover.com|access-date=28 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405215951/http://www.landrover.com/gb/en/lr/defender/|archive-date=5 April 2011}}</ref>

=== Engineers, utility and signals ===
Specialist engineering vehicles include bomb-disposal robots such as the [[L3Harris|T7 Multi-Mission Robotic System]] and the modern variants of the [[Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers]], including the Titan bridge-layer, [[Trojan Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers|Trojan]] armoured engineer vehicle, [[Terrier armoured digger]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23253.aspx|title=The British Army – Engineering equipment|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=9 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211082357/http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23253.aspx|archive-date=11 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Day-to-day utility work uses a series of support vehicles, including six-, nine- and fifteen-tonne [[MAN Truck & Bus|MAN]] trucks, [[Oshkosh Corporation|Oshkosh]] heavy-equipment transporters (HET), close-support tankers, quad bikes and ambulances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23267.aspx|title=The British Army – All-terrain mobility platform (ATMP)|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=9 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211082155/http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23267.aspx|archive-date=11 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23207.aspx|title=The British Army – Engineering and logistics|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=9 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508211348/http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23207.aspx|archive-date=8 May 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Tactical communication uses the [[Bowman (communications system)|Bowman]] radio system, and operational or strategic communication is controlled by the [[Royal Corps of Signals]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/signals/signals.aspx|title=The British Army – Royal Corps of Signals|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=11 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123002754/http://www.army.mod.uk/signals/signals.aspx|archive-date=23 November 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Aviation ===
The [[British Army Air Corps|Army Air Corps]] (AAC) provides direct aviation support, with the [[Royal Air Force]] providing support helicopters. The primary attack helicopter is the [[AH-64E Apache|Boeing AH-64E Apache]] which replaced the [[AgustaWestland Apache|AgustaWestland Apache AH-1]] in the anti-tank, anti-air defence, and anti-armour role.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Administrator |title=Apache AH-64E Attack Helicopter |url=https://des.mod.uk/what-we-do/army-procurement-support/apache-ah64e/ |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=Defence Equipment & Support |language=en-GB}}</ref> The [[AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat]] is a dedicated [[intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance]] (ISTAR) helicopter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23210.aspx|title=The British Army – Aircraft|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=9 March 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207044743/http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23210.aspx|archive-date=7 February 2017}}</ref> The [[Eurocopter Dauphin|Eurocopter AS 365N Dauphin]] is used for [[special operations]] aviation, primarily [[Counterterrorism|counter terrorism]] operations, within the UK.{{sfn|Ripley|2008|p=10}} The army operates [[unmanned aerial vehicle]]s in a surveillance role, such as the small [[Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk III]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/british-army-praises-performance-of-watchkeeper-during-debut-406159/|title=British Army praises performance of Watchkeeper during debut deployment|publisher=Flight global|date=17 November 2014|access-date=3 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810012220/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/british-army-praises-performance-of-watchkeeper-during-debut-406159/|archive-date=10 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23278.aspx|title=The British Army – Unmanned Air Systems|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=9 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410161349/http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23278.aspx|archive-date=10 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

<gallery class="center" widths="200" heights="150">
File:MCV-80.jpg|alt=Tank with painted camouflage|[[Warrior IFV]]
File:GUNNERS ON TARGET FOR EXERCISE STEEL SABRE IN NORTHUMBERLAND MOD 45159595.jpg|alt=Rocket launcher|[[M270 multiple launch rocket system|Guided multiple launch rocket system]] (GMLRS)
File:Challenger 2 MBT in Estonia-902250.jpeg|[[Challenger 2]]
File:AH64E Bourget 2019.jpg|[[Boeing AH-64 Apache|Apache AH64-E]]
File:New SA80 A3 Assault Rifle MOD 45163883.jpg|L85A3 (SA80A3)
</gallery>

== Current deployments ==

=== {{anchor|Low intensity operations}}Low-intensity operations ===
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; width:100%;"
|-
! style="text-align:center; width:10%;" |Location
! style="text-align:center; width:5%;" |Date
! style="text-align:center; width:85%;" |Details
|-
! [[Iraq]]
| Since 2014
| [[Operation Shader]]: The UK has a leading role in the 67-member Global Coalition committed to defeating ISIL. The coalition includes Iraq, European nations and the US. British soldiers are not in a combat role in Iraq but are on the ground with coalition partners providing training and equipment to Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Kurdish Security Forces (KSF). There were approximately 400 military personnel in Iraq in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2020/03/12/key-questions-over-britains-military-presence-in-iraq/|title=Key questions over Britain's military presence in Iraq|date=12 March 2020|publisher=Express and Star|access-date=21 November 2020|archive-date=25 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625025751/https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2020/03/12/key-questions-over-britains-military-presence-in-iraq/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
! [[Cyprus]]
| Since 1964
| [[United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus|Operation Tosca]]: There were 275 troops deployed as part of the UNFICYP in 2016.<ref name="org">{{cite web|title=The UK and UN Peace Operations: A Case for Greater Engagement: Table 1|date=26 May 2016 |url=http://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/publications/briefing_papers_and_reports/uk_and_un_peace_operations_case_greater_engagement|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308142500/http://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/publications/briefing_papers_and_reports/uk_and_un_peace_operations_case_greater_engagement|archive-date=8 March 2017|access-date=7 March 2017|publisher=Oxford Research Group}}</ref>
|-
! [[Estonia]]
| Since 2017
|[[NATO Enhanced Forward Presence]]: The British Army deploys approximately 900 troops to Estonia and 150 to Poland as part of its commitment to NATO.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Baltics|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/deployments/baltics/|access-date=21 November 2020|website=www.army.mod.uk}}</ref>
|-
![[Africa]]
|Since 2019
|The British Army maintains several short-term military training teams to help build the capacity of national military forces, ensuring a number of states across Africa can respond appropriately and proportionally to the security threats they face, including terrorism, the illegal wildlife trade, violations of human rights and emerging humanitarian crises.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Africa|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/deployments/africa/|access-date=21 November 2020|website=www.army.mod.uk}}</ref>
|}

=== Permanent overseas postings ===
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; width:100%;"
|-
! style="text-align:center; width:10%;" |Location
! style="text-align:center; width:5%;" |Date
! style="text-align:center; width:85%;" |Details
|-
! [[Belize]]
| 1949
| [[British Army Training and Support Unit Belize]]: The British Army has maintained a presence in Belize since its independence. Currently the British Army Training Support Unit in Belize enables close country and tropical environment training to troops from the UK and international partners.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Belize|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/deployments/belize/|access-date=21 November 2020|website=www.army.mod.uk}}</ref>
|-
! [[Bermuda]]
| 1701
| [[Royal Bermuda Regiment]]: Colonial Militia and volunteers existed from 1612 to 1816. The regular English Army, then British Army, [[Bermuda Garrison]] was first established by an [[Independent Company]] in 1701.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bermuda-online.org/britarmy.htm|title=British Army in Bermuda from 1701 to 1977|publisher=Bermuda On Line|access-date=22 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723035420/http://www.bermuda-online.org/britarmy.htm|archive-date=23 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Volunteers were recruited into the regular army and the [[Board of Ordnance]] Military Corps for part-time, local-service from the 1830s to the 1850s due to the lack of a Militia. The British Government considered Bermuda as an [[Imperial fortress]], rather than a colony. After the French Revolution, the [[Governor of Bermuda]] was normally a military officer (usually a Lieutenant-General or Major-General of the Royal Artillery or Royal Engineers) in charge of all military forces in Bermuda, with the Bermuda Garrison falling under the Nova Scotia Command. From 1868, the Bermuda Garrison became the independent Bermuda Command, with Governors being Generals, Lieutenant-Generals or Major Generals occupying the role of Commander-in-Chief or [[General officer commanding#GOC-in-C|General Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] (GOC-in-C). Locally recruited reserve units, the Royal Artillery-badged [[Bermuda Militia Artillery]] (BMA) and [[Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps]] (BVRC) were raised again from 1894, later joined by the Royal Engineers-badged [[Bermuda Volunteer Engineers]] (1931–1946), [[General Service Corps]]-badged [[Bermuda Militia Infantry]] (1939–1946), and a Home Guard (1942–1946). After the [[Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda|Royal Naval Dockyard]] was redesignated a naval base in 1951, the army garrison was closed in 1957, leaving only the part-time BMA (re-tasked as infantry in 1953, though still badged and uniformed as Royal Artillery) and BVRC (renamed Bermuda Rifles in 1949). The Bermuda Command Headquarters and all regular army personnel other than members of the Permanent Staff of the local Territorials and the [[Aide-de-Camp]] to the Governor of Bermuda (today normally a Captain from the [[Royal Bermuda Regiment]] employed full-time for the duration of the appointment) were withdrawn. Home defence has been provided by the [[Royal Bermuda Regiment]] since formed by the 1965 amalgamation of the BMA and Bermuda Rifles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/royal-anglian-soldiers-boost-bermuda-regiment|title=Royal Anglian soldiers boost Bermuda Regiment|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=22 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723035810/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/royal-anglian-soldiers-boost-bermuda-regiment|archive-date=23 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! [[Brunei]]
| 1962
| [[British Forces Brunei]]: One battalion of the [[Royal Gurkha Rifles]], [[British Military Garrison Brunei|British Garrison]], [[British Army Jungle Warfare Training School|Training Team Brunei (TTB)]]. A Gurkha battalion has been maintained in Brunei since the [[Brunei Revolt]] in 1962 at the request of [[List of Sultans of Brunei|Sultan]] [[Omar Ali Saifuddin III]]. Training Team Brunei (TTB) is the Army's jungle-warfare school, and a small number of garrison troops support the battalion. 7 Flight AAC formerly provided helicopter support to the Gurkha battalion and TTB<ref name="Brunei">{{cite web | url=http://www.army.mod.uk/operations-deployments/22792.aspx | title=The British Army in Brunei | access-date=2 March 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609090139/http://www.army.mod.uk/operations-deployments/22792.aspx | archive-date=9 June 2016 | url-status=live}}</ref> but its role has since been assumed by [[No. 230 Squadron RAF]].
|-
! [[Canada]]
| 1972
| [[British Army Training Unit Suffield]]: A training centre in [[Alberta]] prairie for the use of British Army and [[Canadian Forces]] under agreement with the [[government of Canada]]. British forces conduct regular, major armoured training exercises every year, with helicopter support provided by 29 (BATUS) Flight [[Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)|AAC]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.army.mod.uk/operations-deployments/22727.aspx | title=The British Army in Canada | access-date=2 March 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605063606/http://www.army.mod.uk/operations-deployments/22727.aspx | archive-date=5 June 2016 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="29 BATUS AAC">{{cite web | url=https://www.army.mod.uk/aviation/30332.aspx | title=29 (BATUS) Flight Army Air Corps | access-date=2 March 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228181227/http://army.mod.uk/aviation/30332.aspx | archive-date=28 February 2013 | url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! [[Cyprus]]
| 1960
| 2 resident infantry battalions, [[Royal Engineers]] and Joint Service Signals Unit at [[Ayios Nikolaos Station|Ayios Nikolaos]] as part of [[British Forces Cyprus]]. The UK retains two [[Sovereign Base Areas]] on Cyprus after the rest of the island's independence, which are forward bases for deployments to the Middle East. Principal facilities are Alexander Barracks at Dhekelia and Salamanca Barracks at [[Episkopi, Limassol|Episkopi]].<ref>[https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/2001/mar/26/somme-barracks-cyprus Somme Barracks (Cyprus)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429191531/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/2001/mar/26/somme-barracks-cyprus |date=29 April 2011 }} Hansard, 26 March 2001</ref>
|-
! [[Falkland Islands]]
| 1982
| Part of [[British Forces South Atlantic Islands]]: After the 1982 conflict, the UK established a garrison on the Falkland Islands, consisting of naval, land and air elements. The British Army contribution consists of an infantry company group, a Royal Artillery Battery and an Engineer Squadron.<ref>{{Cite web|title=South Atlantic Islands|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/deployments/south-atlantic-islands/|access-date=21 November 2020|website=www.army.mod.uk}}</ref>
|-
! [[Gibraltar]]
| 1704
| Part of [[British Forces Gibraltar]]: The Army has had a presence in Gibraltar for more than 300 years. The people of Gibraltar took up arms as the Gibraltar Volunteer Corps from 1915 to 1920 and again as the Gibraltar Defence Force shortly before the outbreak of WW2. This force later became the [[Royal Gibraltar Regiment]], which remains as the only formed Army unit in Gibraltar.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gibraltar|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/deployments/gibraltar/|access-date=21 November 2020|website=www.army.mod.uk}}</ref>
|-
! [[Kenya]]
| 2010
| [[British Army Training Unit Kenya]]: The army has a training centre in Kenya. BATUK is a permanent training support unit based mainly in Nanyuki, 200&nbsp;km north of Nairobi. BATUK provides demanding training to exercising units preparing to deploy on operations or assume high-readiness tasks. BATUK consists of around 100 permanent staff and reinforcing short tour cohort of another 280 personnel. Under an agreement with the Kenyan Government, up to six infantry battalions per year carry out eight-week exercises in Kenya.<ref name=":1" /> There are also Royal Engineer exercises, which carry out civil engineering projects, and medical deployments, which provide primary health care assistance to the civilian community., under an agreement with the Kenyan government, which provides training facilities for 3 infantry battalions per year.<ref name="Africa">{{cite web | url=http://www.army.mod.uk/operations-deployments/22724.aspx | title=The British Army in Africa | access-date=2 March 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630055845/http://www.army.mod.uk/operations-deployments/22724.aspx | archive-date=30 June 2016 | url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! [[Oman]]
| 2019
| [[Omani-British Joint Training Area]]: A training area for combined arms battlegroup training, jointly maintained with the [[Royal Army of Oman]].<ref name="Oman">{{cite news |title=UK and Oman sign historic Joint Defence Agreement |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-oman-sign-historic-joint-defence-agreement |access-date=18 September 2020 |agency=GOV.UK |date=21 February 2019}}</ref>
|}

== Structure ==
{{British Army Arms}}
{{Main|Structure of the British Army|l1 = for the current organisation|Future Soldier (British Army)|l2 = for the Future Soldier organisation}}

[[Army Headquarters (United Kingdom)|Army Headquarters]] is located in [[Andover, Hampshire]], and is responsible for providing forces at operational readiness for employment by the [[Permanent Joint Headquarters]].<ref name=":3" />  The command structure is hierarchical, with overall command residing with the [[Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the General Staff]] (CGS), who is immediately subordinate to The Chief of Defence Staff, the head of the British Armed Services. The CGS is supported by the [[Deputy Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Deputy Chief of the General Staff]].  Army Headquarters is further organised into two subordinate commands, [[Field Army (United Kingdom)|Field Army]] and [[Commander Home Command|Home Command]], each commanded by a [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|lieutenant general]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Command Structure|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/our-people/command-structure/|access-date=22 November 2020|website=www.army.mod.uk}}</ref> These two Commands serve distinct purposes and are divided into a structure of [[Division (military)|divisions]] and [[brigade]]s, which themselves consist of a complex mix of smaller units such as [[Battalion]]s. British Army units are either full-time 'Regular' units, or part-time [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Army Reserve]] units.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Who We Are|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/|access-date=21 November 2020|website=www.army.mod.uk}}</ref>

=== Allied Rapid Reaction Corps ===
{{main|Allied Rapid Reaction Corps}}
Led by a British Army three-star general, one of [[NATO]]'s High Readiness (Land) Forces based in [[Imjin Barracks|Gloucestershire, UK]], with the following British units under its command:<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 October 2024 |title=ARRC {{!}} Home |url=https://arrc.nato.int/}}</ref>
* [[1st Signal Brigade (United Kingdom)|1st Signal Brigade]]
* [[104 Theatre Sustainment Brigade|104th Theatre Sustainment Brigade]]
* [[7th Air Defence Group]]
* [[8th Engineer Brigade (United Kingdom)|8th Engineer Brigade]]

=== Field Army ===
{{main|Field Army (United Kingdom)}}
Led by [[Commander Field Army]], the Field Army is responsible for generating and preparing forces for current and contingency operations. The Field Army comprises:<ref name=":4" />
* [[1st (United Kingdom) Division]]
* [[3rd (United Kingdom) Division]]
* [[Field Army Troops]]

=== Home Command ===
{{main|Home Command (British Army)}}
Home Command is the British Army's supporting command; a generating, recruiting and training force that supports the Field Army and delivers UK resilience.<ref name=":4" /> It comprises
* Army Personnel Centre, which deals with personnel issues and liaises with outside agencies.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Army Personnel Centre|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/people/join-well/army-personnel-centre/|access-date=22 November 2020|website=www.army.mod.uk}}</ref>
* Army Personnel Services Group, which supports personnel administration<ref name=":4" />
* [[Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command]], which is responsible for all recruiting and training of Officers and Soldiers.<ref name=":4" />
* [[London District (British Army)|London District Command]], which is the main headquarters for all British Army units within the M25 corridor of London. It also provides for London's ceremonial events as well as supporting operational deployments overseas.<ref>{{Cite web|title=HQ London District|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/formations-divisions-brigades/headquarters-london-district/|access-date=22 November 2020|website=www.army.mod.uk}}</ref>
* [[Regional Command (British Army)|Regional Command]], which enables the delivery of a secure home front that sustains the Army, notably helping to coordinate the British Army's support to the civil authorities, overseeing the British Army's Welfare Service, and delivering the British Army's civil engagement mission.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Regional Command|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/formations-divisions-brigades/regional-command/|access-date=22 November 2020|website=www.army.mod.uk}}</ref>
* Standing Joint Command, which coordinates defence's contribution to UK resilience operations in support of other government departments.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Headquarters Standing Joint Command (United Kingdom) (HQ SJC (UK))|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/headquarters-standing-joint-command-united-kingdom-hq-sjc-uk|access-date=22 November 2020|website=GOV.UK}}</ref>

=== Special Forces ===
[[File:UK SAS (badge).svg|upright|thumb|alt=Emblem of a winged sword with the motto, "Who dares, wins"|SAS [[cap badge]]]]
The British Army contributes two of the three [[special forces]] formations to the [[United Kingdom Special Forces]] directorate: the [[Special Air Service]] (SAS) and [[Special Reconnaissance Regiment]] (SRR).<ref name="PPUK">{{cite web|title=Special Reconnaissance Regiment|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmhansrd/vo050405/wmstext/50405m01.htm#50405m01.html_sbhd5|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425053749/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmhansrd/vo050405/wmstext/50405m01.htm#50405m01.html_sbhd5|archive-date=25 April 2010|access-date=26 March 2010|publisher=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]]}}</ref> The SAS consists of one regular and two reserve regiments.<ref>{{cite web|title=UK Defence Statistics 2009|url=http://www.dasa.mod.uk/publications/UK-defence-statistics-compendium/2009/2009.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201230645/http://www.dasa.mod.uk/publications/UK-defence-statistics-compendium/2009/2009.pdf|archive-date=1 February 2014|access-date=26 March 2010|publisher=[[Defence Analytical Services Agency]]}}</ref> The regular regiment, 22 SAS, has its headquarters at [[Stirling Lines]], [[Credenhill]], [[Herefordshire]]. It consists of 5 squadrons (A, B, D, G and Reserve) and a training wing.<ref>{{harvnb|Fremont-Barnes|2009|p=62}}</ref> 22 SAS is supported by 2 reserve regiments, [[Artists Rifles|21 SAS]] and 23 SAS, which collectively form the Special Air Service (Reserve) (SAS [R]), who in 2020 were transferred back under the command of Director of Special Forces after previously being under the command of the [[1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade]].<ref>Army Briefing Note 120/14, Newly formed Force Troops Command Specialist Brigades: "It commands all of the Army's Intelligence, Surveillance and Electronic Warfare assets, and is made up of units specifically from the former 1 Military Intelligence Brigade and 1 Artillery Brigade, as well as 14 Signal Regiment, 21 and 23 SAS®."</ref> The SRR, formed in 2005, performs close reconnaissance and special surveillance tasks.<ref name="PPUK" /> The [[Special Forces Support Group]], under the operational control of the Director of Special Forces, provides operational manoeuvring support to the United Kingdom Special Forces.<ref>{{cite web|title=Special Forces Support Group|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo060420/wmstext/60420m01.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424085548/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo060420/wmstext/60420m01.htm|archive-date=24 April 2010|access-date=26 March 2010|publisher=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]]}}</ref>

=== Colonial units ===
[[File:1939 Dominion and Colonial Regiments.jpg|thumb|upright|left|1939 Dominion and Colonial Regiments]]

The British Army historically included many units from what are now separate [[Commonwealth realm]]s. When the [[English Empire]] was established in [[British America|North America]] (including Bermuda), and the West Indies in the early 17th century there was no standing English Army, only the [[Militia (English)|Militia]], [[Yeomanry]], and [[Sovereign's Bodyguard|Royal bodyguards]], of which the Militia, as the primary home-defence force, was immediately extended to the colonies. [[Militia (British Dominions and Crown Colonies)|Colonial militias]] defended colonies single-handedly at first against indigenous peoples and European competitors. Once the standing English Army, later the British Army, came into existence and began to garrison the colonies, the colonial militias fought side by side with it in a number of wars, including the [[Seven Years' War]]. Some of the colonial militias rebelled during the [[American Revolutionary War|American War of Independence]]. The militia fought alongside the regular British Army (and native allies) in defending British North America from their former countrymen during the [[War of 1812]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/explore/online/1812/militia.aspx|title=Militia and civilian life |publisher=Government of Ontario |access-date=1 October 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Bermuda troops train at Camp Lejeune to become Junior Noncommissioned Officers 180504-M-JQ686-0185.jpg|thumb|upright|Royal Bermuda Regiment soldier with an [[SA80|L85A2]] at [[United States Marine Corps|USMC]] [[Camp Lejeune]] in 2018]]
Locally raised units in strategically located [[Imperial fortress]] colonies (including: [[Nova Scotia]] before the [[Canadian Confederation]]; [[Bermuda]] – which was treated as part of [[The Maritimes]] under the Commander-in-Chief at Nova Scotia until Canadian Confederation; [[Gibraltar]]; and [[Malta]]) and the [[Channel Islands]] were generally maintained from army funds and more fully integrated into the British Army as evident from their placements in British Army lists, unlike units such as the [[King's African Rifles]].<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The Somaliland Operations|date=23 October 1902 |page=6 |issue=36906}}</ref>

The larger colonies (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, etc.) mostly achieved [[Dominion|Commonwealth Dominion]] status before or after the First World War and were granted full legislative independence in 1931. While remaining within the British Empire, this placed their governments on a par with the British government, and hence their military units comprised separate armies (e.g. the [[Australian Army]]), although Canada retained the term "militia" for its military forces until the Second World War. From the 1940s, these dominions and many colonies chose full independence, usually becoming [[Commonwealth realm]]s (as member states of the Commonwealth are known today).<ref>{{cite web | title=Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942 | work=National Archives of Australia: Documenting a Democracy | url = http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item.asp?sdID=96 | access-date=8 August 2005 | url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050716075624/http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item.asp?sdID=96 |archive-date=16 July 2005}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url = https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/op-ed/Succeeding+Canadian+throne/7651371/story.html|last1=Bowden |first1=James | first2=Philippe |last2=Lagassé | title=Succeeding to the Canadian throne | date=6 December 2012 |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen | access-date=6 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130110062651/http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/op-ed/Succeeding%2BCanadian%2Bthrone/7651371/story.html |archive-date=10 January 2013 }}</ref>

Units raised in [[Self-governing colony|self-governing]] and [[Crown colony|Crown colonies]] (those without local elected [[Legislatures]], as was the case with [[British Hong Kong]]) that are part of the British realm remain under British Government control. As the territorial governments are delegated responsibility only for internal government, the UK Government, as the government of the [[Sovereign state]], retains responsibility for national security and the defence of the fourteen remaining [[British Overseas Territories]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9708 |title=Representing the Overseas Territories in the UK Parliament and Government |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2023-02-07 |website=UK Parliament (House of Commons Library) |publisher=UK Government |access-date=2024-01-14 |quote=All the Territories have a UK-appointed Governor, who generally holds responsibility for managing the Territory's external affairs, defence and internal security like the police, and often the power to make or veto laws.......As a matter of constitutional law, the UK Parliament has unlimited power to legislate for the Territories. However, passing legislation for the Territories is rare.}}</ref> of which six have locally raised regiments:
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Royal Bermuda Regiment]]<ref>[http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/TrainingAndAdventure/RoyalAnglianSoldiersBoostBermudaRegiment.htm DefenceNews ArticleRoyal Anglian soldiers boost Bermuda Regiment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207074844/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/TrainingAndAdventure/RoyalAnglianSoldiersBoostBermudaRegiment.htm |date=7 December 2011 }} Defence News, 19 January 2011,</ref>
* [[Royal Gibraltar Regiment]]<ref>[http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/TrainingAndAdventure/RoyalGibraltarRegimentTrainsInUk.htm Royal Gibraltar Regiment trains in UK] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207105508/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/TrainingAndAdventure/RoyalGibraltarRegimentTrainsInUk.htm |date=7 December 2011 }} Defence News, 12 May 2011</ref>
* [[Falkland Islands Defence Force]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fig.gov.fk/fidf/|title=Home – FIDF|website=www.fig.gov.fk|access-date=17 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202005805/http://www.fig.gov.fk/fidf/|archive-date=2 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Royal Montserrat Defence Force]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm83/8374/8374.pdf |title=UK Government White Paper on Overseas Territories, June, 2012. Page 23. |access-date=13 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031034047/http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm83/8374/8374.pdf |archive-date=31 October 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
* [[Cayman Islands Regiment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.exploregov.ky/ciregiment|title=THE CAYMAN ISLANDS REGIMENT|website=www.exploregov.ky|access-date=19 June 2020}}</ref>
* [[Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/governor-dakins-speech-at-tci-national-security-strategy-launch-22-january-2020|title=Governor Dakin's speech at Turks & Caicos Islands National Security Strategy launch |website=www.gov.uk|date=22 January 2020 |access-date=19 June 2020}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

<gallery class="center" widths="200px" heights="150px">
File:Falklandsdf.jpg|alt=Line of soldiers near water|Falkland Islands Defence Force on parade in June 2013
File:Detachment of Falkland Islands Defence Force.jpg|alt=Soldiers marching down a street in black uniforms|Detachment of the Falkland Islands Defence Force in ceremonial dress
File:US President JF Kennedy inspects Bermuda Rifles 1961.jpg|[[John Fitzgerald Kennedy]], escorted by [[Governor of Bermuda|Governor and Commander-in-Chief]] of Bermuda, Major-General Sir [[Julian Gascoigne|JA Gascoigne]], KCMG, KCVO, CB, DSO, DL, and Major JA Marsh, DSO, the Officer Commanding the [[Bermuda Militia Artillery]], inspects a [[Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps|Bermuda Rifles]] guard in 1961, four years before the units amalgamated
File:RSM of the Bermuda Regiment 1992.jpg|WO1 Herman Eve, RSM of the Royal Bermuda Regiment in 1992<ref>''Ah yes, that was a very good year'', [[Soldier Magazine|Soldier]] magazine, June, 2001. Page 63.</ref>
File:Bermuda Regiment Band.png|Bandsmen of the Royal Bermuda Regiment
File:Bermuda Regiment PNCO Cadre Promotion Parade.jpg|alt=Soldiers in white-and-black dress uniforms|Royal Bermuda Regiment on parade
File:Changing of the Guard duo - Royal Gibraltar Regiment.jpg|alt=Two soldiers in red dress uniforms|Changing of the guard, Royal Gibraltar Regiment (2012)
File:Royal Gibraltar Regiment.jpg|alt=Four soldiers marching in red-and-blue dress uniforms|Royal Gibraltar Regiment in London, April 2012
</gallery>

=== Levels of Command ===
The structure of the British Army beneath the level of Divisions and Brigades is also hierarchical and command is based on rank. The table below details how many units within the British Army are structured, although there can be considerable variation between individual units:<ref name=":4" />
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Type of unit
![[Division (military)|Division]]
![[Brigade]]
![[Battlegroup (army)|Battlegroup]]
![[Battalion]], [[Regiment]]
![[Company (military unit)|Company]], [[Squadron (army)|Squadron]], [[Artillery battery|Battery]]
![[Platoon]] or [[Troop]]
![[Section (military unit)|Section]]
![[Fireteam|Fire team]]
|-
!Contains
|3 brigades
|3–5 battalions (battlegroups)
|Combined arms unit
|4–6 companies
|3 platoons
|3 sections
|2 fire teams
|4 individuals
|-
!Personnel
|10,000
|5,000
|700–1,000
|720
|120
|30
|8–10
|4
|-
!Commanded by
|[[Major-General (United Kingdom)|Maj-Gen]]
|[[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brig]]
|[[Lieutenant Colonel (United Kingdom)|Lt Col]]
|[[Lieutenant colonel|Lt Col]]
|[[Major (United Kingdom)|Major]]
|[[Lieutenant|Lt]] or [[2nd Lieutenant#United Kingdom and Commonwealth|2nd Lt]]
|[[Corporal#United Kingdom|Cpl]]
|[[Lance corporal#United Kingdom|LCpl]]
|}

Whilst many units are organised as Battalions or Regiments administratively, the most common fighting unit is the combined arms unit known as a Battlegroup. This is formed around a combat unit and supported by units (or sub-units) from other capabilities. An example of a battlegroup would be two companies of armoured infantry (e.g. from the 1st Battalion of the [[Mercian Regiment]]), one squadron of heavy armour (e.g. A Squadron of the [[Royal Tank Regiment]]), a company of engineers (e.g. B Company of the 22nd Engineer Regiment), a Battery of artillery (e.g. D Battery of the 1st Regiment of the [[Royal Horse Artillery]]) and smaller attachments from medical, logistic and intelligence units. Typically organised and commanded by a battlegroup headquarters and named after the unit which provided the most combat units, in this example, it would be the 1 Mercian Battlegroup. This creates a self-sustaining mixed formation of armour, infantry, artillery, engineers and support units, commanded by a lieutenant colonel.<ref name="SAS">
{{cite web|year=2011|title=British Army Formation & Structure|url=http://www.whodareswins.com/british-army-formation-structure-setup.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429010016/http://www.whodareswins.com/british-army-formation-structure-setup.html|archive-date=29 April 2011|access-date=15 April 2011|publisher=WhoDaresWins.com}}
</ref>

== Recruitment ==
{{Main|Recruitment in the British Army}}
[[File:30a Sammlung Eybl Großbritannien. Alfred Leete (1882–1933) Britons (Kitchener) wants you (Briten Kitchener braucht Euch). 1914 (Nachdruck), 74 x 50 cm. (Slg.Nr. 552).jpg|thumb|upright|alt=World War I recruiting poster, with Lord Kitchener pointing at the viewer|One of the most recognisable recruiting posters of the British Army; from [[World War I]], with [[Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener|Lord Kitchener]]]]
The British Army primarily recruits from within the United Kingdom, but accept applications from all British citizens. It also accepts applications from Irish citizens and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] citizens, with certain restrictions.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/how-to-join/can-i-join|title=Army entry requirements: Can I join the Army? – British Army Jobs |website=apply.army.mod.uk}}</ref> Since 2018 the British Army has been an equal-opportunity employer (with some legal exceptions due to medical standards), and does not discriminate based on race, religion or sexual orientation.<ref>{{cite web|title=The British Army – Diversity|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/join/Equality-and-diversity.aspx|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212094121/http://www.army.mod.uk/join/Equality-and-diversity.aspx|archive-date=12 February 2017|access-date=11 February 2017|website=www.army.mod.uk}}</ref> Applicants for the Regular Army must be a minimum age of 16, although soldiers under 18 may not serve in operations, and the maximum age is 36. Applicants for the Army Reserve must be a minimum of 17 years and 9 months, and a maximum age of 43. Different age limits apply for Officers and those in some specialist roles. Applicants must also meet several other requirements, notably regarding medical health, physical fitness, past-criminal convictions, education, and regarding any tattoos and piercings.<ref name=":5" />

Soldiers and officers in the Regular Army now enlist for an initial period of 12 years, with options to extend if they meet certain requirements. Soldiers and officers are normally required to serve for a minimum of 4 years from date of enlistment and must give 12 months' notice before leaving; soldiers who joined before the age of 18 years old are normally required to serve for a minimum of 6 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/TermsofService.pdf|title=British Army Terms of Service|date=April 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623005208/http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/TermsofService.pdf|archive-date=23 June 2017}}</ref>

=== Oath of allegiance ===
All soldiers and commissioned officers must take an oath of allegiance upon joining the Army, a process known as attestation. Those who wish to swear by [[God in Abrahamic religions|God]] use the following words:<ref name=":2" />
{{blockquote|I, [soldier's or commissioned officer's name], swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to [[Charles III|His Majesty King Charles III]], his heirs and successors and that I will as in duty bound honestly and faithfully defend His Majesty, his heirs and successors in person, [[British Crown|crown]] and dignity against all enemies and will observe and obey all orders of His Majesty, his heirs, and successors and of the generals and officers set over me.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whodareswins.com/british-army-oath-of-allegiance.html#selfless|title=British Army Oath of Allegiance|access-date=29 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224084204/http://www.whodareswins.com/british-army-oath-of-allegiance.html#selfless|archive-date=24 December 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Others replace the words "swear by Almighty God" with "solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm".<ref name=":2" />

=== Training ===
[[File:RMAS18Je6-4685.jpg|thumb|alt=Red-brick buildings with large windows|New College buildings at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]]

{{see also|Selection and Training in the British Army|List of British Army installations}}Candidates for the Army undergo common training, beginning with [[Recruit training|initial military training]], to bring all personnel to a similar standard in basic military skills, which is known as Phase 1 training. They then undertake further specialist trade-training for their specific Regiment or Corps, known as Phase 2 training. After completing Phase 1 training a soldier is counted against the Army's trained strength, and upon completion of Phase 2 are counted against the Army's fully trained trade strength.<ref name=boot>{{cite web|url=http://www.armedforces.co.uk/army/listings/l0139.html|title=Recruitment Selection and Training|publisher=Bootcamp|access-date=23 November 2020|archive-date=21 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421050944/http://www.armedforces.co.uk/army/listings/l0139.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Soldiers under the age of 17 and six months will complete Phase 1 training at the [[Army Foundation College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/training_education/24420.aspx|title=Army Foundation College Harrogate|last=British Army|date=n.d.|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref> Infantry Soldiers will complete combined Phase 1 & 2 training at the [[Infantry Training Centre (British Army)|Infantry Training Centre, Catterick]], whilst all other Soldiers will attend Phase 1 training at the [[Army Training Centre Pirbright]] or [[Army training regiment|Army Training Regiment, Winchester]], and then complete Phase 2 training at different locations depending on their specialism.<ref name=boot/> Officers conduct their initial training at the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]] (RMAS),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/how-to-join/joining-process/officer-recruitment-steps|title=Joining the Army as an Officer; British Army – British Army Jobs|website=apply.army.mod.uk}}</ref> before also completing their Phase 2 training at multiple different locations.<ref name=boot/>

== Flags and ensigns ==
{{see also|Regulation Colours}}
The British Army's official flag is the [[Union Jack]]. The Army also has a non-ceremonial flag that is often seen flying from military buildings and is used at recruiting and military events and exhibitions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishflags.net/British%20Army.html |title=British Army (non-ceremonial) |publisher=britishflags.net |access-date=22 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916084125/http://www.britishflags.net/British%20Army.html |archive-date=16 September 2010 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> Traditionally most British Army units had a set of flags, known as the [[Colours, standards and guidons|colours]]—normally a Regimental Colour and a King's Colour (the Union Jack). Historically these were carried into battle as a rallying point for the soldiers and were closely guarded. In modern units the colours are often prominently displayed, decorated with [[Battle honours of the British and Imperial Armies|battle honours]], and act as a focal point for Regimental pride.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The regimental system {{!}} National Army Museum|url=https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/regimental-system|access-date=23 November 2020|website=www.nam.ac.uk}}</ref> A soldier re-joining a regiment (upon recall from the reserve) is described as ''re-called to the Colours''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.royalsignalsmuseum.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/20200504_80_Brassard-of-Cpl-Birdsall.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.royalsignalsmuseum.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/20200504_80_Brassard-of-Cpl-Birdsall.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title='History of Signalling in 100 Objects: The Brassard of CPL R A Birdsall' (See penultimate sentence: ''Many who served in Korea were reservists recalled to the colours plus a large number of National Servicemen''). Royal Signals Museum}}</ref>

<gallery class="center" widths="200px" heights="150px">
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|alt=Union Jack|Official Army flag
File:Flag of the British Army.svg|alt=The British Lion, the crown and crossed swords on a red background|Non-ceremonial army flag; "Army", in gold letters, sometimes appears below the badge.
File:British Army Ensign01.svg|alt=Flag with Union Jack and crossed swords on a blue background|[[Ensign (flag)|Ensign]] for general use by the [[Royal Logistic Corps]]
File:British Army Ensign00.svg|alt=Same as previous flag, with the British lion and the crown|Ensign flown by the [[Royal Logistic Corps]] from vessels commanded by commissioned officers
File:Royal Engineers Ensign.png|alt=Union Jack and stylised, winged hand on a blue background|Ensign of the Corps of [[Royal Engineers]]
</gallery>

== Ranks and insignia ==
{{Main|British Army officer rank insignia|British Army other ranks rank insignia}}
{{British Army Officer Rank|Title=Y}}
{{British Army Other Rank|Title=Y}}

Most ranks across the British Army are known by the same name regardless of which Regiment they are in. However, the [[Household Cavalry]] call many ranks by different names, the [[Royal Artillery]] refer to Corporals as Bombardiers, the Rifles spell Sergeant as Serjeant,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Swift and bold: All about The Rifles |date=2 February 2022 |url=https://www.forces.net/news/swift-and-bold-all-about-rifles}}</ref> and Private soldiers are known by a wide variety of titles; notably trooper, gunner, guardsman, kingsman, sapper, signaller, fusilier, craftsman and rifleman dependant on the Regiment they belong to.<ref>{{Cite web|title=British Army ranks {{!}} National Army Museum|url=https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/british-army-ranks|access-date=23 November 2020|website=www.nam.ac.uk}}</ref> These names do not affect a soldier's pay or role.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Armed Forces' Pay Review Body: Forty-Ninth Report 2020|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/armed-forces-pay-review-body-forty-ninth-report-2020|access-date=23 November 2020|website=GOV.UK|date=6 August 2020 }}</ref>

==Reserve forces==
{{main|Army Reserve (United Kingdom)}}
The oldest of the Reserve Forces was the [[Militia (Great Britain)|Militia Force]] (also referred to as the ''Constitutional Force''),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Militia Bill. (Hansard, 23 April 1852) |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1852/apr/23/militia-bill |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929100825/https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1852/apr/23/militia-bill |archive-date=29 September 2023 |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=api.parliament.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1855/may/04/the-militia|date=4 May 1855|title=THE MILITIA.  |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1856/jul/11/the-militia-question|date=11 July 1856|title=The Militia-Question |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1878/jun/13/army-auxiliary-forces-the-militia|date=13 June 1878|title=Army—Auxiliary Forces—The Militia.—Observations  |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]}}</ref> which (in the [[Kingdom of England]], prior to 1707) was originally the main military defensive force (until the 1645 creation of the [[New Model Army]], there otherwise were originally only Royal bodyguards, including the [[Yeomen Warders]] and the [[Yeomen of the Guard]], with armies raised only temporarily for expeditions overseas), made up of civilians embodied for annual training or emergencies, which had used various schemes of compulsory service during different periods of its long existence. From the 1850s it recruited volunteers who engaged for terms of service. The Militia was originally an all-infantry force, though [[Militia Artillery units of the United Kingdom and Colonies|Militia coastal artillery]], field artillery, and engineers units were introduced from the 1850s.<ref name=autogenerated1>''The Militia Artillery 1852–1909'', by Norman EH Litchfield. The Sherwood Press (Nottingham) Ltd. 1987</ref>

[[Volunteer Force]] units were also frequently raised during wartime and disbanded upon peace. This was re-established as a permanent (i.e., in war and peace) part of the Reserve Forces in 1859. It differed from the Militia in a number of ways, most particularly in that volunteers did not commit to a term service, and were able to resign with fourteen days notice (except while embodied). As volunteer soldiers were originally expected to fund the cost of their own equipment, few tended to come from the labouring class among whom the Militia primarily recruited.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/civilian-soldiers |title=Civilian soldiers |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=<!--Not stated--> |website=National Army Museum |access-date=9 September 2021 |quote=Troop shortages and patriotic zest during the imperial crises and expansion of the British Empire in the second half of the 19th century prompted the creation of other volunteer and yeomanry units, such as the Volunteer Force, with a far less distinct role, as well as the permanent embodiment of the militia in vulnerable British towns.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=The British Volunteer System |journal=The North American Review|author=Rt. Hon Earl Brownlow|author-link=Adelbert Brownlow-Cust, 3rd Earl Brownlow|page=745 |date=1 May 1900}}</ref>

The [[Yeomanry|Yeomanry Force]] was made up of mounted units, organised similarly to the Volunteer Force, first raised during the two decades of war with France that followed the French Revolution. As with the Volunteers, members of the Yeomanry were expected to foot much of the cost of their own equipment, including their horses, and the make-up of the units tended to be from more affluent classes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/civilian-soldiers |title=Civilian soldiers |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=<!--Not stated--> |website=National Army Museum |access-date=9 September 2021 |quote=The yeomanry, a mounted force drawn from the upper classes, was created at the peak of the fear of French invasion and used extensively in support of the civil authority to put down riots and disturbances.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1903/may/26/an-imperial-yeomanry-reserve|date=26 May 1903|title=An Imperial Yeomanry Reserve  |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]}}</ref>

Although Militia regiments were linked with British Army regiments during the course of the Napoleonic Wars to feed volunteers for service abroad into the regular army, and volunteers from the Reserve Forces served abroad either individually or in contingents, service companies, or battalions in a succession of conflicts from the [[Crimean War]] to the [[Second Boer War]], personnel did not normally move between forces unless re-attested as a member of the new force, and units did not normally move from the Reserve Forces to become part of the Regular Forces, or vice versa. There were exceptions, however, as with the ''New Brunswick Regiment of Fencible Infantry'', raised in 1803, which became the [[104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot]] when it was transferred to the British Army on 13 September 1810.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Grodzinski |first1=John R. |title=The 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot in the War of 1812 |date=2014 |publisher=Goose Lane Editions |isbn=9780864924476 |language=en}}</ref>

Another type of reserve force was created during the period between the French Revolution and the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Called [[Fencibles]], these were disbanded after the Napoleonic Wars and not raised again, although the [[Royal Malta Fencible Regiment]], later the ''Royal Malta Fencible Artillery'', existed from 1815 until the 1880s when it became the [[Royal Malta Artillery]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Royal Malta Fencible Regiment (1815–1861) |website=Armed Forces of Malta |date=2020 |url=https://afm.gov.mt/en/oldpages/fencibleregiment/Pages/Royal-Malta-Fencible-Regiment.aspx |access-date=9 September 2021 |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507170302/https://afm.gov.mt/en/oldpages/fencibleregiment/Pages/Royal-Malta-Fencible-Regiment.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the [[Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps]] was formed in 1846.<ref>{{cite book |last=Cowan |first=James |year=1955  |chapter-url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cow01NewZ-b1-1-14.html |chapter=The Royal New Zealand Fencibles |title=The New Zealand Wars: A History of the Maori Campaigns and the Pioneering Period |volume=I: 1845–1864 |series=New Zealand Wars (1845–1872) |publisher=R. E. Owen |location=Wellington}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=NZDSI |year=2003 |url=http://www.nzfenciblesociety.org.nz/ |title=Who Were The Fencibles? |publisher=New Zealand Fencible Society Incorporated |access-date=25 December 2013}}</ref>

The Reserve Forces were raised locally (in Britain, under the control of [[Lord-Lieutenant|Lords-Lieutenant]] of counties, and, in [[British Overseas Territories|British colonies]], under the [[Governor#United Kingdom overseas territories|colonial governors]], and members originally were obliged to serve only within their locality (which, in the United Kingdom, originally meant within the county or other recruitment area, but was extended to anywhere in Britain, though not overseas). They have consequently also been referred to as ''Local Forces''. As they were (and in some cases ''are'') considered separate forces from the British Army, though still within the British military, they have also been known as ''Auxiliary Forces''. The Militia and Volunteer units of a colony were generally considered to be separate forces from the ''Home'' Militia Force and Volunteer Force in the United Kingdom, and from the Militia Forces and Volunteer Forces of other colonies. Where a colony had more than one Militia or Volunteer unit, they would be grouped as a Militia or Volunteer Force for that colony, such as the Jamaica Volunteer Defence Force. Officers of the Reserve Forces could not sit on Courts Martial of regular forces personnel. The [[Mutiny Act]] did not apply to members of the Reserve Forces. The ''Reserve Forces'' within the British Isles were increasingly integrated with the British Army through a succession of reforms (beginning with the [[Cardwell Reforms]]) of the British military forces over the last two decades of the Nineteenth Century and the early years of the Twentieth Century, whereby the Reserve Forces units mostly lost their own identities and became numbered Militia or Volunteer battalions of regular British Army corps or regiments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1895/mar/15/the-army-estimates|date=15 March 1895|title=The Army Estimates   |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]}}</ref>

In 1908, the Yeomanry and Volunteer Force were merged to create the [[Territorial Force]] (changed to ''Territorial Army'' after the First World War), with terms of service similar to the army and Militia, and the Militia was renamed the ''Special Reserve'',<ref>''HART'S ANNUAL ARMY LIST, SPECIAL RESERVE LIST, AND TERRITORIAL FORCE LIST, FOR 1911: (BEING THE SEVENTY-SECOND ANNUAL VOLUME,) CONTAINING DATES OF COMMISSIONS, AND A SUMMARY OF THE WAR SERVICES OF NEARLY EVERY OFFICER IN THE ARMY, SUPPLY &c. DEPARTMENTS, MARINES, AND INDIAN ARMY, AND INDIAN LOCAL FORCES. WITH AN INDEX.'' BY THE LATE LIEUTENANT GENERAL H. G. HART. JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, LONDON. 1911</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1908/feb/18/the-territorial-forces-act-the-militia|date=18 February 1908|title=THE TERRITORIAL FORCES ACT—THE MILITIA.  |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1913/apr/09/british-army-home-and-colonial-military|date=9 April 1913|title=BRITISH ARMY.—HOME AND COLONIAL MILITARY FORCES.  |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]}}</ref> After the First World War the Special Reserve was renamed the Militia, again, but permanently suspended (although a handful of Militia units survived in the United Kingdom, its colonies, and the Crown Dependencies). Although the Territorial Force was nominally still a separate force from the British Army, by the end of the century, at the latest, any unit wholly or partly funded from Army Funds was considered part of the British Army. Outside the United Kingdom-proper, this was generally only the case for those units in the [[Channel Islands]] or the [[Imperial fortress]] colonies ([[Nova Scotia]], before [[Canadian confederation]]; [[Bermuda]]; [[Gibraltar]]; and [[Malta]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://livelb.nationalarchives.gov.uk/first-world-war/a-global-view/the-caribbean/bermuda/|title=The National Archives – Homepage|first=The National|last=Archives|access-date=24 April 2021|archive-date=17 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617014624/https://livelb.nationalarchives.gov.uk/first-world-war/a-global-view/the-caribbean/bermuda/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>''The Quarterly Army List''  Part I, January 1945. Order of Precedence of the British Army. Page xiii. His Majesty's Stationery Office</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1899/mar/17/army-estimates-1899-1900#division_48|date=17 March 1899|title=Army Estimates, 1899–1900  |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]}}</ref>

The [[Bermuda Militia Artillery]], [[Bermuda Militia Infantry]], [[Bermuda Volunteer Engineers]], and the [[Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps]],<ref>''History of The Coast Artillery in the British Army'', by Colonel KW Maurice-Jones, DSO, RA. Royal Artillery Institution. 1959</ref><ref name=autogenerated1 /> by example were paid for by the War Office and considered part of the British Army, with their officers appearing as such in the ''Army List'' unlike those of many other colonial units deemed auxiliaries. Today, the British Army is the only Home British military force, including the various other forces it has absorbed, though British military units organised on Territorial Army lines remain in British Overseas Territories that are still not considered formally part of the British Army, with only the [[Royal Gibraltar Regiment]] and the [[Royal Bermuda Regiment]] (an amalgam of the old Bermuda Militia Artillery and Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps) appearing on the [[British Army order of precedence|British Army order-of-precedence]] and in the [[Army List]], as well as on the [[Corps Warrant]] (the official list of those British military forces that are considered corps of the British Army).<ref>''The Army List, 1951'', His Majesty's Stationery Office. Column XVI to XIX (pp. 16 to 19)</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2008/10/01/guyana-review/the-british-guiana-volunteer-force/|title=The British Guiana Volunteer Force|date=1 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.colonialforces.org/batteries-companies-regiments-and-c|title=Batteries, Companies, Regiments and Corps (Land)|website=CFSG (Q) Inc|access-date=19 January 2021|archive-date=27 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127130254/https://www.colonialforces.org/batteries-companies-regiments-and-c|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>''Bermuda Forts 1612–1957'', Dr. Edward Cecil Harris, The Bermuda Maritime Museum Press, {{ISBN|0-921560-11-7}}</ref><ref>''Bulwark Of Empire: Bermuda's Fortified Naval Base 1860–1920'', Lt.-Col. Roger Willock, USMC, The Bermuda Maritime Museum Press, The Bermuda Maritime Museum. {{ISBN|978-0-921560-00-5}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bermudastamps.co.uk/1988/11/10/military-uniforms-bermuda/|title=1988 Military Uniforms of Bermuda|first=Neil|last=Rigby|date=10 November 1988|access-date=24 April 2021|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027202435/http://www.bermudastamps.co.uk/1988/11/10/military-uniforms-bermuda/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>''A LIST OF THE OFFICERS of the ARMY, (WITH AN ALPHABETICAL INDEX;) OF THE OFFICERS of the ROYAL ARTILLERY, THE ENGINEERS, the MARINE FORCES, AND OF THE OFFICERS on HALF-PAY; AND A SUCCESSION of COLONELS. THE THIRTY-SECOND EDITION.'' War-Office. 31 March 1784</ref><ref>''THE NEW ANNUAL ARMY LIST, MILITIA LIST, 1854: (BEING THE FIFTEENTH ANNUAL VOLUME), CONTAINING THE DATES OF COMMISSIONS, AND A STATEMENT OF THE WAR SERVICES AND WOUNDS OF NEARLY EVERY OFFICER IN THE ARMY, ORDNANCE, AND MARINES. CORRECTED TO 30 December 1853. WITH AN INDEX''. MAJOR H. G. HART, 49TH REGT. JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, LONDON 1854</ref>

In October 2012 the Ministry of Defence announced that the Territorial Army was to be renamed the Army Reserve.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19940848|title=Territorial Army 'to be renamed the Army Reserve'|work=BBC News|date=14 October 2012 |access-date=26 December 2015}}</ref>

== {{anchor|Uniform}}Uniforms ==
{{Further|Uniforms of the British Army}}

The British Army uniform has sixteen categories, ranging from ceremonial uniforms to combat dress to evening wear. No. 8 Dress, the day-to-day uniform, is known as "Personal Clothing System – Combat Uniform" (PCS-CU)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23215.aspx|title=The British Army – Personal clothing|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=9 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410145655/http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23215.aspx|archive-date=10 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and consists of a [[Multi-Terrain Pattern]] (MTP) windproof smock, a lightweight jacket and trousers with ancillary items such as [[Long underwear|thermals]] and [[Raincoat|waterproofs]].<ref name=dresscodes>{{cite web|url=http://www.forces80.com/dresscodes.htm|title=Dress Codes and Head Dress|publisher=Forces 80|access-date=7 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219085020/http://www.forces80.com/dresscodes.htm|archive-date=19 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The army has introduced [[tactical recognition flash]]es (TRFs); worn on the right arm of a combat uniform, the insignia denotes the wearer's regiment or corps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30077060|title=badge, unit, tactical recognition flash, British, Royal Corps of Signals|publisher=Imperial War Museum|access-date=7 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308135136/http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30077060|archive-date=8 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition to working dress, the army has a number of parade uniforms for ceremonial and non-ceremonial occasions. The most-commonly-seen uniforms are No. 1 Dress (full ceremonial, seen at formal occasions such as at the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace) and No. 2 Dress (Service Dress), a brown [[khaki]] uniform worn for non-ceremonial parades.<ref name="dresscodes" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/626107/2017-03109.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/626107/2017-03109.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Army Dress Regulations 2017}}</ref>

Working [[Headgear|headdress]] is typically a [[beret]], whose colour indicates its wearer's type of regiment. Beret colours are:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apparelsearch.com/definitions/headwear_hats/beret_definitions.htm|title=Beret definitions|publisher=Apparel Search|access-date=7 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613104455/http://www.apparelsearch.com/definitions/headwear_hats/beret_definitions.htm|archive-date=13 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Khaki—[[Foot Guards]], [[Honourable Artillery Company]], [[Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment]], [[Royal Anglian Regiment]], [[Royal Welsh]], [[Royal Yorkshire Regiment]]
* Light grey—[[Royal Scots Dragoon Guards]]
* Brown—[[King's Royal Hussars]], [[Royal Wessex Yeomanry]]
* Black—[[Royal Tank Regiment]]
* Dark ([[Rifle green|rifle]]) green—[[Royal Dragoon Guards]], [[The Rifles]], [[Royal Gurkha Rifles]], [[Small Arms School Corps]]
* [[Maroon beret|Maroon]]—[[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|Parachute Regiment]]
* Beige—[[Special Air Service]]
* Sky blue—[[Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)|Army Air Corps]]
* Cypress green—[[Intelligence Corps (United Kingdom)|Intelligence Corps]]
* Scarlet—[[Royal Military Police]]
* Green—[[Adjutant General's Corps]]
* Navy blue—All other units, such as the [[Household Cavalry]], [[Light Dragoons]], [[Queen's Dragoon Guards]], [[Royal Yeomanry]], and the [[Royal Regiment of Fusiliers]]
* Emerald grey—[[Special Reconnaissance Regiment]]
* Gun-metal grey—[[Ranger Regiment (United Kingdom)|The Ranger Regiment]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2021/11/ranger-regiment-cap-badge/|title=Introducing the Army's latest cap badge: Ranger Regiment|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=28 August 2022|publisher=British Army}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portalbar|United Kingdom}}
{{Div col |colwidth = 22em }}
* [[Army 2020 Refine]]
* [[Army Cadet Force]]
* [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)]]
* [[British Army order of precedence]]
* [[British campaign medals]]
* [[Corps Warrant]]
* [[List of British Army installations]]
* [[List of British Army regiments and corps]]
* [[List of equipment of the British Army]]
* [[List of military weapons of the United Kingdom]]
* [[List of roles in the British Army]]
* [[List of wars involving England]]
* [[List of wars involving Scotland]]
* [[List of wars involving the United Kingdom]]
* [[Military bands of the United Kingdom]]
* [[Military history of the United Kingdom]]
* [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)]]
* [[Red coat (military uniform)]]
* [[Royal Air Force]]
* [[Royal Navy]]
* "[[Rule, Britannia!]]"
* [[Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015]]
* [[Tommy Atkins]]
* [[Uniforms of the British Army]]
* [[United Kingdom Special Forces]]
{{div col end}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
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* {{cite news |last=Norton-Taylor |first=Richard |date=5 April 2008 |url = https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/apr/05/military.defence |title=Commonwealth recruitment caps & current commonwealth troop levels. |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110428153852/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/apr/05/military.defence |archive-date=28 April 2011 |url-status=live  }}
* {{cite book|ref={{harvid|OED Rupert|2013}} |author=OED staff |chapter=Rupert, n. |date=June 2013 |title=Oxford English Dictionary |edition=Online |publisher=Oxford University Press |url = http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/269065?redirectedFrom=rupert }}
* {{cite book|ref={{harvid|OED Taffy|2013}} |author=OED staff |chapter=Taffy, n.2 |date=June 2013 |title=Oxford English Dictionary |edition=Online |publisher=Oxford University Press |url = http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/197006?rskey=1LEQ6y&result=2&isAdvanced=false }}
* {{Cite book |last=Ó Siochrú |first=Micheál |url=https://archive.org/details/godsexecutionero0000osio |title=God's Executioner: Oliver Cromwell and the Conquest of Ireland |date=2008 |publisher=Faber and Faber |isbn=978-0-571-24121-7 |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite journal|last=Ripley |first=Tim |date=10 December 2008 |title=UK Army Air Corps received Dauphins |journal=Jane's Defence Weekly |volume=45 |issue=50 |page=10 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Rogers |first=Colonel H.C.B. |title=Battles and Generals of the Civil Wars |publisher=Seeley Service & Company |year=1968 }}
* {{cite book |author=Royal Scots Greys |year=1840 |title=Historical record of the Royal regiment of Scots dragoons: now the Second, or Royal North British dragoons, commonly called the Scots greys, to 1839|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=8UEIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA56 56]–57 }}
* {{cite news|last=Sharrock |first=David |date=10 September 2008 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4724617.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429092731/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4724617.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 April 2011 |title=Irish recruits sign up for British Army in cross-border revolution |location=London |newspaper=The Times}}
* {{cite news |author=SMH Military correspondent |date=26 October 1939 |title=British Army Expansion |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lE4RAAAAIBAJ&pg=7292,3736980&dq=army+britain+number |access-date=18 June 2010 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |page=5 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* {{cite book|last=Strawson |first=John |author-link=John Strawson (British Army officer) |year=1989 |title=Gentlemen in Khaki: The British Army 1890–1990 |publisher=Secker & Warburg |isbn=978-0-4364-9994-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Taylor |first=AJP |author-link=A.J.P. Taylor |year=1976 |title=The Second World War an illustrated history |publisher=Penguin books |isbn=0-14-004135-4}}
* {{cite web|last1=Taylor |first1=Claire |last2=Brooke-Holland |first2=Louisa |date=28 February 2012 |title=Armed Forces Redundancies |url = http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN05951.pdf |publisher=House of Commons |access-date=13 May 2012 }}
* {{cite book |first=Nigel W. M. |last=Warwick |title=In every place: The RAF Armoured Cars in the Middle East 1921–1953 |publisher=Forces & Corporate Publishing Ltd. |location=Rushden, Northamptonshire, England |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-9574725-2-5 }}

== External links ==
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[[Category:British Army| ]]
[[Category:1707 establishments in Great Britain]]
[[Category:British Armed Forces|Army]]
[[Category:Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)]]
[[Category:Military of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1707]]