Reserve Forces. 1. Army.--The (English) Reserve Forces Act, 1882 (45 & 46 Vict. c. 48), repealing and consolidating the prior Acts on the subject, established an 'Army Reserve' and a 'Militia Reserve.' The 'Army Reserve' consists of time-expired regular soldiers who are on its strength by reason of the terms of their enlistment or by re-engagement. As to the present character of the Militia, see that title. The Reserve is further strengthened by the Territorial Army Reserve, consisting of a reserve division, and also by a body composed of owners of motor cars who are liable to military service in an emergency, and the Act has been applied to an Air Force Reserve and Auxiliary Air Force Reserve under 7 & 8 Geo. 5, c. 51, and 14 & 15 Geo. 5, c. 15, and S.R. & O. 1924 (Nos. 1212 and 1213) and 1934 (No. 592). By 11 & 12 Geo. 5, c. 37, the 'Territorial Force' which was provided for in the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act, 1907 (7 Edw. 7, c. 9), became the 'Territorial Army,' and the special reserve became 'militia,' for the purposes of the Act of 1907 and otherwise. The ss. of the Act of 1907 relating to Militia Reserves were repealed.
Calling out Reserve.--By s. 5 a Secretary of State 'at any time when occasion appears to require' may call out the whole or part of the Army Reserve 'to aid the civil power in the preservation of the public peace'; and by s. 12 the Sovereign in Council in case of imminent national danger, or of great emergency, may order the Army Reserve to be called out on permanent service.
2. Navy.--The reserve forces of the Navy are composed of:--(a) the Royal Naval Reserve, established by the Royal Naval Reserve (Volunteer) Act, 1859, which consists of officers and men from the merchant service who receive an annual retaining fee; (b) the Royal Fleet Reserve, formed of time-expired members of the Royal Navy and Marines; (c) the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, a force in many ways comparable to the Territorial Army (see generally, the Royal Naval Reserve Acts, 1859 to 1927).
See Chitty's Statutes, tits. 'Army' and 'Navy.'
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