The nominal establishments of British Army infantry units (1837 to 1901)

1837

An infantry battalion had 10 companies:

  • 6 service companies and a headquarters formed the service battalion.

  • 4 depot companies.

The service battalion had a nominal establishment of:

1 Lieutenant Colonel, 1 Major, 1 Surgeon, 1 Assistant Surgeon, and 4 Staff Sergeants Battalion commander and headquarters staff
6 Captains Each commanding a company
8 Lieutenants and 4 Ensigns/2nd Lieutenants 2 per company
36 Colour Sergeants and Sergeants 1 Sergeant commanded the battalion's band
24 Corporals 1 Corporal commanded the battalion's pioneers
12 Drummers 2 per company
516 Privates 81 Privates per company plus 10 Privates who were pioneers and 20 Privates who were trained as bandsmen
Total strength: 614

1854

An infantry battalion had 12 companies:

  • 8 service companies and a headquarters formed the service battalion.

  • 4 depot companies.

The service battalion had a nominal establishment of:

1 Colonel (or Lieutenant Colonel), 1 Lieutenant Colonel (or Major), 1 Major, 1 Adjutant, 1 Quartermaster, 1 Paymaster, 1 Surgeon, 1 Assistant Surgeon, 2 Warrant Officers (1 Sergeant-Major and 1 Quartermaster Sergeant, and 5 Sergeants (1 Paymaster Sergeant, 1 Sergeant Armourer, 1 Schoolmaster, 1 Hospital Orderly, and 1 Orderly Room Clerk Battalion commander and headquarters staff
8 Captains Each commanding a company
16 Subalterns (Lieutenants or 2nd Lieutenants) 2 per company
8 Colour Sergeants 1 per company
24 Sergeants 3 per company
40 Corporals 5 per company
16 Drummers 2 per company
790 Privates 95 Privates per company
Total strength: 887

1860

An infantry battalion had 12 companies:

  • 10 service companies and a headquarters formed the service battalion.

  • 2 depot companies.

The service battalion had a nominal establishment of:

1 Colonel (or Lieutenant Colonel), 1 Lieutenant Colonel (or Major), 1 Major, 1 Adjutant, 1 Quartermaster, 1 Paymaster, 1 Surgeon, 1 Assistant Surgeon, 1 Sergeant-Major, 1 Quartermaster Sergeant, 1 Paymaster Sergeant, 1 Sergeant Armourer, 1 Schoolmaster (Sergeant), 1 Hospital Orderly (Sergeant), and 1 Orderly Room Clerk (Sergeant) Battalion commander and headquarters staff
10 Captains Each commanding a company
20 Subalterns (Lieutenants or 2nd Lieutenants) 2 per company
10 Colour Sergeants 1 per company
30 Sergeants 3 per company
50 Corporals 5 per company
20 Drummers 2 per company
 860 Privates 86 Privates per company
Total strength: 1015

1881

An infantry battalion comprised  8 companies and a headquarters.

It had a nominal establishment of:

1 Colonel (or Lieutenant Colonel), 1 Lieutenant Colonel (or Major), 1 Major, 1 Adjutant, 1 Quartermaster, 1 Paymaster, 1 Surgeon, 1 Assistant Surgeon, 1 Sergeant-Major, 1 Quartermaster Sergeant, 1 Paymaster Sergeant, 1 Sergeant Armourer, 1 Schoolmaster (Sergeant), 1 Hospital Orderly (Sergeant), and 1 Orderly Room Clerk (Sergeant) Battalion commander and headquarters staff
8 Captains Each commanding a company
16 Subalterns (Lieutenants or 2nd Lieutenants) 2 per company
8 Colour Sergeants 1 per company
24 Sergeants 3 per company
40 Corporals 5 per company
16 Drummers 2 per company
 712 Privates 89 Privates per company
Total strength: 839

1899

An infantry battalion comprised  8 companies and a headquarters.

It had a nominal establishment of:

1 Colonel (or Lieutenant Colonel), 1 Lieutenant Colonel (or Major), 1 Major, 1 Adjutant, 1 Quartermaster, 1 Paymaster, 1 Surgeon, 1 Assistant Surgeon, 1 Sergeant-Major, 1 Quartermaster Sergeant, 1 Paymaster Sergeant, 1 Sergeant Armourer, 1 Schoolmaster (Sergeant), 1 Hospital Orderly (Sergeant), and 1 Orderly Room Clerk (Sergeant) Battalion commander and headquarters staff
8 Captains Each commanding a company
16 Subalterns (Lieutenants or 2nd Lieutenants) 2 per company
8 Colour Sergeants 1 per company
24 Sergeants 3 per company
40 Corporals 5 per company
16 Drummers 2 per company
 808 Privates 101 Privates per company
Total strength: 935

© Robert George Cordery (2005)